WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The broad U.S. and Israel attack Saturday on Iran, which is said to include hundreds of targets over several days, has triggered retaliatory missile attacks on U.S. bases in the region.
Iran claims a girls school with several dozen casualties was among the targets.
President Trump urged Iran’s people to now take over the government. In a video he said, “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
He continued, recounting Iranian attacks over the years. “It’s been mass terror and we’re not going to put up with it any more.” He said Iran was rebuilding its capability to produce nuclear weapons.
“We are going to destroy their missile industry to the ground,” he said. “We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the .. terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region.”
To the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and police forces, Trump said, “Lay down your weapons and have complete immunity or in the alternative face certain death.”
To the 90 million Iranian people, he said, “Take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations.” He said, “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach.” Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed Trump’s exhortation.
Prominent Democratic lawmakers immediately responded with criticism. Rep. Seth Moulton issued a statement and told CNN that the Trump administration had destroyed the pact and inspections that had stalled Iran’s nuclear ambitions during Trump’s first term and falsely claimed to have obliterated its nuclear capabilities during his second term. Now the new attack, he said, seemingly did not include plans for what happens afterward, a key blunder in the U.S. attack on Iraq. “Bluster and bomb is not a strategy,” he said. “Trump’s utter stupidity will get Americans killed.”
Several Republican lawmakers praised the operation. Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Roger Wicker said it was “a pivotal and necessary operation,” though one done without prior authorization from Congress.
Some members of Congress were notified in advance of the joint U.S. and Israel attack but, some said, not about its immense scope and aim to kill Iran’s leadership. Officials said the attack will be spread over several days in what has been named “Operation Epic Fury.” Meanwhile Iranian missiles targeted U.S. installations in Bahrain, the U.A.E., Kuwait and Qatar with many of the incoming projectiles intercepted, Saudi Arabia was also a target and missiles were intercepted over Ryadh.
Oil tankers began avoiding the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz and oil prices were expected to skyrocket when trading in oil futures resumed.
Israel officials said three separate gathering places for Iranian officials were hit simultaneously without immediate confirmation Iran’s Supreme Leader was among those killed. The U.S and Israel attacks, which are continuing against what was described as hundreds of targets, were launched during daylight hours in Iran. Initial reactions from some other countries, like China, were of dismay at the unfolding situation with several international experts warning of destabilizing forces being unleashed across the Mideast.
The United Nations security Council is convening a meeting Saturday in reaction to the military operation with condemnations from U.N. Secretary General Antionio Guterres. “The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region undermine international peace and security,” he said.