Prakash Kafle/Kathmandu: The United States and Israel carried out large-scale strikes on Iran on Saturday, as U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranian citizens to “take control of your future” and challenge the Islamic leadership that has governed the country since 1979.
Initial reports indicated that some of the strikes targeted areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media said attacks were reported across several regions, with smoke visible rising over the capital. It was not immediately known whether the 86-year-old leader was present at his office during the strikes.
In a video statement announcing what he described as “major combat operations,” Trump addressed the Iranian public directly. “When this is over, take over your government. It will be yours for the taking. This may be your only opportunity for generations,” he said. “For years, you have called on America for support, and that support never came.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced strong support for the objective of the operation, saying the joint U.S.–Israeli action was intended to pave the way for the Iranian people to determine their own future. He said the campaign would create an opportunity for citizens to step forward and shape the direction of their country.
The strikes signaled a significant escalation in Washington’s confrontation with Tehran, marking the second instance within eight months that the Trump administration has resorted to direct military action against Iran’s leadership. The development followed closely on the heels of another bold move by Trump, who recently authorized a military mission in Venezuela that led to the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The two were transported to the United States, where they are expected to face federal charges related to alleged drug trafficking activities.
The latest strikes followed weeks of rising tensions, as U.S. naval forces were deployed to the region and President Trump reiterated his demand for a new agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The escalation came at a time when Iran was already facing mounting internal pressure, with widespread protests and growing public frustration challenging the government at home.
Tehran responded in line with earlier warnings, launching an initial barrage of missiles and drones aimed at Israeli targets. That was followed by attacks on U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. In response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq temporarily closed their airspace.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry released a strongly worded statement declaring that the country would respond decisively to the attacks. In a message shared on X, the ministry said the moment had arrived to defend the nation and confront what it described as enemy military aggression.
Iran’s state news agency reported that five students were killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran during the Israeli–U.S. strikes. Meanwhile, authorities in the United Arab Emirates said debris from an Iranian missile strike on the capital resulted in one fatality, according to state media reports.
