Israel and the United States launched coordinated military strikes against Iran on Friday morning, marking the first direct large-scale attack on Iranian territory by both nations and dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the operation as a "preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats against the State of Israel." Katz immediately signed an order imposing a special state of emergency throughout Israel's entire territory under the Civil Defense Law, warning that "a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe."
The strikes, which began in the early morning hours local time, represent a significant departure from the pattern of limited, often covert exchanges between Israel and Iran that have characterized their shadow war for decades. According to Associated Press sources, American forces participated directly in the operation, with explosions reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
President Donald Trump confirmed U.S. involvement, stating that Washington had begun "major combat operations" in Iran. The decision marks one of the most consequential foreign policy moves of Trump's second term, committing American military assets to direct confrontation with a regional power of 90 million people.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The current escalation follows years of mounting tensions since Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in his first term. Tehran has steadily expanded its nuclear program, enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, while supporting proxy forces across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly moved to a secure location outside Tehran as the strikes began, according to Israeli media reports. The precautionary move suggests Iranian intelligence anticipated the operation, though not in time to prevent it.
The coordinated nature of the U.S.-Israeli strikes raises questions about the depth of planning and intelligence sharing between Washington and Jerusalem. Defense analysts note that operations of this scale require weeks if not months of preparation, suggesting the attack was long in development despite its characterization as "preemptive."
Regional reactions came swiftly. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both wary of Iranian regional influence, offered no public comment in the immediate hours following the strikes. Russia and China, Iranian allies, condemned what Moscow called "illegal aggression against a sovereign state."
The full scope of targets and casualties remained unclear in the hours following the initial strikes. Israeli officials indicated the operation focused on Iranian military infrastructure, including missile production facilities and command centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Military experts warn that Iran's response could take multiple forms: direct missile attacks on Israeli territory, activation of proxy forces including Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Iraq, or attacks on U.S. bases across the Middle East. The declaration of emergency across Israel suggests authorities are preparing for all scenarios.
