Israel-Iran Conflict: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday announced that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had launched, what he called "preventive strikes", on Iran. Witnesses in Iran reported explosions in the capital, Tehran, with thick smoke rising in the sky.
The strikes were reportedly launched near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's offices in Tehran. An Iranian official, quoted by Reuters, said the Supreme Leader had been transferred to a secure location after the strikes.
"The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," Katz said. An immediate state of emergency has been declared in Israel following the strikes.
Meanwhile, a US official has confirmed that Washington has also participated in the attacks, which came as the US has assembled a large number of fighter jets and warships in the region, and has warned Iran of a "full-blown" war if no deal is reached over its nuclear programme.