US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has said that the United States has begun an attack on Iran, with Israel also confirming that it had struck the country.

Posting a video to his Truth Social account, Trump confirmed the attack this morning. 

“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump said.  

In an eight-minute video, Trump outlined a broad set objectives from the operation, urging the Iranian people to “take over your government” and pledging US support “with overwhelming strength and devastating force.”

“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms,” Trump said. 

“Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.”

Trump's video confirming the attack. Truth Social Truth Social

Tehran

Iranian state television reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was “safe and sound” and the Fars news agency said “seven missile impacts were reported in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts” of Tehran.

“I saw with my own eyes two Tomahawk missiles flying horizontally toward targets,” an office worker told AFP on condition of anonymity. “At first we heard a dull noise and thought it was a fighter jet.”

In Tehran, AFP journalists heard blasts and saw two large columns of smoke rising over the city centre. The health ministry said ambulances had been dispatched but there was no immediate confirmation of casualties.

Iran, Iraq and Israel all closed their airspaces to civilian traffic once the strikes were underway, and the US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain urged US citizens to take shelter.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has also confirmed that Israel has joined the United States in the attack on Iran. 

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Netanyahu said in a post on social media. 

This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity. Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands. 

Israel’s defence ministry had earlier said it had launched a “preemptive strike” against Iran.

In Jerusalem, sirens were heard across the city and people across the country received phone alerts about an “extremely serious” threat.

 ”The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country,” read a statement from his ministry.

The attacks come after Trump had ordered the biggest military build-up in decades in the Middle East, with the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, approaching the coast of Israel

Earlier this week the United States and Iran had held talks in Geneva but Trump yesterday that the cleric-run state was “not willing to give us what we have to have”.

With reporting by © – AFP 2026