In a dramatic escalation, US and Israeli forces carried out coordinated airstrikes against Iran this weekend. Following the attacks, Iran issued a chilling threat to the United States, and Donald Trump responded.
Donald Trump ordered the airstrikes on Saturday in coordination with Israel after intelligence indicated that US and Israeli forces could strike multiple top Iranian leaders and clerics simultaneously at a compound in Tehran, according to two sources familiar with the planning.
On Sunday, news broke that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed. Four members of Khamenei’s family also died during the strikes.
Trump posted a video on Truth Social: “It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.”
The president also issued a direct warning: “Lay down your arms or face certain death.”
US and Israeli forces carried out coordinated airstrikes
The joint military action came after weeks of stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran had refused to dismantle its nuclear capabilities, prompting the United States to bolster its military presence across the Middle East. Trump had previously warned that failure to reach a deal would carry “serious consequences.” Israel later confirmed that the operation specifically targeted both the Supreme Leader and Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran responded swiftly. Tehran announced the “first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks” across Israel, according to the New York Post. The situation escalated further as Iranian officials indicated that attacks on US bases were being prepared.
State media described Iran’s readiness to launch what it called “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces,” according to VT.
“You have crossed our red line”
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported at approximately 6:15 a.m. local time (9:15 p.m. Saturday ET): “The most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces will begin toward the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just moments.”
US and Israeli officials now expect the military campaign inside Iran could last for weeks. On Sunday, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, delivered a televised address. He condemned the US and Israeli leaders as “filthy criminals” and promised “devastating blows” in response.
“You have crossed our red line and must pay the price,” Qalibaf said. “We will deliver such devastating blows that you yourselves will be driven to beg.”
Trumps reponse
Later, Trump returned to Truth Social to respond to Iran’s warnings: “Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The situation remains tense, with both sides signaling that the conflict could escalate even further.
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