US and Israel launch joint strike in Iran, US official says

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel launched a daylight attack Saturday on Iran’s capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from the city’s downtown.

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President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. involvement in the Israeli strikes in a Truth social post early Saturday morning.

Trump confirmed the U.S. military began “major combat operations in Iran,” in a video posted on his social media platform.

The apparent strikes happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei had been in his offices at the time. He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown.

This comes as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran have peaked following a major U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the blast. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.

Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time. The Israeli military said that it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

The U.S. embassy in Qatar has told Americans to shelter in place, saying “all embassy personnel [are] directed to shelter in place and all Americans in the country are encouraged to do the same.”

“The U.S. Embassy in Qatar is implementing a shelter-in-place for all personnel,” the statement said. “We recommend all Americans do the same until further notice.”

Officials said that Americans should “find a secure location within your residence or another safe building. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.”

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.