Iran-Israel War News LIVE: Explosions Heard In Abu Dhabi, Qatar Intercepts Iranian Missile

“This morning, on the threshold of Nowruz and on the tenth day of the holy month of Ramadan, the United States and the Zionist regime flagrantly violated Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty and targeted a number of objectives and defensive infrastructures, as well as non-military facilities, in various cities of our country”, it said.

The ministry added it was engaged in diplomatic talks with the United States to “prove the righteousness of the Iranian nation”. However, it said, Tehran was prepared to defend itself against any aggression.

“The renewed military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran has taken place under circumstances in which Iran and the United States were engaged in a diplomatic process. Although we did not trust the United States and the Zionist regime to refrain from committing another act of aggression, we entered negotiations to prove the righteousness of the Iranian nation and to demonstrate the illegitimacy of any pretext for aggression. Now, the people of Iran, who were determined to prevent war and did whatever was necessary to that end, have come to the defense of their homeland and to confront the military transgression of the enemy. Just as we were prepared for negotiations, we were also ready to defend ourselves at any time. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond to the aggressors with full strength.”

Amid the strikes on Iran, a senior Iranian official said all US, Israel “assets in the region remain a legitimate target”.

“All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target. There are no red lines after this aggression, and everything is possible, including scenarios that were not previously considered,” the official said.

“The United States and Israel have started an aggression and a war that will have wide and long-lasting repercussions. We were not surprised by the joint American-Israeli aggression and we have a complex response with no time limit,” he added.

He said any calls for Iran to show restraint or surrender are “unacceptable and mere wishful thinking”.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it has begun “the first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks” against Israel.

It said the attacks came “in response to the hostile and criminal enemy’s aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Blasts were heard in Jerusalem as Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel, AFP reported.

Amid the strikes, emergency alert text messages were sent to residents across Israel, urging them to find the “best protection” nearby to take shelter.

Another barrage of missile was launched towards Israel following its strikes against Iran, said the Israel Defence Force in a statement.

“Another barrage has been launched toward the State of Israel. You are requested to continue to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command and the guidelines distributed to you. You must remain in a protected space until an official announcement on the matter”, it said.

The IDF urged civilians not to share location or details of the strikes. “The air defense array identifies and intercepts threats at all times”, it said.

Iran has named its retaliatory operation against Iran ‘Fateh Khyber’.

This follows Israel-US strikes against Tehran, which began earlier in the day.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former monarch, issued a statement hailing the Israel-US strikes against Tehran. Thanking Donald Trump, he urged the President to ensure safety of civilians.

“My message to the President of the United States, President Trump, is this:

The noble people of Iran, despite the savage repression and massacres of this regime, stood firm with courage for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history”, he said in the statement.

Pahlavi further appealed to people of Iran to practice caution amid the strikes.

“And to you, my dear compatriots in Iran:

In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran. I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security. Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time—which I will announce to you precisely—you can return to the streets for the final action”, he said.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former monarch, hailed the strikes carried out by Israel and the US against Tehran, describing it as a “humanitarian intervention”.

“Moments of destiny lie ahead of us. The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived. This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter—not the country and great nation of Iran”, he said in a statement.

“But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near”.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu targeted the Iranian regime, asserting it must not be armed with nuclear weapons.

“For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has been shouting ‘Death to Israel,’ ‘Death to America.’ It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people. This murderous terror regime must not be armed with nuclear weapons that would allow it to threaten all humanity”, he said.

“Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands”.

Confirming the strikes against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked “great friend” President Donald Trump, hailing his “historic leadership”.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago Israel and the USA launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran. I thank our great friend President Donald Trump for his historic leadership”, Netanyahu said in a statement.

First wave of Iranian ballistic missiles was launched toward Israel with Iranian state television announcing retaliation against Jerusalem.

Earlier in the day, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack against Iran, as negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme failed to yield a concrete outcome.

An Air India flight from Delhi, en route to Israel’s Tel Aviv, returned midway as tensions grew in the Middle East following Israel-US strikes against Iran.

“AI139 operating from Delhi to Tel Aviv on 28 February is air returning to India due to closure of air space in Israel and in the interest of safety of passengers and crew. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation and remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety. We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as needed”, said an Air India spokesperson.

President Donald Trump said the US will not be taking over Iran after the strikes.

“When we are finished, take over your government — it will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations”, President said in a direct message to Iranians.

In view of the strikes launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, India has issued an advisory for its nationals living in Iran.

New Delhi has urged residents to practice caution and avoid unnecessary movement as situation remains tense in Tehran.

US President Donald Trump targeted the Iranian regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hours after launching strikes against Tehran.

“They are a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the US, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world”, Trump said.

Soon after launching strikes against Iran, United States President Donald Trump said “Tehran can never have a nuclear weapon”.

“This terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I will say it again: they can never have a nuclear weapon”, he said.

“In advance of the investigation, we launched extensive military operations in Iran. Our goal is to protect the people of America by eliminating the imminent threats from its own regime, Iran!” said US President Donald Trump in his first statement following strikes against Iran.

Following a series of strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, an Iranian official said Tehran will respond with crushing attacks, Al Jazeera reported.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the US launched ‘pre-emptive’ strikes against Iran as negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme faltered, dealing a serious blow to diplomatic efforts and pushing the Middle East toward a renewed military confrontation.

Iran has closed its airspace amid strikes by Israel and the United States.

“We will restore days of glory”, said Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in a direct message to the people of Iran amid joint strikes by Tel Aviv and the United States.

Israel has named its operation ‘Lion’s Roar’.

India has issued an advisory for nationals in Israel, as Tel Aviv launched ‘pre-emptive’ strikes against Iran in a joint cooperation with the United States.

As Israel and the United States launched a joint strike against Iran, reports have emerged suggesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office in Tehran was targeted.

“The office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the main headquarters of Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran, has been targeted in an attack on Saturday. The outcome of the attack is not yet clear”, according to a report by Iran English.