US and Israel attack Iran with tensions high over nuclear talks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to "take over your government" — an appeal that suggested the allies could seek to end of the country's theocracy after decades of tensions.

The first strikes of the attack appeared to target the compound home to Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran. It wasn't immediately clear if he was there at the time. Smoke could be seen rising from the Iranian capital.

"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," Trump said in a video posted on social media that sought to justify the attacks. He urged Iranians to take cover during the strikes and, "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take."

The attack quickly expanded beyond Iran.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it bring down Iranian fire.

Meanwhile, Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions also could be be heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement, saying that the country “will not hesitate” in its response. In a statement posted on social media, the ministry said: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.”

Trump cites 'major combat operations'

Trump said in the video that the U.S. began "major combat operations in Iran" after the U.S. assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

He claimed in the video that Iran continued to develop its nuclear program and planned to develop missiles to reach U.S. He also acknowledged there could be American casualties following the Iran strikes, saying, "that often happens in war."

Iran said it hasn't enriched uranium since June, but it blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war that month. Satellite photos analyzed by the Associated Press showed new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran sought to access and potentially recover material there.

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Iran has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to 1,240 miles. That puts all the Mideast and some of eastern Europe in their range. There is no public evidence that Iran seeks to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington criticized its space program as potentially allowing it to one day.

Tensions soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region, and Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear program. He saw an opportunity while the country struggles at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

Iran hoped to avert a war but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

But Trump's statement indicated the U.S. struck for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel — which considers Iran its archenemy — said the joint attack was to "remove an existential threat posed" by Iran.

"Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands," Netanyahu said.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran's military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Authorities shut down roads to Khamenei's compound in downtown Tehran as other blasts rang out across the capital.

Witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei's office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.

More explosions struck Iran's capital after Israel said it was attacking the country.

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The Latest: US and Israel attack Iran as Trump says US begins 'major combat operations'

• By The Associated Press

Photos show US and Israel launch an attack on Iran