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Why is the U.S. attacking Iran? Six things to know

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By NPR Staff Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday. AP hide caption The U.S.
− and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday after weeks of threats from President Donald Trump over Iran's nuclear capabilities Here's what you need to know about the US and Israeli attacks on Iran: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint US Israeli strikes is to quote "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran." Netanyahu said in a video: "Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands." A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel's military focusing on targeting Iran's missile program.
+ and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday after weeks of threats from President Trump over Iran's nuclear capabilities.
− President Trump announced what he called "major combat operations" that are "massive and ongoing" in Iran in a video posted to Truth Social at 2:30am ET.
+ Here's what you need to know about the U.S.
+ and Israeli attacks on Iran: Loading... Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S. Israeli strikes is to quote "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran." Netanyahu said in a video: "Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands." A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel's military focusing on targeting Iran's missile program. President Trump announced what he called "major combat operations" that are "massive and ongoing" in Iran in a video posted to Truth Social at 2:30 a.m. ET.
He said the objective was to "defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats" from Iran. A third round of indirect negotiations between Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner failed to produce a diplomatic solution on Thursday. The Israel strikes targeted Khamenei and the Iranian president, trying to assassinate them, a person briefed on the operation told NPR's Daniel Estrin. A person briefed on the matter told NPR that Israeli assessments are that Khamenei was hit.
− Iran's news agency IRNA says the US-Israeli strikes hit a girls school, killing at least 53 young female students and wounding dozens more.
+ Iran's news agency IRNA says the U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a girls school, killing at least 53 young female students and wounding dozens more.
Trump encouraged innocent Iranians to "take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations" once what the Pentagon is calling "Operation Epic Fury" is over.
− He previously said he was concerned about the Iranian regime's killing of protesters and has previously cited that as potential justification for US strikes.
+ He previously said he was concerned about the Iranian regime's killing of protesters and has previously cited that as potential justification for U.S. strikes.
− Iran's foreign ministry has called the airstrikes by the U.S and Israel a "gross violation" of its national sovereignty, and vowed to respond decisively.
+ Iran's foreign ministry has called the airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel a "gross violation" of its national sovereignty, and vowed to respond decisively.
The UAE's Defense Ministry says Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the country, which hosts U.S. troops at several locations in the country Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan have all been targeted by Iran.
− All of them have US troops present.
+ All of them have U.S. troops present.
US Navy's Fifth Fleet service center in Manama, Bahrain was hit according to the government there. The other countries say the missiles were intercepted. The UAE says debris from a missile interception killed an Asian migrant worker. Loud booms have been heard over Dubai according to our correspondent there. Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
− Throughline Iran Protests Explained Middle East Voices from Iran: women defy fear in the face of brutal crackdown The Indicator from Planet Money How Iran's flagging economy inflamed its protests Iran Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor
+ Throughline Iran Protests Explained Middle East Voices from Iran: women defy fear in the face of brutal crackdown The Indicator from Planet Money How Iran's flagging economy inflamed its protests Iran Israel Iran U.S. strikes Iran Iran and U.S. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor