US participating in Israeli strikes against Iran – reports

The United States is reportedly involved in the Israeli airstrikes against Iran, as stated by a U.S. official and a source familiar with the operation, both of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military actions. This is a breaking news update. Below is the earlier report from the Associated Press. On Saturday, Israel carried out a daytime attack on Iran’s capital, causing smoke to rise from downtown. The strike appeared to target an area near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is not clear if Khamenei, who is 86 years old, was present in his office at the time, as he has not been seen in public for several days amid rising tensions with the United States. This attack occurs as the U.S. has deployed a large number of fighter jets and warships in the area, aiming to pressure Iran into negotiating about its nuclear program. Former President Trump had sought a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear activities and sees a chance to act while Iran faces internal struggles due to widespread protests. Iran aims to avoid conflict but insists on its right to enrich uranium and is unwilling to discuss other issues, such as its long-range missile program or support for militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. It is not yet known if Iran will retaliate immediately, but it has cautioned that American troops and bases in the region could be targets for any counterattack. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as a measure to eliminate threats, although he did not provide further details. In Tehran, witnesses reported hearing the first explosion near Khamenei’s office, and Iranian state television later broadcasted news of the blast without specifying its cause. At the same time, sirens were activated across Israel. The Israeli military announced it had issued a “proactive alert” to prepare citizens for the potential launch of missiles toward Israel.