US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the United States has launched “major combat operations” in Iran, accusing the Iranian regime of an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” against the US.
In a video posted on Truth Social in the early hours, Trump said the US strikes, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He insisted that Iran will never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
Trump claimed Tehran had ignored repeated opportunities to abandon its nuclear ambitions and continued developing long-range missiles capable of threatening US allies in Europe, American troops abroad, and potentially the US homeland. He vowed to destroy Iran’s missile industry and “annihilate” its navy, reports BBC.
The president also criticized Iran’s 47-year campaign of chanting “Death to America,” warning that US forces may suffer casualties in the operation. Addressing the Iranian people, Trump urged them to rise up and “take over your government,” declaring, “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”