America and Israel launched an attack Saturday on Iran, with the primary obvious strike occurring close to the workplaces of Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke might be seen rising from the capital.
President Donald Trump mentioned in a video posted on social media that the U.S. had begun “main fight operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to achieve U.S.
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Canada’s chief helps US motion
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he helps the USA performing to forestall Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to forestall its authorities from additional threatening worldwide peace and safety.
He says Canada is obvious in its place that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal supply of instability and terror all through the Center East.” Carney can also be urging Canadians in Iran to shelter in place.
Flights are disrupted throughout the Center East and past
The U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran is disrupting flights throughout the Center East and past. Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace on Saturday. Airspace in southern Syria was additionally closed.
Some planes that had been en path to cities like Tel Aviv and Dubai had been diverted or returned to the place they took off from.
The scenario is altering rapidly and airways urged passengers to examine their flight standing on-line earlier than heading to the airport. Many main airways are canceling flights to and from elements of the area via Sunday or early subsequent week.
Dubai’s airport operator mentioned flights have been halted indefinitely at Dubai Worldwide Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international flights, and the Dubai World Central — Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport on the Gulf metropolis’s outskirts.
Targets of the Israeli strikes included members of Iran’s management
Two individuals acquainted with the operation, together with a U.S. official and an individual briefed on the assaults, mentioned the targets of the Israeli strikes included members of Iran’s management. There was no phrase on whether or not the assaults had been profitable. They spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they had been discussing categorised data on an ongoing operation.
Each Israel and the U.S. are putting army targets in Iran.
Russia condemns the US and Israeli strikes on Iran
Russia’s Overseas Ministry on Saturday condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression in opposition to a sovereign and impartial U.N. member state.”
It demanded an instantaneous halt to the army marketing campaign and a return to diplomacy.
In an announcement posted to Telegram, the ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “hiding behind” issues about Iran’s nuclear program whereas really pursuing regime change.
It warned the assaults risked triggering a “humanitarian, financial and presumably radiological disaster” within the area and accused the U.S. and Israel of “plunging the Center East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”
British prime minister holds emergency assembly
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a gathering of the federal government’s emergency committee on Saturday morning and deliberate to carry calls with allies within the coming hours.
“We don’t need to see additional escalation right into a wider regional battle,” a U.Okay. authorities spokesperson mentioned, reiterating Britain’s assist for a negotiated resolution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Britain was not concerned within the U.S.-Israeli strikes.
The U.Okay.’s Overseas Workplace additionally up to date its journey recommendation to warn in opposition to all journey to Israel and Palestine, and urged British nationals in different Center Japanese international locations to “instantly shelter in place.”
Iranians refill on provides
In northern Tehran, supermarkets are seeing a surge of consumers looking for bread and bottled water. Nevertheless, provide has been restricted, and a number of the gadgets most in demand — together with bread, eggs, bottled water and milk — are presently unavailable in sure shops.
Lengthy queues have additionally been noticed at gasoline stations throughout the town.
State tv confirmed footage from certainly one of Tehran’s highways, Soleimani freeway, the place extraordinarily heavy visitors was seen on west-to-east routes.
Smoke and explosions witnessed close to a US base in Iraq
Smoke rose from a U.S. base close to the airport in Irbil, the regional capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish area Saturday and an Related Press journalist within the space heard the sounds of explosions. Native media reported that missiles had been shot down. There was no quick assertion from Iraqi officers or from the U.S.
Iran-backed Iraqi militias had beforehand threatened to strike targets within the Kurdish area in case of an assault on Iran. Earlier Saturday, a drone strike focused a headquarters of the Iran-allied Kataib Hezbollah militia southwest of Baghdad, killing two.
EU requires restraint and diplomacy
European Union leaders issued a joint assertion Saturday calling for restraint and fascinating in regional diplomacy in hopes of “making certain nuclear security.”
“Making certain nuclear security and stopping any actions that might additional escalate tensions or undermine the worldwide non-proliferation regime is of essential significance,” mentioned European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. “We name on all events to train most restraint, to guard civilians, and to totally respect worldwide regulation.”
Each mentioned that the EU has pushed to resolve essential points via diplomacy but in addition has in place “in depth sanctions in response to the actions of Iran’s murderous regime and the Revolutionary Guards.”
They mentioned Brussels was working with the EU’s 27 member nations to assist the bloc’s residents within the Center East.
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian strikes
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the Iranian assaults on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan as a breach of their sovereignty.
The Kingdom confirmed that it absolutely stands by these international locations and warned of the “dire penalties of continued breach of sovereignty and violating worldwide ideas.”
Saudi Arabia additionally known as on the worldwide neighborhood to take measures to confront the Iranian assaults which can be “undermining” the soundness and safety of the area.
US and Israeli strikes goal websites throughout Iran
Strikes on Saturday are concentrating on a rising listing of cities and websites throughout Iran, based on Iranian state media. Direct strikes on the capital, Tehran, earlier despatched plumes of smokes above its skyline, with studies of explosions in or close to the most important cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Tabriz.
Blasts had been additionally reported in a number of western cities in addition to round Persian Gulf port cities which can be essential to Iran’s main oil commerce, together with Asaluyeh.
France advises its residents to train warning
France, whose army has bases and an everyday presence within the Mideast, has known as on French residents within the area to train excessive warning.
“A army escalation is underway … It’s not the time for negotiations. We’re in a scenario of battle,” junior Protection Minister Alice Rufo instructed France-2 tv Saturday, evaluating the scenario to the 12-day battle in June.
“Our precedence is the safety of our residents and safety of our forces within the area,” she mentioned.
Requested if French forces had been concerned within the U.S. and Israeli strikes or focused in retaliatory strikes, French army spokesperson Col. Guillaume Vernet mentioned: “The French armed forces constantly adapt their posture to threats and implement measures to make sure the surveillance and safety of army installations the place French troopers are deployed.”
He wouldn’t elaborate.
“Our army presence ensures France’s impartial evaluation of the scenario,” he instructed the AP.
Israeli president salutes assaults on Iran
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has welcomed the joint U.S.-Israeli operation in opposition to Iran.
Herzog says he hopes the operation “will carry a historic change and a greater future for the entire Center East and the complete world.”
Khamenei’s whereabouts unknown
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei didn’t made a public look within the days earlier than the assault and hasn’t been instantly seen after. Through the 12-day battle in June, he was believed to have been taken to a safe location away from his Tehran compound.
Qatar says it repels second wave of Iranian assaults
Qatar’s Protection Ministry says the army has efficiently repelled the second wave of Iranian assaults that focused a number of elements of the nation.
The Qatari Overseas Ministry condemned the assaults, calling them a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty. It added that Qatar has been at all times among the many sides calling for a dialogue with Iran.
The Overseas Ministry mentioned that the concentrating on of Qatar by a neighbor “can’t be accepted underneath any justification or pretext” because the gas-rich Gulf nation has at all times distanced itself from regional conflicts.
Syria closes airspace
Syria’s civil aviation authority introduced the closure of airspace in southern Syria Saturday, whereas a lot of airways, together with Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia, Qatar Airways, and Pegasus canceled all flights to Lebanon.
Emirates Airways says flights are disrupted
Emirates, one of many world’s greatest long-haul airways, says a number of of its flights have been affected by the airspace closure within the United Arab Emirates.
The provider is predicated at Dubai Worldwide Airport, the busiest hub for international travel. It says it’s working with native officers and adjusting its operations, and it urged passengers to examine their flight status online.
Emirates transported 53.7 million passengers throughout its final fiscal 12 months. Lots of these passengers, like these of fellow regional carriers Qatar Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, had been transiting the area for locations elsewhere.
US-Israeli assaults are anticipated to proceed, AP instructed
An individual briefed on the army plans says Saturday’s operation was deliberate by the U.S. and Israel for months and intently coordinated.
The individual says the assaults are anticipated to proceed for a number of days.
They spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to debate the matter with the media.
Iran says Israeli-US airstrikes kill 5 at women’ college
Iran on Saturday mentioned Israeli-U.S. airstrikes in southern Iran killed 5 college students at a women’ college, the primary confirmed fatalities within the operation.
The state-run IRNA information company reported the strike occurred in Minab in Iran’s Hormozgan province. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has a base within the metropolis.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel has supplied any particulars on the marketing campaign to this point.
Impression wounds 1 in Israel
Israel’s nationwide rescue service MADA mentioned one man was flippantly wounded from an influence in northern Israel.
Hearth and rescue providers mentioned an condominium on the twentieth flooring of an condominium constructing suffered a direct hit. It was not clear if it was struck by a missile or particles from an interception.
Iran confirms assaults on US websites
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says that in its retaliation in opposition to Israel and U.S. assaults on Iran, the army struck a number of amenities within the area.
The Revolutionary Guard mentioned in an announcement that within the first section of retaliation, named “Truthful Promise 4,” Iran’s army struck the command of the U.S. fifth Fleet in Bahrain in addition to U.S. bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and army targets in Israel.
There have been no studies of injury in these areas other than one dying within the United Arab Emirates.
The Guard mentioned Iranian assaults with missiles and drones are persevering with and extra data can be launched later.
Bahrain condemns Iranian assault on US fleet
Bahrain’s ambassador within the U.S. says assaults occurred in opposition to “websites inside the Kingdom,” with out giving additional particulars. Writing on X, Abdalla Al-Khalifa mentioned the assaults had been a “blatant violation of sovereignty.”
Iran has apparently attacked the U.S. fifth Fleet in Bahrain in response to U.S.-Israeli assaults in Tehran. The Bahraini diplomat mentioned that Bahrain “reserves the correct to reply” to assault on its territory.
Qatar Airways suspends flights
Qatar Airways says it’s quickly suspending flights at its Doha hub due to the closure of the Gulf nation’s airspace.
The airline says it’s working with native authorities to assist passengers affected by the stoppage, and that it expects delays as soon as flights finally resume. It didn’t predict when that is likely to be.
Authorities-owned Qatar Airways is without doubt one of the Center East’s largest airways, funneling tens of thousands and thousands of principally long-haul passengers via Qatar to locations on six continents.
Iranian missile shrapnel kills 1 in UAE
Shrapnel from an Iranian missile assault on the capital of the United Arab Emirates killed one individual Saturday, authorities in Dubai mentioned.
The state-run WAM information company reported the fatality, the primary recognized within the Iranian counterattack after the USA and Israel launched a serious airstrike marketing campaign concentrating on Iran.
Assaults on Iran threat wider battle and better vitality costs
Inside hours of the joint U.S. and Israeli strike in Iran, Ali Vaez, who directs the Iran Mission on the Disaster Group suppose tank, warned that the battle may possible escalate.
Vaez on social media burdened that Iran had been getting ready for the battle and that wider battle may get away throughout the Center East.
He additionally burdened that the battle may result in greater vitality prices, which might undercut certainly one of Trump’s home political messages that gasoline costs have been decrease since his return to the White Home.
“Iran sits alongside the Strait of Hormuz, via which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil provide passes,” Vaez posted. “Even restricted disruption may spike vitality costs, gas inflation, and rattle world markets.”
EU calls Iran a menace to world safety
The European Union’s prime diplomat known as the battle within the Center East “perilous” and mentioned she was working with Israel and Arab officers to pursue a negotiated peace.
“Iran’s regime has killed hundreds. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, together with assist for terror teams, pose a critical menace to world safety,” mentioned Kaja Kallas, international coverage chief of the 27-nation bloc, in a put up on social media.
She mentioned the EU was evacuating some employees within the area and holding in place a maritime mission within the Crimson Sea.
The EU just lately put recent sanctions on Iran and main figures, prompting retaliatory sanctions by Tehran.
Turkish Airways suspends flights
Turkish Airways says it’s suspending flights to a number of Center Japanese international locations. Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan can be suspended until March 2, an official mentioned on X.
In the meantime flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Oman will suspended until Feb. 28. Additional cancellations could also be introduced, the official mentioned.
US fifth Fleet performs vital position in securing delivery lanes
The U.S. Navy’s fifth Fleet command that host nation Bahrain mentioned was focused by a missile assault is liable for securing the delivery lanes across the oil-rich Center East.
These waters embrace the Persian Gulf, the Crimson Sea and elements of the Indian Ocean. The area incorporates three key chokepoints: the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb on both finish of the Crimson Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait if attacked. Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen have mentioned they are going to resume assaults on delivery routes and on Israel.
The extent of the harm on the fifth Fleet headquarters wasn’t instantly clear. The bottom is positioned simply to the southeast of central Manama, the island nation’s capital.
Drone strikes Iran-linked militia HQ in Iraq
A drone strike Saturday hit a headquarters of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq, within the Jurf al-Sakhar space southwest of Baghdad, killing at the very least two individuals and wounding 4 others, two militia officers mentioned. They spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to remark publicly.
There was not quick remark from the U.S. or Israel.
Previous to Saturday’s strikes on Iran, the group had threatened to hitch the fray ought to Iran be attacked.
In the meantime, Iraqi Overseas Minister Fuad Hussein mentioned in an announcement that he acquired a name from his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in whereas Araghchi mentioned Iran would goal U.S. bases within the area out of self-defense.
“He clarified that these assaults weren’t concentrating on the international locations concerned, however had been restricted to army websites,” the assertion mentioned. It added that Hussein urged deescalation.
Israel says Iran was stepping up missile program
In a briefing with reporters, an IDF official mentioned Israel has recognized “a pointy acceleration” in Iran’s missile program.
The official says Iran was starting to make dozens of ballistic missiles a month. He additionally mentioned there had been no important hits in Israel. He spoke simply earlier than midday, roughly 4 hours after the operation started.
Iran confirms response to assaults
Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council confirmed its armed forces had “commenced a decisive response to those hostile acts.”
In an announcement, it warned the Iranian individuals to journey to areas not included within the zones being focused and mentioned the federal government had made “prior preparations” to make sure the availability of fundamental requirements.
Faculties and universities had been ordered to shut whereas the assertion mentioned banks would proceed to function.
Germany says it was instructed of Israeli strikes prematurely
The German authorities was knowledgeable prematurely this morning about Israel’s army strikes on Iran, a spokesman mentioned on Saturday.
Germany is in shut session with its European companions, the spokesman mentioned. Its disaster administration crew will meet at midday to debate Iran.
The federal government urged German residents in Iran, Israel, and the broader area to register on the official system for residents overseas and comply with the directions of the native authorities for their very own safety.
The international ministry mentioned it was in “shut and fixed” contact with the embassies in Iran and Israel, in addition to different missions within the area.
Iran makes plans with Iraqi militias, sources inform AP
Two officers with completely different Iran-backed militias in Iraq instructed The Related Press {that a} assembly came about two months in the past between Iranian officers and allied Iraqi militias to make plans for a response in case Iran was attacked, together with distributing duties among the many Iraqi armed teams.
The officers spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to remark publicly.
One of many officers mentioned it was determined that the response would goal U.S. forces and pursuits in Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish area and in neighboring Jordan.
U.S. troops have vacated bases the place they had been beforehand stationed in Iraq in areas underneath the management of the central authorities in Baghdad. This adopted an settlement to finish the army mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition combating the Islamic State, however U.S. forces stay within the Kurdish area.
One of the distinguished Iraqi militias, Kataib Hezbollah, on Thursday issued a public assertion urging its fighters to “be ready to interact in a battle of attrition that could be extended and exceed the expectations of the U.S. administration.”
It additionally issued a warning to the Kurdish regional authorities in Iraq “in opposition to collaborating with hostile international forces” that “may threaten its safety and future.”
Israeli media present photos of broken constructing
Israeli media confirmed photos of injury to an condominium constructing in northern Israel, reportedly from influence with elements of an interceptor.
Israeli police mentioned shrapnel fell in a number of websites. Rescue providers mentioned there have been no recognized accidents from the missile barrages launched on all elements of the nation.
Israel warns Iranians close to army websites to evacuate
The Israeli army issued a warning for the quick evacuation of areas close to weapons manufacturing and army amenities in Iran.
“Your presence in these places places your lives in danger,” the army mentioned on its Persian-language X account.