United States and Israel launch attacks against Iran

JERUSALEM: Israel's defense ministry announced on Saturday that it had launched a "pre-emptive strike" on Iran, as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat, while US President Donald Trump said the United States had launched “major combat operations” against Iran.

US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that "major combat" is underway to destroy Iran's missile forces and "annihilate" the country's navy.

"The United States' military began major combat operations in Iran," Trump said in a video message posted on his social media site while he spent the weekend at his Florida golf club. "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

"We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally -- again -- obliterated. We're going to annihilate their navy," Trump said.

He offered the military there "immunity" or "certain death" and told Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand."

"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," Trump said in a video address from Florida.

A statement from Israel's defense ministry, stated, "The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country".

'Existential threat'

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that the US and Israel have launched an operation on Iran to remove an "existential threat". 

Netanyahu said the "murderous regime" of Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms.

Authorities in Jerusalem have issued an "extremely serious alert," prompting sirens throughout the city.

Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on Saturday morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

'Missiles from Iran'

The Israeli military said it detected missiles launched from Iran on Saturday as sirens sounded across several parts of the country, after Israel earlier launched strikes on its arch-foe.

"A short while ago, sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement.

A cellphone message was sent to members of the public urging them to seek shelter.

Israel, Iran close airspace 

"Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights," the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Meanwhile, Iran also closed its airspace until further notice, according to its civil aviation body.

Iraq closes its airspace 

Iraq closed its airspace on Saturday, state media said, after Israel said it carried out strikes against Iran.

"The ministry of transport announces closing Iraqi airspace," the Iraq News Agency INA reported.

UAE and Bahrain 

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Meanwhile, the US has directed its embassy staff and citizens in the UAE to "shelter in place".

Explosions rock Iranian cities 

Meanwhile, state-run IRNA news agency reported explosions also rocked Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.