US President Donald Trump has confirmed the US has launched “major combat operations” in Iran.
This comes after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says his country has launched a “pre-emptive” attack on Iran.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said.
Witnesses say they heard explosions in Tehran, Iran’s capital, and saw thick smoke rising in the sky.
Israel has announced a state of emergency in Israel in anticipation of retaliatory strikes.
Meanwhile, U.S. embassies in Qatar and Bahrain said their personnel are sheltering in place and advised all Americans in the region to do the same after the joint attack early Saturday morning.
The alerts advised U.S. citizens to find a secure location within their residence or another safe building, along with a supply of food, water, medication and other essential items.
They should also avoid demonstrations, keep a low profile and be aware of their surroundings, the embassies said. The security alerts went out minutes after Israel confirmed it had attacked Tehran.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel had already authorized departure for non-essential personnel and their families on Friday.
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