Gambiaj.com – (TEL AVIV, Israel) – United States and Israel launched what they described as a “preemptive strike” against Iran early Saturday, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and prompting both Israel and Iran to shut down their airspace amid fears of a wider conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation was carried out “to remove threats,” without providing immediate operational details. Israeli officials said the strikes targeted Iranian ballistic missiles and missile launchers, which Israel considers a significant strategic threat.
A nationwide state of emergency was declared across Israel, with authorities bracing for possible retaliation from Iran in the form of drones and ballistic missiles.
Strikes Target Ballistic Missile Sites as Explosions Rock Tehran Near Khamenei’s Office
Israel’s Home Front Command ordered residents to limit activities to essential services only, banning public gatherings, work, and school attendance, except in what authorities termed “exceptional sectors.” The Transportation Ministry confirmed that Israeli airspace had been closed.
In Tehran, witnesses reported hearing an explosion near the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television later acknowledged the blast but did not provide details about its cause.
It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time. Khamenei has not appeared publicly in recent days as tensions with the United States intensified. Information from Israeli sources says Khamenei could be likely taken out of Tehran, and kept at a safe shelter.
Meanwhile, Iran has shut down its airspace following the Israeli strikes.
Attack Coordinated With the United States
According to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the operation, the United States participated in the coordinated strikes. An Israeli source said the operation had been coordinated with Washington.
The development marks a significant escalation, as it suggests direct U.S. involvement in military action against Iran.
The strikes come after weeks of mounting rhetoric from Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over its nuclear program and its domestic crackdown on protesters, which has reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths.
The United States has in recent weeks deployed a large number of fighter jets and warships to the region in an effort to pressure Tehran into negotiations over its nuclear activities.
President Trump has sought a new agreement to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that Tehran’s uranium enrichment poses a growing risk.
Iran, for its part, insists it has the sovereign right to enrich uranium and has resisted efforts to broaden negotiations to include its long-range missile program and support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iranian officials have previously warned that U.S. troops in the region could be targeted if the country comes under attack. As of Saturday morning, it remained unclear how Tehran would respond to the strikes.
The unfolding situation has heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation, particularly as diplomatic efforts to revive or renegotiate limits on Iran’s nuclear program appear to have stalled.
This is a developing story…
