The United States has formally entered into direct military action against Iran, joining Israeli forces in a coordinated campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities in what represents one of the most significant escalations in the Middle East in decades.
US President Donald Trump says the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran aim at “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“A short time ago, the US military began a major combat operation in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime,” he said.
American B-2 stealth bombers carried out strikes on multiple high-value sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan facilities long identified as the core of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Pentagon confirmed US participation in the operations, which came hours after Israel launched what it described as “preventive attacks” on Tehran and other Iranian military installations.
Diplomatic Breakdown Preceded the Strikes
The military action follows the collapse of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, where President Donald Trump had set a firm deadline for Iran to agree to sweeping concessions on its nuclear programme. With talks breaking down and the deadline passing without agreement, the US and Israel moved to the military option.
In the days prior to the strikes, Washington had significantly surged its military presence in the region, deploying more than 60 fighter jets to Jordan and repositioning carrier strike groups within striking range of Iranian territory, movements that, in retrospect, signalled the operation was already underway in its preparatory phase.
US Troops Across Region Placed on High Alert
Following the strikes, the Pentagon briefed American forces stationed across the Middle East, including in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, to prepare for immediate Iranian counterstrikes. Military commanders are treating retaliation as a matter of when, not if.
Domestically, US intelligence agencies have raised the threat level amid concerns over the potential activation of foreign-linked cells within American borders. Heightened security measures have been implemented at key federal installations.
What Comes Next
The strikes mark a fundamental shift in US policy toward Iran, moving from sanctions and diplomacy to direct military confrontation. The full scope of the operation and Iran’s response remain developing. Regional powers including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are closely monitoring the situation as fears grow of a broader conflict engulfing the Middle East.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.
