The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released the first images of its pre-emptive strikes on Iran on Saturday (local time). The Israeli agency, which shared the video on its X account, said it had targeted hundreds of locations in western Iran as part of “Operation Rising Lion.”
The footage comes hours after the United States and Israel launched operations targeting Iran, marking a renewed military confrontation in the Middle East. The combat operation comes days after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran against finalizing the nuclear deal, adding that “bad things” would happen if it did not comply.
Earlier today, the IDF announced in a post on X that this is a joint operation to degrade Tehran’s terrorist regime and eventually eliminate its existential threats to Israel. It added: “The Iranian regime has not abandoned its plan to destroy Israel. The regime has continued to fund, train and arm its proxies stationed on Israel’s borders. These actions pose an existential threat to Israel and pose a danger to the Middle East and the world at large.”
Joint US-Israel operation in Iran
On Saturday, the US and Israel launched strikes targeting key locations in Iran and attacking military and naval forces there, with Trump calling on Iranian citizens to take over the country once the military operation ends. He posted a video on Truth Social, saying: “The hour of your freedom is at hand. When we are done, take over your government. It will be up to you to take over. It will probably be your only chance for generations.”
Loud explosions were reported throughout Tehran throughout the day. According to the AP, one of the attacks was reported near Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the office of the country’s supreme leader.
Iran retaliates, targeting sites in Israel
Following a joint military operation in Tehran, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted at least four US bases in the Middle East region and launched strikes in Israel, CNN reported, citing state media. Iranian attacks have been reported on US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
According to a report in Al Jazeera, the IRGC claimed that all Israeli and US military targets in the region had been hit by “powerful Iranian missile strikes”. It added: “This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” it said. All US assets throughout the region are considered legitimate targets for the Iranian military.”
Reports indicate that at least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi after several rockets fired from Israel were intercepted, according to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state agency.
Iran skips Oman and focuses on others in the Gulf Cooperation Council
According to an Al Jazeera report, the only country Iran has yet to target in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Saturday is Oman, which has served as a mediator between Tehran and other nations in the Middle East region and beyond for years. The first round of talks between the US and Iran also took place in Oman on February 6.
The GCC is an alliance of six countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1981 to strengthen economic, security, cultural and social cooperation.
