Trump says U.S. military has begun major combat operations in Iran

The U.S. military has begun “major combat operations” in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday.

“Our goal is to defend the American individuals by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very exhausting, horrible individuals,” Trump mentioned in a video message on his Reality Social account.

A U.S. official confirmed earlier that American forces attacked Iran by air and sea, the Reuters information company reported.

A number of ministries in the southern a part of the Iranian capital, Tehran, have been focused, Reuters quoted an unidentified Iranian official as saying.

A Pentagon responsibility press officer mentioned the division has acquired CNBC’s emailed requests for remark however made no additional clarification.

Earlier, Israel launched a daylight assault Saturday on Iran’s capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from town’s downtown, the Related Press reported.

It wasn’t instantly clear what the goal was. However the assault comes as america has assembled an unlimited fleet of fighter jets and warships in the area to attempt to strain Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz described the assault as being accomplished “to take away threats.” He didn’t instantly elaborate.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the blast. Iranian state tv later reported on the explosion, with out providing a trigger.

Sirens sounded throughout Israel on the identical time. The Israeli military mentioned that it had issued a “proactive alert to arrange the general public for the potential for missiles being launched towards the state of Israel.”

The U.S. military declined to instantly touch upon the assault.

President Donald Trump warned earlier in February that “actually dangerous issues” would occur except Tehran agreed to a deal over the way forward for its nuclear program. The assault, which comes after a big construct up of military property in the oil-rich Center East area.

The U.S. and Iran had held a 3rd spherical of talks in Switzerland on Thursday to attempt to resolve a standoff.

Forward of the discussions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned Iran’s reluctance to speak about its ballistic missile growth program, alongside its nuclear program, was a “huge, huge downside.” Iran had mentioned it was keen to compromise when it got here to its nuclear program, however had repeatedly mentioned Tehran’s missile program had by no means been a part of the talks’ agenda.

There have been earlier indicators that Washington was shedding its persistence with Iran after the White Home mentioned, after earlier talks, that Iran was not addressing its core calls for.

Earlier in February, Iran reportedly mentioned in a letter to United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres that Tehran would reply “decisively” if subjected to military aggression.

Vitality market contributors have been carefully monitoring the escalating geopolitical tensions, with oil costs climbing to six-month highs after Trump’s amid considerations of a attainable provide shock.

Iran, a founding member of OPEC, is a major oil producer and sits on the coronary heart of the strategically very important Strait of Hormuz, via which about 20% of the world’s oil passes.

Final June, the U.S. launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear amenities, inflicting what intelligence steered was extreme injury to Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran responded by launching a retaliatory strike on an American air base in Qatar, reportedly inflicting minor injury however inflicting no casualties.

That is breaking information. Please test again for updates.