US and Israel launch strikes on Iran, explosions reported across region

TEHRAN/JERUSALEM: The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been targeted, as the Islamic Republic retaliated with barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel.

Explosions were heard in the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE -- all countries that host US forces.

Blasts were also reported in the skies over Jerusalem after the Israeli military said a "barrage of missiles was launched" towards the country.

Military sites targeted

Earlier, the Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

The statement came as AFP journalists heard a renewed series of loud blasts and air raid sirens over Jerusalem.

"The strike (on Iran) targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the Israeli army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronization and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

The military said the strikes were part of operation "Roaring Lion", which it said aimed to "thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to the State of Israel over time".

In a later separate statement, the army said the Israeli air force was striking a number of Iranian military sites in the country's western region.

"The Israeli Air Force is currently conducting a broad strike on a number of military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in western Iran," the Israeli military said in a statement.

'Pre-emptive strike' on Iran

Earlier, Israel's defense ministry announced on Saturday that it had launched a "pre-emptive strike" on Iran, as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat, while US President Donald Trump said the United States had launched “major combat operations” against Iran.

US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that "major combat" is underway to destroy Iran's missile forces and "annihilate" the country's navy.

"The United States' military began major combat operations in Iran," Trump said in a video message posted on his social media site while he spent the weekend at his Florida golf club. "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

"We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally -- again -- obliterated. We're going to annihilate their navy," Trump said.

He offered the military there "immunity" or "certain death" and told Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand."

"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," Trump said in a video address from Florida.

A statement from Israel's defense ministry, stated, "The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country".

'Existential threat'

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that the US and Israel have launched an operation on Iran to remove an "existential threat". 

Netanyahu said the "murderous regime" of Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms.

Authorities in Jerusalem have issued an "extremely serious alert," prompting sirens throughout the city.

Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on Saturday morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

'Missiles from Iran'

The Israeli military said it detected missiles launched from Iran on Saturday as sirens sounded across several parts of the country, after Israel earlier launched strikes on its arch-foe.

"A short while ago, sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement.

A cellphone message was sent to members of the public urging them to seek shelter.

Israel, Iran close airspace 

"Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights," the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Meanwhile, Iran also closed its airspace until further notice, according to its civil aviation body.

Moscow condemns US, Israeli 'aggression'

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

Iraq closes its airspace 

Iraq closed its airspace on Saturday, state media said, after Israel said it carried out strikes against Iran.

"The ministry of transport announces closing Iraqi airspace," the Iraq News Agency INA reported.

UAE and Bahrain 

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Meanwhile, the US has directed its embassy staff and citizens in the UAE to "shelter in place".

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier, the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Loud explosions heard in Riyadh

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Explosions rock Iranian cities 

Meanwhile, state-run IRNA news agency reported explosions also rocked Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.