Latest Updates: US and Israel Launch “Major Combat Operations” Against Iran

The United States and Israel have officially launched a massive joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Dubbed Operation “Roar of the Lion,” the preemptive daylight strikes have plunged the Middle East into a full-scale conflict following the collapse of nuclear negotiations in Geneva.
Here are the latest major developments from the frontlines:
The Allied Offensive
* Targeting the Core: U.S. and Israeli forces heavily bombarded military and nuclear installations across Iran. Notably, apparent strikes hit downtown Tehran near the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sending large plumes of smoke over the capital.
* Trump’s Declaration: President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. is conducting “major combat operations” aimed at razing Iran’s missile industry to the ground and annihilating its navy.
* Call for Regime Change: In an extraordinary public appeal, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly, stating, “The hour of your freedom is at hand,” and urged them to “take over your government.”
Iran’s Retaliation
* The First Wave: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) immediately retaliated by launching a massive wave of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel.
* Regional Interceptions: Explosions from air defense interceptions have been heard across the skies of Syria and Lebanon as the allied defense grid works to neutralize the incoming barrages.
Widespread Lockdown
* Israel: The Israeli government has closed its airspace, declared a nationwide state of emergency, and shut down schools and workplaces in Jerusalem until Monday. Several hospitals have moved patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
* Gulf States: Acknowledging the threat of Iranian saturation strikes, U.S. embassies and consulates across Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel have ordered all personnel to shelter in place until further notice.
* Iran: Mobile networks and internet services have been severely disrupted across the country, while state television broadcasts footage of heavily damaged buildings and ongoing rescue operations in Tehran.