DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
Explosions echoed across northern Israel on Saturday as the country’s air defense systems moved to intercept a barrage of incoming Iranian missiles. The attack comes hours after the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation targeting sites inside Iran.
The Israeli military confirmed it had activated its aerial defense arrays to counter the Iranian fire. Sirens wailed in multiple communities, and witnesses reported hearing thunderous blasts as interceptors engaged targets in the sky.
There was no immediate information on casualties or damage resulting from the ongoing exchange.
The Iranian missile launch is the latest escalation in a rapidly deteriorating situation, following a significant American-Israeli strike on Iranian soil earlier in the day.
Earlier Developments: Strikes Inside Iran
The initial assault targeted the heart of Iran’s leadership. Explosions were reported in the vicinity of the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, according to Iranian media.
State-run outlets confirmed strikes across multiple provinces, with smoke visible rising from the capital.
In a video posted to social media, President Donald Trump announced the commencement of what he described as “major combat operations in Iran.”
He alleged that Tehran had continued to advance its nuclear program and was developing long-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. territory.
In a direct appeal to the Iranian populace, the president suggested they should “take over your government — it will be yours to take.”
He also acknowledged the potential for American casualties in the operation, noting, “that often happens in war.”
By James Kisoo
