Major Combat Operations.
The attack on Iran has begun.
1. The New York Times:
President Trump announced on Saturday that the United States had launched a major attack on Iran as massive explosions resounded in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Mr. Trump said in an eight-minute video on social media that the United States had begun “major combat operations” in Iran. Israel also said it was attacking Iran.
Residents in Iran reported seeing smoke rising from the district where the presidential palace and the National Security Council are located. The attacks began on Saturday morning, the first day of the Iranian workweek, as millions of people were at work and school.
U.S. officials say they expect the latest strikes to be far more extensive than the American attack last June, which targeted three separate Iranian nuclear facilities. Dozens of U.S. strikes are being carried out by attack planes from bases and aircraft carriers around the Middle East, one of the U.S. officials said.
It was not immediately clear what the American and Israeli attacks had targeted so far, but a U.S. official said the campaign could last several days. The U.S. and Israeli officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters.
The Middle East has been on edge for weeks as Mr. Trump has threatened military strikes against Iran unless its leaders agreed to his demands, including reining in its nuclear program. In parallel, the U.S. military has built up its forces in the region — the largest American deployment there in decades.
Explosions have also been heard in other cities across Iran, including Isfahan and Karaj, according to the semiofficial news agency, Fars. In Israel, air-raid sirens blared throughout the country as it braced for potential retaliation. (Sources: nytimes.com, x.com)
2. Times of Israel:
US President Donald Trump indicates that the goal of the ongoing strikes in Iran is to topple the regime, and he calls on the Iranian people to seize the opportunity and take over their government.
“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police. I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death,” Trump says in an eight-minute video statement confirming the US strikes.
“Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death,” Trump says.
“To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” he continues.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
“For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it… So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump says.
“Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass,” he adds. (Sources: timesofisrael.com, truthsocial.com)
3. “Live” coverage of the war:
We recommend timesofisrael.com, haaretz.com, jpost.com, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, wsj.com, theguardian.com.
There are others, obviously, but at the moment these websites seem to be the best informed.
4. News Items is off today. The Weekend Edition will be posted tomorrow. There will be news.