Early Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military operation targeting senior Iranian officials across Iran in what was described as “Operation Epic Fury.” The attack aimed to dismantle the hardline regime and its military capabilities.
In a video address posted on Truth Social, President Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their current leadership. “Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” he said. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
The initial strikes hit multiple major Iranian cities including Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj. Explosions were reported near Tehran’s presidential palace and national security council. Military targets included the parliament, supreme council, intelligence ministry, and atomic energy agency. A simultaneous cyberattack disabled state-controlled media outlets.
Senior Iranian officials were targeted: army chief Amir Hatami; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour; president Masoud Pezeshkian; defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh; and intelligence chief Majid Khademi. Both Nasirzadeh and Pakpour were reported killed.
Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at Israeli territory and U.S. military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. The UAE reported one death from falling debris.
Exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi urged supporters to “finish this task” by toppling the regime, stating: “This is a humanitarian intervention, and its target is the Islamic Republic, its apparatus of repression, and its machinery of killing—not the country and great nation of Iran.”
The operation marks the second time in under a year that Trump fulfilled his threat to strike Iran. Earlier this month, he had warned of military action after diplomatic talks stalled.
In Tehran, citizens chanted “Freedom, freedom” as explosions continued. Videos circulated showing Iranians celebrating with smoke rising in the distance. This intervention follows months of Iranian suppression of pro-democracy protests and nuclear ambitions, including the killing of upwards of 30,000 civilians during recent demonstrations.