Live updates: United States and Israel launch attack on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a statement, thanking Donald Trump for his help in operation ‘The Roar of the Lion’.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short time ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Netanyahu said in a video posted to X.

“I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership. For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has been shouting ‘Death to Israel,’ ‘Death to America.’

“It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people. This murderous terrorist regime must not be armed with nuclear weapons that would allow it to threaten all of humanity. Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.

“The time has come for all segments of the Iranian people, the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis, and the Ahwazis, to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peaceful Iran.

“I appeal to you, the citizens of Israel, to listen to the instructions of the Home Front Command. In the coming days, in Operation ‘The Roar of the Lion,’ we will all be required to have endurance and fortitude.

“Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”

Israel Defense Forces has confirmed Iran has retaliated, launching a missile towards Israel.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” the IDF posted on X.

“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.

“Sirens were sounded in several areas across the country following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.

“At this time, the IAF is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat.”

Mr Trump listed other historical attacks on US interests involving Iran, saying it “knew and were probably involved” in al-Qaeda’s suicide bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.

“Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq,” he said.

“The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years as well as US naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes.

“It’s been mass terror and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.

“It was Iran’s proxy Hamas that launched the monstrous October 7 attacks on Israel.”

He said Iran continued to develop long range missiles that could threaten Europe “and could soon reach the American homeland”.

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President Trump said the United States repeatedly tried to make a deal with Iran before the strike was launched.

“We sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried,” Trump said.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally ... obliterated.”

“Our objective is to defend the American people, eliminating imminent threats from the Iran regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Mr Trump said in his video.

“Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted ‘death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodhshed and mass murder.”

He then referenced the 444 days Islamic students occupied the American Embassy in Tehran from Novmber 1979 to January 1981.

American President Donald Trump has confirmed the United States is involved in the attack on Iran.

In an eight minute video posted to Truth Social, he stated “a short time ago the US began a major combat occupations in Iran”.

Israel has launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, with local media reports claiming explosions have been heard in five cities across Iran.