The United States and Israel initiated an attack on Iran over the weekend, causing explosions that were observed and heard in Tehran and various parts of the country.
In a social media announcement today, Donald Trump stated that the Iranian strikes, known as Operation Epic Fury, are aimed at destroying Iranian forces. He emphasized that the US military is engaged in a significant and continuous operation to safeguard America and its core national security interests from the perceived threats posed by Iran. Trump vowed to eliminate Iran’s navy, dismantle the nation’s missile program, and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In response, Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and multiple military installations across the Middle East where US forces are stationed, as reported by The Mirror US.
Explosions were reported in the capital city, Tehran, around 9:30 a.m. GMT, with videos circulating on social media showing smoke rising in different parts of the city. The missile strikes purportedly targeted key locations such as the Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Defense, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Parchin military facility, and the Jomhouri district, resulting in casualties including students at a school east of Tehran.
In Minab County, reports indicated that an Israeli strike hit a girls’ school, leading to tragic casualties among students. Additional military installations in Kermanshah, Qom, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj, and Iranian naval facilities in Kenarak were also reportedly attacked, per the BBC.
Following the joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, explosions reverberated across the Middle East, prompting Iran to declare retaliatory attacks on American bases and interests in the region, as per the Tasnim News Agency. Incidents were reported in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and other locations, including a strike on the US Fifth Fleet Naval Command in Bahrain and missile interceptions over Qatar.
The UAE reported a civilian fatality from an Iranian missile strike, and multiple explosions were witnessed in various cities, including Jordan, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi. The situation remains tense as conflicts escalate in the region.
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