Trump Announces “Major Combat Operations” as U.S. and Israel Launch Wide‑Ranging Strikes on Iran During Ramadan

President Donald Trump has confirmed that U.S. forces, working in coordination with Israel, have begun what he called “major combat operations” against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and other cities. In an eight‑minute video posted to Truth Social early Saturday, Trump described the campaign as “massive and ongoing” and said the goal is to “neutralize imminent threats” by dismantling Iran’s missile and military infrastructure and curbing its nuclear ambitions. Israeli officials have said they launched a pre‑emptive strike, and both countries have framed the operation as necessary to remove what they describe as escalating threats from Tehran.

Iranian state media and regional outlets are reporting multiple strikes in and around Tehran, with footage showing smoke rising from buildings and air‑raid sirens sounding in several areas. Iran has closed its airspace to commercial flights, while Israel has activated civil‑defense measures and brought military units to high alert amid concerns about missile or drone retaliation. Early reports also indicate that U.S. military facilities in the region have been targeted in response, though the full extent of damage and casualties on all sides is not yet clear.

In his address, Trump said the U.S. had “tried many times” to negotiate limits on Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities and accused Iranian leaders of rejecting “every opportunity” to step back. He urged Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces to “lay down your weapons” and told the Iranian public that “your moment of liberation is coming,” calling on them to take control of their government once the operation concludes. Critics abroad, including Russia’s Foreign Ministry, have condemned the campaign as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression,” and diplomats warn the strikes could further derail already fragile nuclear talks, which are being tracked closely in outlets such as NBC News’ live report on the U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran.

This is the second time in less than a year that the U.S. has carried out major strikes inside Iran, following last June’s reported bombing of three nuclear facilities, and comes only weeks after a U.S. operation in Venezuela that removed Nicolás Maduro from power. Analysts say the latest Iran campaign significantly raises the risk of a wider regional conflict even as the White House portrays it as a move to restore deterrence and open the door to a different political future in Tehran.