The United States was not just kept in the loop but participated in aerial strikes in Iran on Saturday morning, a leading Israeli news website said. The Times of Israel quoted a US official as confirming that Tehran was targeted in a combined operation by Israel and the US.
Earlier, Israel’s Channel 12 had also claimed that Iran was targeted by the two allies together with the intention to hit the Iranian presidential facility, the residences of Iranian leaders, and potential bases that could be used to counter-attack Israel.
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FULL STORY | Israel launches pre-emptive strikes on Iran; declares nationwide emergency
The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It wasn't immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei had been in his offices at the time. He hasn't been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown. But the attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump had wanted a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests. Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
It wasn't immediately clear if Iran would immediately strike back, but it had warned that American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done "to remove threats." He did not immediately elaborate. The Israeli military said that it had issued a "proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel."