What we know so far about the strikes on Iran

Israel and the US have attacked Iran in a joint military strike, with explosions heard and filmed in Tehran. Iranian media is also reporting more widespread attacks across the nation.

Here’s what we know so far.

Why have Israel and the US attacked Iran?

The military action has been launched amid tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly suggesting in recent weeks that an attack was an option unless Iran agreed to his demands to rein it in.

A day before the strikes, he said he was “not happy” with the progress of talks with Iran’s leaders, as he insisted the regime “cannot have nuclear weapons”.

Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform after explosions were reported in Iran, said the objective of the strikes was to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people”.

“Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world,” he said.

Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government”, telling them: “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”

What did the strikes target?

Iranian media reported that strikes were happening nationwide, from the capital Tehran to cities including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah.

One apparent strike happened near the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reuters reported that he was not in Tehran at the time, and had been transferred to a secure location.

The military campaign is expected to focus on Iranian military sites.

Is the US going to war with Iran?

Trump described the strikes as a “major combat operation”.

In the US, the power to formally declare war rests solely with Congress, which had not authorised the action.

“No president was willing to do what I am willing to tonight,” Trump said.

A US official told The New York Times the campaign could last several days, representing a far more forceful effort than America’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year.

Trump acknowledged that the US “may have casualties” as a result of the operation. He said General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had warned him that American troops could be killed or injured in a war with Iran.

Israel’s military detected ballistic missiles launched from Iran in response to the attack. American bases and embassies in the region were also on high alert, amid expectations that Tehran and its network of proxy paramilitary forces would strike at US interests.

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