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Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran (AP)<\/p>\nThe US and Israel have launched a major attack on targets across Iran as Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to \u201ctake over your government\u201d.<\/p>\n
The first strikes appeared to target the compound of Iran\u2019s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in central Tehran. It was not clear if he was there at the time.<\/p>\n
Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,\u201d the US president said in a video posted on social media.<\/p>\n
Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran (AP)<\/p>\n
The US president called the attacks \u201ca noble mission\u201d, saying they were necessary because of Iran\u2019s pursuit of nuclear weapons and missile systems that could reach the US.<\/p>\n
Mr Trump acknowledged there could be American casualties, but added \u201cthat often happens in war\u201d, and called on Iranian officials to \u201clay down your arms\u201d or \u201cface certain death\u201d.<\/p>\n
He urged Iranians to take cover during the strikes, but added: \u201cWhen we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s state-run IRNA news agency reported that one strike at a girls\u2019 school in Minab in Hormozgan province had killed 40 people. Iran\u2019s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has a base in the city.<\/p>\n
The violence quickly expanded with Iran\u2019s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard saying it had responded by launching a \u201cfirst wave\u201d of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it was bringing down Iranian fire.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry said the country \u201cwill not hesitate\u201d in its response, adding: \u201cThe time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy\u2019s military assault.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Bahrain said a missile attack had targeted the US Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom.<\/p>\n
Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to US Army Central, and explosions were heard in Qatar.<\/p>\n
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.<\/p>\n
The UAE said one person had been killed by falling shrapnel and air defence fire was seen over its commercial hub Dubai.<\/p>\n
Four people were also killed by an Iranian missile striking a building in Syria\u2019s southern city of Sweida, according to state television.<\/p>\n
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior officials.<\/p>\n
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Smoke rises on the skyline over Tehran (Vahid Salemi\/AP)<\/p>\n
Mr Trump said the US had begun \u201cmajor combat operations in Iran\u201d after the US assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme.<\/p>\n
He claimed in the video that Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear programme and plans to develop missiles to reach the US.<\/p>\n
He said Iran had \u201cattempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing the long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland\u201d.<\/p>\n
Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then.<\/p>\n
Satellite photos analysed by the Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Tehran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.<\/p>\n
Iran has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile programme, limiting their range to 1,240 miles. That puts all the Middle East and some of eastern Europe in their range.<\/p>\n
There is no public evidence of Iran seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has said its space programme could allow it to one day.<\/p>\n
He added that Saturday\u2019s strikes will be part of \u201ca massive and ongoing operation\u201d that will aim to \u201cdestroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground\u201d as well as \u201cannihilate their navy\u201d and \u201censure that the region\u2019s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world and attack our forces\u201d.<\/p>\n
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran\u2019s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to sources.<\/p>\n
Roads to Khamenei\u2019s compound in central Tehran had been shut by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital.<\/p>\n
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Donald Trump said the US has begun \u2018major combat operations\u2019 (Michael Gonzalez\/AP)<\/p>\n
Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region, and Mr Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n
He saw an opportunity while the country struggles at home with growing dissent after nationwide protests.<\/p>\n
Iran had hoped to avert a war but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile programme or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
But Mr Trump\u2019s statement indicated the US was striking for reasons far beyond any nuclear ambitions, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack aimed to \u201cremove an existential threat posed\u201d by Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran\u2019s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official source.<\/p>\n
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