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Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran

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Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
− By Daniel Estrin , Rebecca Rosman Source: Donald J.
+ By Greg Myre , Daniel Estrin , Jane Arraf Smoke rises over Tehran after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday.
− Trump via Truth Social TEL AVIV, Israel — The United States and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday.
+ Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption WASHINGTON, D.C., TEL AVIV, Israel, and AMMAN, Jordan — The U.S. and Israel launched a wave of airstrikes Saturday against Iran as part of a major military campaign intended to topple the Islamic regime, according to President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
− In an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social, Trump said the operation, known as "Epic Fury," was "to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests." To jump to specific areas of our coverage, use the links below: Casualties | Regional Impact | How We Got Here What we know about casualties on the ground A person briefed on the operation told NPR that Israel was targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, though their whereabouts weren't immediately clear.
+ The attack began after sunrise in Iran, with huge explosions ringing out in the capital Tehran. Videos showed large plumes of thick smoke.
− Iran's news agency IRNA said U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a girls' school, killing dozens of young students and wounding more.
+ State of the World from NPR The U.S. and Israel launch a major attack on Iran Iran's Foreign Ministry called the attack a "gross violation" of its national sovereignty. A statement said the airstrikes hit both military and civilian targets.
− Iran's Foreign Ministry called the airstrikes a "gross violation" of its national sovereignty, and retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and at military bases with U.S.
+ "They have hit many targets around me and we hear fighter jets and missiles exploding," said a resident in western Tehran reached by phone before communications were cut in Iran.
− troops in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
+ "People were panicking and trying to get to their homes.
− An Iranian official said all Israeli and U.S.
+ Children are running out of school." Iranian state media said one of the airstrikes hit a girls' primary school in southern Iran, killing at least 85 children, according to the local prosecutors office.
− interests in the region were now considered legitimate targets.
+ The prosecutors said more girls were still buried under the rubble. Saturday is the start of the Iranian school and work week. NPR is asking Israeli and U.S. officials for comment on the school attack.
− The UAE Defense Ministry said an Asian migrant worker was killed from fallen debris when air defenses intercepted missiles attacking a base with U.S.
+ Middle East Panic, fury, and some hope, in Iran as U.S.
− troops in Abu Dhabi.
+ launches strikes Iran responded with missile and drone launches of its own, spreading the conflict to the wider region. Air raid sirens wailed in Israel as it came under attack. Several countries in the Gulf also reported Iranian strikes, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The Jordanian government, which also hosts major U.S. military bases, reported it downed 49 drones and ballistic missiles threatening its territory.
− The joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran comes after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S.
+ "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people," President Trump said in an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social. Source: Donald J.
− military buildup in the region, as the U.S.
+ Trump via Truth Social The joint U.S.-Israeli attack, called "Epic Fury" by the Pentagon, came after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S.
− and Iran tried to negotiate a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program.
+ military buildup in the region.
− Trump said those efforts had failed.
+ The U.S. had said was trying to negotiate a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program, holding the most recent round of talks on Thursday in Geneva. But Trump said those efforts had failed.
− "Bombs will be dropping everywhere," President Trump said in his video address.
+ World Why is the U.S.
− "When we are finished, take over your government.
+ attacking Iran?
+ Six things to know In the run-up to the military strike, analysts speculated on whether Trump might choose a brief, limited attack — as he has done previously in Iran and many other cases over the past year — or if he would opt for a more expansive operation. The initial impression — and the president's own words — pointed to a large-scale, open-ended bombardment. "We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated," Trump said, adding, "We're going to annihilate their navy." The president claims Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program ahead of the attack — Trump had often said the program was "totally obliterated" in the U.S. and Israeli attacks last June. Politics Iran strikes were launched without approval from Congress, deeply dividing lawmakers Trump also told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender: "Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death." The International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitored Iran's program for years, as well as other nuclear experts, have said there's no evidence that Iran has resumed the enrichment of uranium, the centerpiece of the program. Prior to launching the attack, Trump said he preferred a negotiated deal, but would also welcome regime change. Otherwise, he offered little insight into his ultimate goal in Iran. But in his video, he made clear that he wants Iran's Shiite Muslim leadership, which has ruled for 47 years, to fall. Speaking directly to the Iranian people, he told them to take shelter for now, while bombing is taking place. Then, he added, "When we are finished, take over your government.
It will be yours to take.
− This will be, probably, your only chance for generations." The Israeli military said in a statement its fighter jets were striking "dozens of military targets" in Iran with "full synchronization and coordination" between the Israeli and U.S.
+ This will be, probably, your only chance for generations." However, the Iranian security forces brutally suppressed mass street protests last month.
+ Human rights groups have put the number killed at 7,000 or more. Trump has put the death toll at 32,000 without citing his source. There's no sign the U.S. will send ground troops into Iran, and military analysts say it will be extremely difficult to topple the government with air power alone. Therefore, it's impossible to say whether Iran's leadership might be vulnerable to a domestic uprising, or if would be able to crush protests as it did earlier this year. Meanwhile, in Israel the military said in a statement that its fighter jets were striking "dozens of military targets" in Iran with "full synchronization and coordination" between the Israeli and U.S.
militaries following months of joint planning. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack is to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran." "Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," Netanyahu said in a video. 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.
− "We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground," Trump said.
Israel has closed its airspace to all passenger flights, and civil defense protocols have been activated. Regional military forces remain on high alert.
− Israel declared a 48-hour state of emergency.
+ A 48-hour state of emergency was declared nationwide.
− Air raid sirens have been sounding across the country, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.
+ Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.
Trails of smoke streaked the sky above Tel Aviv as Israeli interception systems fired at incoming missiles. A hospital in central Israel began moving operations to an underground fortified compound.
− "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. It's menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," Trump said.
+ In the Gulf, several countries offered details on Iranian attacks.
− Trump acknowledged that the operation could result in casualties of U.S.
+ Bahrain's government said an Iranian airstrike hit the U.S.
− troops, but said "we're doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission." "We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran," Trump said.
+ naval base that is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
− He said the U.S.
+ The United Arab Emirates, another U.S.
− had "sought repeatedly to make a deal" but Iran "rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions." Trump told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to "lay down your arms… or you will face certain death." Iranian government media reported rocket fire in parts of the capital, Tehran.
+ ally, said it intercepted Iranian missiles.
− State television has broadcast footage showing smoke rising after a blast in the city. The extent of the damage and potential casualties has not yet been confirmed.
+ It said shrapnel from one of the missiles killed a national of an unspecified Asian country in Abu Dhabi.
− The strike follows weeks of speculation about potential military action against Iran, particularly amid a significant U.S.
+ In Jordan, several explosions believed to be missiles being intercepted were heard along with the sound of fighter jets.
− military buildup in the Middle East.
+ The Jordanian military said its forces had shot down two ballistic missiles.
− This is a developing story and will be updated.
Rebecca Rosman reported from Paris. Aya Batrawy contributed reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor