Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, with thick smoke seen rising over parts of the city, as the Israeli defense minister said Israel launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran.
Explosions rocked Tehran as Israel’s defense minister said a ‘preemptive’ strike was launched against Iran, with sirens sounding across Israel and a nationwide state of emergency declared
Channel 12 reports the US and Israel acted jointly, despite ongoing nuclear diplomacy, days… pic.twitter.com/Z2NBu5g2iN
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026
Sirens also sounded across Israel, which declared a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country that includes a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the US and Israel launched the attack jointly.
Israel and the US have carried out joint strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran amid heavy air activity and sirens sounding across Israel pic.twitter.com/rmIrBRFq4I
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026
The strikes come amid diplomatic efforts between US and Iranian officials for a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, who mediated the talks, met US Vice President JD Vance on Friday. “I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days. Peace is within our reach,” he wrote on US social media company X after the meeting.
Israeli strikes kill, wound Revolutionary Guard personnel as Iran vows response
Initial Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday killed and wounded numerous Revolutionary Guard personnel, including key operational staff, ISNA news agency reported, citing a source.
Further explosions followed the strikes in the cities of Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Lorestan, the Mehr news agency said, indicating the attacks extended beyond the capital.
Senior Iranian officials were also targeted in the Israeli attack on Tehran, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli Channel 12 said Israel is preparing in the initial phase for four days of intense joint attacks on Iran, citing a security official.
In response, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament National Security Committee, said in a post on US social media company X: “We warned you! Now you have started down a path which end is no longer in your control.”
Tehran hospitals declare emergency after strikes.
Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanipour told the official IRNA news agency that emergency measures were activated following explosions across parts of the capital.
Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran to ‘protect Americans’
As explosions rocked Tehran and Israel announced “preemptive” strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump also confirmed launching “major combat operations” in the Islamic republic.
🔴 US President Donald Trump announces that the United States military begins major combat operations in Iran
🗣️ He says Washington’s objective is to ‘defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime’
➡️ The strike occurs despite ongoing… pic.twitter.com/AnR4cr76L2
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social account.
The president vowed to destroy Iran’s missiles, raze its missile industry to the ground and annihilate the navy, reiterating that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated,” Trump said.
Last June, the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites towards the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war.
Cyberattacks hit Iranian news sites, including IRNA, amid Israel-US strikes
Cyberattacks have targeted multiple news sites and local apps in Iran, the IRNA news agency, which was also affected, said on Saturday, as the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic republic.
While IRNA’s website was inaccessible, others reported disruptions and there were internet outages.
Internet monitor NetBlocks confirmed “Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout with national connectivity at 4%.”
Explosions heard in northern Israel after missiles launched from Iran
Explosions were heard in the Haifa area in northern Israel on Saturday following launches from Iran, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.
Earlier, air raid sirens sounded in several areas across Israel after missiles were identified as launched from Iran toward the country, the Israeli army said.