Live updates: U.S. military begins 'major combat operations in Iran,' Trump says
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The military action in Iran could last for several days, two U.S. officials told NBC News, as President Donald Trump vowed to eliminate any nuclear threat.
What to know
- MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS: The United States has launched "major combat operations" in Iran, President Donald Trump announced in a video message today. Earlier, Israel said it was striking the Islamic Republic.
- EXPLOSIONS IN TEHRAN: Iranian state media has reported explosions in central Tehran, and news agency video showed plumes of smoke over the capital.
- MISSILE THREAT: Israel has declared a state of emergency. Its military says it has “identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel” and is working to intercept them.
- IRAN VOWS RETALIATION: Iran has vowed that if attacked it would retaliate against American and Israeli bases in the region, warning of a “devastating war.”
- NUCLEAR TALKS: The U.S. built up a massive military presence in the Middle East while holding talks with the Islamic Republic over a new deal to curtail its nuclear program.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard announces attack against Israel
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that they are launching a counter-attack, 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.
Trump warned Iran not to challenge U.S. military
U.S. President Donald Trump today in announcing “major combat operations in Iran” warned about his country’s military capabilities.
“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States armed forces,” Trump said in the video.
‘The time to return to the streets is near': Reza Pahlavi tells Iranians to reclaim the country
Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of Iran’s shah deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has urged Iranians to reclaim the nation.
“Moments of destiny lie ahead of us,” he wrote on X. “This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter—not the country and great nation of Iran.”
“But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near,” he continued.
He urged Iranians to stay home and safe amid the strikes, until the time is right.
“Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time—which I will announce to you precisely—you can return to the streets for the final action,” he wrote.
“We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran,” he said.
He called for Iran’s military, police and security forces to defend the Iranian people, not the regime, writing: “Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime.”
He also issued a message to Trump, saying: “I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots.”
Iran is now in the middle of an almost complete internet blackout, monitoring group
The internet has been almost completely cut off after the start of the U.S. and Israeli attack, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
"Confirmed: Network data show #Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout with national connectivity at 4% or ordinary levels. The incident comes amid US and Israeli combat operations and matches measures used during last year’s war with Israel," the group posted on Saturday.
Iranian authorities cut the internet completely for nearly three weeks during nationwide protests last month.
Netanyahu says attack was ‘to remove the existential threat’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”
Clouds of smoke rise over buildings in Fereshteh, a district in northern Tehran following explosions in the Iranian capital this morning. Supplied to NBC News
Netanyahu also referred to the U.S., which took part in the strikes against Iran, saying “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”
“Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said.
Read Trump's full address on the strikes on Iran
President Donald Trump this morning posted an a video on Truth Social addressing the strikes on Iran. Below are his remarks in full.
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. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world.
For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted “death to America” and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries.
Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel. In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died.
Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as us, naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lands. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.
From Lebanon to Yemen, and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy Hamas that launched the monstrous October 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage.
It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before. Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon.
That is why, in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again, they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore.
Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland.
Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had — and actually were armed with — nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message. For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.
This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States armed forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration, and there is no military on Earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war, but we’re doing this, not for now. 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. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way, and we trust that, with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.
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. You will be treated fairly with total immunity or will face certain death.
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. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.
May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.
Iran strike could last days, two U.S. officials say
The military action in Iran could last for several days, two U.S. officials told NBC News.
Missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, IDF says
Israel’s military said minutes ago that it “identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.”
“Sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said on X.
“At this time, the IAF is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat,” it said, referring to the air force.
U.S. launching military operation in Iran from air and sea, two U.S. officials say
The U.S. is launching the military operation in Iran from air and sea, according to two U.S. officials.
A large array of fighter jets is involved in the operation, one of the officials said. The other said the U.S. is targeting military and security targets in Iran.
The U.S. is firing Tomahawk missiles from Navy ships into Iran, according to three U.S. officials.
Iranian state media reports explosions in multiple locations across Iran, including the Persian Gulf
Iran state media reports explosions in multiple locations outside Tehran, the capital of Iran.
The report listed explosions in the holy city of Qom as well as Hamedan, Kermanshah, Karaj, Tabriz, Ilam and the island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf.
‘We may have casualties’ in future, Trump says in video
President Donald Trump said that there could be future casualties in a military conflict after Israel and the U.S. military conducted strikes against Iran.
Trump said in a video that the military was undertaking “a massive and ongoing operation.”
“My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region,” Trump said in the video.
“Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” he said.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” Trump said.
He appeared to be talking about future retaliation. There have been no reports of any Americans killed or injured in the attack on Iran.
Analysis: Iran falls silent as cell lines are cut
Messages I have sent to people close to the Iranian government are not getting through as reports say cell phone service in parts of Tehran has been cut. But we do have initial reaction from Iranian officials.
Iranian member of parliament Ebrahim Azizi posted on X, "We warned you! Now you have started down a path whose end is no longer in your control."
An explosion in Tehran this morning. NBC News
Today's strikes are likely to have preempted that, targeting Iranian rocket launchers in an attempt to prevent it from firing its thousands of rockets against Israel and U.S. bases.
Trump has described that threat from Iran as the reason for this operation, saying in his video statement, "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."
Trump says strikes come after Iran 'rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions'
In his video message, Trump said the U.S. won’t allow Iran to have nuclear program.
Trump cited Operation Midnight Hammer in June when U.S. strikes attacked Iran’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
“After that attack we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it, they didn't want to do it, again they wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. They didn't know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil," he said.
“They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore," Trump continued. "Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland."
Trump said Iran’s refusal to give up the nuclear program is the reason the U.S. has “undertaken a massive and ongoing operation.”
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again, obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces,” he continued.
“And we will ensure that Iran does not obtained a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon,” he emphasized.
“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces.”
Trump tells Iranians 'take over your government'
At the end of his video message, Trump spoke directly to people in Iran saying “the hour of your freedom is at hand,” urging citizens to “take over your government” when the strikes are over.
“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” Trump warned, with a promise of potential change.
"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," Trump said. "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."
"America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force," Trump said. "Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."
Trump also issued a message to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and police in Iran, offering immunity to those who do not fight.
“I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death,” he said. “Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”
Trump says U.S. has begun 'major combat operations in Iran'
President Donald Trump confirmed the strike in a video message shared on Truth Social saying, "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," he said in the video, posted at 2:30 a.m. ET Saturday.
"It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon," he said.
Iranian state media reports explosions in two locations in central Tehran
Iranian state media reported explosions in two locations in central Tehran on Saturday morning local time.
A photo accompanying the report showed thick smoke billowing into the sky.
Iranian member of parliament says 'you’ve started down a path'
Iranian member of parliament Ebrahim Azizi in a post on X struck a defiant tone after Israel and the United States conducted strikes against his country.
“We warned you!” Azizi wrote on the social media platform. “Now you’ve started down a path whose end is no longer in your hands.”
Strikes in Iran are 'significant,' two U.S. officials say
The strikes in Iran are significant, and are not small strikes, two U.S. officials told NBC News.
Cell phone signal cut off in some areas of Tehran, Iranian news agency reports
Cell phone signal has been cut off in some areas of Tehran, according to the Iranian semiofficial Mehr news agency.
U.S. had sent additional carrier to Iran area before Israel strikes
A second U.S. carrier strike group, the USS Ford Carrier Strike Group, was ordered to the Middle East earlier this month.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group was already in the region. The decision, which was reported on Feb. 13, came as tensions between the U.S. remained high.
Israeli attack on Iran follows threats from Trump, warnings to U.S. embassy staff
Israel’s stated attack on Iran came after threats by the Trump administration, including a warning to U.S. embassy staff in Israel to leave the country if they felt it necessary.
President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address this week accused Iran’s government of “sinister nuclear ambitions.”
The U.S. has been engaged with nuclear talks with Iran.
Smoke rises above buildings in Tehran this morning. NBC News
Yesterday, the U.S. ambassador to Israel sent an email conveyed to the U.S. mission there that those who want to leave should “do so TODAY.” NBC News has seen the email, which was first reported by The New York Times.
Iran’s airspace closed, news agency Tasnim reports
Iran’s airspace is closed, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reports.
U.S. is striking Iran alongside Israel, official tells NBC News
The U.S. is participating in the strikes in Iran with Israel, and the strikes are ongoing, a U.S. official tells NBC News.
Explosions heard in Tehran: Israeli media
Iran's semi-official FARS news agency reported that explosions had been heard across Tehran this morning.
Smoke rises in downtown Tehran
Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday. Vahid Salemi / AP
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made the announcement of the attack as thick smoke rose from an explosion in downtown Tehran, Iran’s capital.
Iranian state television acknowledged the blast, without providing more details.
Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time. The Israeli military said that the “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”
Israel attacks Iran
Israel has launched what it called a preemptive strike against Iran
“The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats against the State of Israel,” a spokesperson for Israel’s defense minister said.
Retaliation is expected, the spokesperson said.
“As a result, a missile and UAV attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate time frame,” the spokesperson said.
