Israel, US launch attacks against IranIran has fired missiles, drones into Israel in retaliation; Air defences engaged on both sides.The US has launched “major combat operations” against Iran, Donald Trump has said. Israel is also involved – and the IDF says Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes.When we are finished, take over your government’: Trump confirms US strikes on IranDonald Trump has confirmed that the US has launched “major combat operations” against Iran in an eight-minute video on Truth Social.
Trump confirms US strikes on IranDonald Trump has confirmed that the US has launched “major combat operations” against Iran in an eight-minute video on Truth Social.
He said Tehran’s “menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world”.
“For 47 years,” Trump adds, “the Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed.”
He references the US embassy crisis from 1979 and 1981, where 66 hostages were held for 444 days, as well as other incidents with Tehran.
“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer”, he adds, before claiming that Iran attempted to rebuild its nuclear programme and was developing long-range missiles.
Trump then says “we are going to destroy their missiles” and “annihilate their navy”, and adds that while steps have been taken to avoid casualties, “Americans may be lost”.
He tells the Islamic Revolutionary Guard to “lay down their arms” or “face certain death”.
Addressing the people of Iran, Trump says “the hour of your freedom is at hand” and warns them “bombs will dropping everywhere”.
“When we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take”, he adds.
“This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.
“No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight.”
Islamic Revolutionary Guard statement: We have launched counterattack
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced it is launching a counterattack, according to a statement posted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Telegram.
“In an answer to the hostile and criminal enemy assault to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first broad wave of missile and drone attacks of the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the occupied land has begun,” the statement said.
Iranians must reclaim the nation, exiled crown prince says
Reza Pahlavi is the US-based son of Iran’s shah deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution – he is urging Iranians to reclaim the nation.
In a statement on X, he said:
My dear compatriots, Decisive moments lie before us.
The assistance that the President of the United States had promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived. This is a humanitarian intervention, and its target is the Islamic Republic, its apparatus of repression, and its machinery of killing—not the country and great nation of Iran.
However, despite the arrival of this assistance, the final victory will still be achieved by us. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish this task in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is approaching.
Now that the Islamic Republic is collapsing, my message to the country’s military, law enforcement, and security forces is clear: You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not to defend a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime.
Join the nation and help ensure a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will sink with Khamenei’s ship and his crumbling regime.
And my message to the President of the United States, President Trump, is this: The honorable people of Iran, despite the brutal repression and killings carried out by this regime, stood bravely for nearly two months.
I now ask you to exercise the utmost possible caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and the allies of the free world, and they will not forget your assistance during the most difficult period of Iran’s contemporary history.
And to you, my dear compatriots in Iran: In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever we must remain focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran. I ask you, for now, to remain in your homes and remain calm and safe.
Stay alert and ready to return to the streets for the final action at the appropriate time, which I will communicate to you. Follow my messages through social media and satellite media. If disruptions occur in the internet and satellite broadcasts, I will remain in contact with you via radio. We are very close to final victory.
I hope to be with you as soon as possible so that together we may reclaim Iran and rebuild it. Long live Iran, Reza Pahlavi.
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