Israel and the United States have launched an unprovoked attack on Iran, despite ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the US.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, announced on Saturday morning that his country had launched missile attacks on Iran, and the CNN reported that the attacks were jointly executed by Israel and the US.
Al Jazeera reports that missiles struck University Street and the Jomhouri area of the Iranian capital, Tehran, early Saturday. Explosions were also heard in the Iranian cities of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Tabriz, Isfahan and Karaj.
Although the talks were expected to continue, Israel and the US launched their attacks on Saturday morning after weeks of US military build-up in the Middle East, the largest in over two decades, involving dozens of planes and ships.
This is the second time in less than a year that Israel and the United States have attacked Iran, leading to an all-out war.
The first in June last year led to the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which led to hundreds of deaths and the destruction of facilities on both sides.
On Friday, many countries, including the US, China and the UK, asked their citizens to leave Iran and Israel amidst fears of a war.
Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to respond to the attacks, vowing that the retaliation will be “crushing”.
An Iranian official has told the Reuters news agency that Tehran is preparing for counterattacks that are set to be crushing.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly not in Tehran when missiles from US and Israel hit Iran.
He has reportedly been transferred to a secure location.
However, responding to the attack, Ebrahim Azizi, Head of National Security Commission of the Iranian parliament, said Israel and America had gone down a path which is no longer in their control.
“We warned you! Now you have started down a path which end is no longer in your control,” he tweeted.
On his part, US President Donald Trump, said the attack was carried out to protect America’s interest.
