The United States and Israel launched simultaneous airstrikes across Iran on the 28th (local time).
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in an 8-minute video message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, "The United States has begun major combat operations against Iran," adding that "the objective is to eliminate the threat posed by the Iranian regime." Trump also stated, "The Iranian regime can never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons," and "We will destroy Iran's missiles."
Trump further said, "For many years, the Iranian people have asked for America's help but did not receive it," urging them to "take control of the government once our strikes are finished."
Major news outlets including CNN, The New York Times, and Reuters reported that U.S. officials confirmed American forces had conducted airstrikes on Iran. According to reports, the U.S. attacks were concentrated on Iranian military facilities. The NYT noted that Iran possesses 2,000 short- and medium-range missiles, with launch facilities distributed across the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a video address the same day, "Israel and the United States have launched an operation to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran's terrorist regime." The Israeli Defense Ministry had earlier stated that its forces carried out a "preventive" preemptive missile strike against Iran.
Iranian state television reported that explosions sent thick plumes of smoke rising over downtown Tehran. Foreign media reported the explosions occurred near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. It remains unconfirmed whether the 86-year-old leader was in his office at the time. He has not appeared in public in recent days as tensions with the United States escalated.
Iran immediately launched counterattacks. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command stated, "Several military and administrative facilities in Tehran and other cities have been attacked," adding, "We will respond soon." Approximately one hour after striking Iran, the Israeli military issued a statement saying, "Missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory have been detected," and confirmed it was activating air defense systems to intercept them.
The New York Times, citing Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency, reported that Iran launched missile attacks targeting U.S. Air Force and Navy bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. An Iranian military spokesman said in a statement through Fars, "We will teach Israel and the United States a lesson they have never experienced in history," and "All bases helping the United States and Israel will become targets of the Iranian military."
This marks the first direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran in approximately eight months, since the "12-day war" last June that severely damaged Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are expected to continue intensively over the coming days. A U.S. official said American and Israeli forces are striking buildings symbolic of the Iranian regime and targets identified by intelligence agencies, while simultaneously neutralizing Iran's response capabilities through strikes on military infrastructure. Israeli broadcast Channel 12 earlier reported that the airstrikes on Iran are expected to last four days. An Israeli government official described the operation as the first phase of attacks against Iran, saying it "consists of complex and powerful airstrikes continuing over four days."
The attacks occurred amid peak tensions between Iran and the United States over Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles. The U.S. has demanded that Iran immediately halt nuclear testing and remove all related facilities from the country, but Iran reportedly maintained its position that a complete halt to nuclear testing would be difficult.