President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States military had begun “major combat operations in Iran,” escalating a conflict that has rapidly unfolded following a coordinated attack with Israel. The announcement, delivered in a video statement posted to his Truth Social network, came after weeks of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program failed to yield an agreement acceptable to the Trump administration.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump stated. He characterized the Iranian government as a long-standing adversary, citing a history of hostile actions dating back decades, including the 1979-1981 hostage crisis and the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 American service members. Trump also referenced alleged Iranian involvement in attacks on U.S. Naval vessels and personnel in Iraq, as well as the recent October 7th attacks on Israel by Hamas, a proxy group he claims is funded and armed by Iran.
The decision to launch military operations followed a breakdown in nuclear negotiations, with Trump asserting that Iran was unwilling to abandon its nuclear ambitions. He specifically stated the aim was to wipe out Iran’s ballistic missile program, preventing the development of weapons that could reach the American homeland and threaten allies. “They just wanted to practice evil,” Trump said. “And we can’t take it anymore.”
According to Trump, the U.S. Had previously bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, claiming those sites were “obliterated.” However, a U.S. Intelligence assessment reportedly found that only one of the locations had been destroyed. The current round of strikes, he indicated, targeted Iran’s ability to develop long-range missiles.
The operation is being conducted in coordination with Israel, which reportedly launched a preemptive attack on Iran simultaneously. Trump claimed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed, a claim disputed by Tehran, which stated its government continued to function. Iran has responded to the attacks with retaliatory strikes on U.S. Bases, Israel, and targets across the Middle East.
Trump warned that Iranian forces would be killed unless they laid down their weapons, bracing Americans for potential casualties. The military action, thus far, has relied on U.S. Air and naval power. The President justified the action as an act of self-defense, arguing that Iran posed an “imminent” threat, despite launching the war using emergency powers and without authorization from Congress. Critics contend that the unprovoked attack violates international law and oversteps the role of Congress.
The White House has not yet released details regarding the scope or duration of the military operations, nor has it provided a casualty assessment. As of Saturday afternoon, major combat operations were described as “massive and ongoing.”
