TEHRAN / WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV — The United States and Israel have carried out coordinated military strikes against multiple targets inside Iran, marking a significant escalation in long-running tensions over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. Iran has responded with retaliatory attacks on U.S. and allied positions across the Middle East, heightening concerns about a broader regional conflict.
Joint Offensive
Israeli officials referred to the operation as Operation Lion’s Roar, while U.S. officials used the name Operation Epic Fury and described the action as “major combat operations.”
According to officials, the coordinated strikes targeted leadership compounds, missile launchers, and other military infrastructure.
President Donald Trump said the objective was to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten U.S. and allied security and to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the strikes as necessary against what he called a “terrorist regime” presenting an existential threat, asserting that the offensive would degrade Iran’s ability to threaten regional security.
Explosions and smoke were widely reported in Iranian cities, and both nations moved to protect civilian populations, with Israel sounding air raid sirens and placing parts of the country on alert.
Tehran’s Retaliatory Strikes
Iran vowed a “decisive” response after the strikes, condemning the military action as an unlawful assault and calling on the United Nations Security Council to act against what it labeled a violation of international peace. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tehran would defend itself “with all their might.”
Iranian forces launched retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. military bases across the Middle East in an operation described by Iranian state media as “Truthful Promise 4,” hitting facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere.
As BBC News reports:
Bahrain is one of several countries in the Gulf to have been hit. One verified clip, filmed from a moving vehicle, shows the moment a missile strikes. An explosion follows, sending fragments and debris into the air. People inside the vehicle can be heard shouting “oh my God” as it speeds down the road.
It’s rare to see footage showing the exact moment of impact. Most videos we analyse show the immediate aftermath or damage, but this clip shows exactly how quickly events can turn.
Bahrain’s National Communication Centre says the service centre of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet has been “subjected to a missile attack”. It is responsible for operations across the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Other verified footage from Bahrain shows dark plumes of smoke rising as sirens sound across the city.
Global Responses and Escalation Risks
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a “pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression” and warned the offensive could spark catastrophic humanitarian and economic consequences. Moscow offered to mediate a peaceful resolution.
International concern is mounting over the possibility that the conflict could expand further, drawing in proxy groups and regional actors. Calls for restraint and renewed diplomacy have been voiced by global leaders, even as military operations continue.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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