After the United States and Israel targeted multiple locations in Tehran on Saturday morning, President Donald Trump said in a video message that the objective is "to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."
There were hints of a full-scale offensive against the Islamic Republic, as Trump mentioned that American lives may be lost during the military actions in the Middle East. “The Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties — that often happens in war — but we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission,” the US President reportedly said.
READ HERE | Did US attack Iran? Israeli media says Tehran was targeted during joint operation
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He said the US had “taken every possible step to minimise the risk to US personnel in the region.” "We are going to destroy their missiles; we are going to annihilate their navy," Trump added.
Israel launched a daylight attack on Iran's capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from the city's downtown. The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Earlier, news agency Reuters had quoted US military officials as saying that they were preparing for military operations targeting Tehran that may last many days.
It also wasn't immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in his offices when the US–Israeli offensive began on Saturday. He hasn't been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown. 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 programme.
Roads to Khamenei's compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital. Neighbouring Iraq closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran's military, symbols of government, and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-public information on the attack.
