Israel says it has launched a daylight strike on Iran, and American President
Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States has initiated "major combat
operations" in the country.

Witnesses in Tehran said they heard a blast near the offices of the
republic's Supreme Leader. It wasn't immediately clear whether the
86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in his offices at the time.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation was aimed at removing
threats, though he didn't elaborate. Trump echoed the message in a video
posted to Truth Social, saying the objective is to "defend the American
people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

Sirens sounded across Israel as the military issued a public alert about
possible incoming missiles.

Iran shut down its airspace as more explosions hit the capital, and Iranian
media said attacks are happening nationwide.

The New York Times reports, citing an anonymous US official, that the focus
of the US attacks is on Iranian military targets.

Iran has warned it could target US personnel and bases if it retaliates.

AP_JvW