After Israeli attack, US launches strikes on Iranian targets: Reports

# News Desk
A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran | AFP
A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran | AFP

Tehran: The United States is participating in military strikes against Iran, two US officials told CNN, as explosions were reported in Tehran and Israeli forces said they had launched a pre‑emptive attack on the Iranian capital on Saturday.

Explosions and smoke were seen and heard across downtown Tehran, including near key government buildings. The attack, described by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz as a strike “to remove threats”, also involved US participation, though Washington has not publicly detailed the full extent of its role.

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Sirens wailed across Israel as authorities issued alerts urging civilians to stay close to protected spaces in case of retaliatory strikes. Iranian state television acknowledged explosions in Tehran but offered no immediate cause or casualty figures.

The incident marks a significant escalation in the Israel–Iran conflict, with international concern growing amid stalled nuclear negotiations and mass military deployments in the Middle East. Israel’s operation has been called a “pre‑emptive attack,” and reports indicate the United States has joined in the offensive against Iranian positions.

Also read | Smoke and shock: Visuals surface showing Israeli strike on Tehran

This follows intensified regional tensions as the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a breakthrough in recent talks aimed at resolving differences over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian authorities have earlier warned that any attack involving U.S. forces would broaden the scope of the conflict.

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Iran closed its airspace until further notice, following multiple blasts in the capital Tehran and elsewhere, the civil aviation agency said.

"The airspace of the entire country is closed until further notice," announced the spokesman of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, quoted by Tasnim news agency.