Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel has launched military strikes against Iran with the stated aim of eliminating threats to the country, as tensions between the two regional powers sharply escalate.
Air raid sirens were sounded across Israel, and authorities warned of a possible imminent retaliatory attack. According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the operation was initiated to neutralize what officials described as immediate dangers to national security.
Due to the rapid deterioration of the security situation, Katz declared a special state of emergency across the entire country. The public has been urged to strictly follow instructions issued by the Home Front Command and remain in protected areas and shelters until further notice.
Israeli intelligence and military services estimate that a large-scale retaliatory strike could occur in the near term, potentially involving swarms of drones and ballistic missiles. Sirens have already been heard in multiple Israeli cities warning of incoming aerial threats.
At the same time, reports from Iran indicate that powerful explosions were heard in the capital, Tehran, suggesting that Israeli strikes on Iranian territory are underway.
The Associated Press (AP) and Iranian state television confirmed that explosions occurred in Tehran, including one reportedly near the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Security sources cited by regional media described the operation as a massive “Israeli-American attack” targeting key Iranian government institutions. According to AP, one of the strikes hit an area in central Tehran close to Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later confirmed an explosion in that vicinity.
Following reports of the attack, Reuters reported that Khamenei was not in Tehran at the time and had been moved to a secure location, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the Saudi network Al Arabiya reported strong detonations in eastern parts of Tehran. Among the reported targets were bases of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and facilities associated with Iran’s intelligence services.
Israeli security sources, quoted by local media, described the operation as a coordinated Israeli-American strike.
“Everyone participates in the attacks. The targets are the facilities of the regime itself. We will do everything,” an unnamed security official was quoted as saying. He added that the timing of the strikes was chosen for operational reasons, aimed at achieving surprise and confusing Iranian defenses. Officials also indicated that recent moves over the past weeks were part of a broader, pre-planned strategy intended to mislead Tehran.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the region bracing for possible further escalation.
