Videos show moment Iran bombed by US, Israel
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Thick plumes of smoke were towering over the sky after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, several videos from the Associated Press show.
Multiple explosions were reported across Tehran following a pre‑emptive military strike carried out by Israel. Video footage shows blasts and smoke clouds rising in several parts of the city.
The Context
The United States and Israel said they carried out coordinated attacks on Iranian military and strategic targets early Saturday, with officials describing the action as a pre‑emptive operation.
Explosions were reported in Tehran amid what the Israeli Defense Forces and U.S. military described as strikes against sites they said posed threats to their security.
What To Know
An explosion occurred in Bushehr, with video footage obtained by the AP showing a large plume of smoke rising from a hillside near residential areas.
The first reported strike appeared to occur near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, per the AP.
Iranian media reported that strikes were taking place across the country, with smoke visible rising from the capital, Tehran.
In a social media video, President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had begun major combat operations in Iran. He said that Iran continues to develop its nuclear program and is pursuing missile capabilities that could reach the United States.
He noted that American casualties could occur in the event of Iranian strikes, saying, “that often happens in war.”
Iran has maintained that it has not enriched uranium since June, but it has restricted access for international inspectors to the sites targeted by U.S. airstrikes during a 12-day conflict. Satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press indicates new activity at two of these locations, suggesting Iran may be evaluating and attempting to recover materials there.
Currently, Iran limits its ballistic missiles to a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), covering much of the Middle East and parts of eastern Europe. There is no public evidence that Iran is pursuing intercontinental ballistic missiles, although U.S. officials have expressed concern that Iran’s space program could potentially support such capabilities in the future.
Tensions have risen as the Trump administration deployed U.S. warships to the Middle East, increasing the military presence to its highest levels in decades. Officials said the build-up and warnings of force aimed to pressure Iran on its nuclear program and respond to its suppression of nationwide protests.
In response to the US-Israel strikes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, suggesting further counter‑attacks were planned. Explosions and air‑raid sirens were reported in parts of Israel as air defences were activated.
Several airlines and countries have suspended flights across the Middle East, the Guardian reported. Wizz Air has halted all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until 7 March. Lufthansa has suspended flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Muscat for the weekend, while KLM has cancelled flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv. Oman Air has suspended all flights to Iran and Israel, and Kuwait has temporarily halted flights to Iran. In addition, Israel has cancelled all civilian flights and closed its airspace.
The U.S. Department of Defense has named the strikes on Iran “Operation Epic Fury.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said in a statement on Saturday: “The United States military has undertaken 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 are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise 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.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has cried ‘Death to Israel’, ‘Death to America’. It spilled our blood, murdered many Americans and slaughtered its own people. We must not allow this murderous terrorist regime to arm itself with nuclear weapons that will allow it to endanger all of humanity. It’s time for all the people of Iran—Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochis and Akhvakhs—to shed from themselves the burden of tyranny and bring forth a free and peace-seeking Iran.”
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: “History bears witness that Iranians have never bowed their heads in submission to foreign aggression. This time as well, the response of the Iranian nation will be decisive and will make the aggressors regret their criminal act.”
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