BREAKING: Trump announces joint US, Israel strikes on Iran

The US and Israel have launched an joint attack on Iran as tensions between the Trump administration and that largest state sponsor of terror have escalated in recent months. A senior Israeli official has also confirmed that Iranian regime officials were being targeted in the attack, per Fox News.

President Donald Trump announced early on Saturday morning that the US and Israel are carrying out "major combat operation in Iran" as videos of the strikes began to go viral on X.

"A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world," Trump said.

"For 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. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel," he added. "In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer."

He later added that the Iranian regime will "soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces."

"To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," he later added.

The attacks had the "element of surprise," according to Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin. It was carried out just after 9 am local time in Iran. Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a state of emergency in Israel. 

This article was originally published at Human Events.