Israel launched a surprise preemptive attack on Iran early Saturday morning, with Iranian state media reporting explosions in the capital of Tehran.
Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, stating: "The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel." Immediately following the strikes, sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and throughout the country, and the IDF issued nationwide emergency alerts directly to civilian cellular devices.
The American Posture
While the United States did not directly participate in the offensive strikes, defense and political analysts assess that an operation of this magnitude would not have proceeded without explicit American approval, rather than mere prior notification. The Pentagon has placed U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces on maximum alert and deployed additional THAAD and Patriot missile defense batteries across the region to intercept potential retaliation. Concurrently, the U.S. State Department has escalated its travel advisories, mandating the immediate evacuation of all non-essential embassy staff and American citizens from Israel.
Iran's Official Response
In Tehran, Iranian state television downplayed the severity of the attack, claiming that the country's air defense systems successfully intercepted the majority of the "Zionist projectiles" and that damage to military installations was "minor." However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly issued a hardline statement. An IRGC spokesperson declared that Israel will face a "crushing and unprecedented response" for violating Iranian sovereignty.
A Prolonged Campaign
Officials warn that this operation marks the beginning of a multi-day campaign rather than an isolated strike. As the situation remains highly volatile, with rapid developments and further escalations expected at any moment, the IDF has emphasized that citizens must remain vigilant and strictly follow Home Front Command guidelines while the region braces for Tehran's anticipated retaliation.
