In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, United States military forces initiated large-scale combat operations against targets inside Iran in coordination with Israeli defense forces. President Donald Trump announced the offensive in a pre-dawn video address from his Mar-a-Lago estate, characterizing the action as necessary to eliminate “imminent threats” posed by the Iranian regime.
The unprecedented strikes, which reportedly targeted compounds associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, occurred amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Social media footage showed skies above the Iranian capital filled with smoke following the initial bombardment.
President Trump justified the military action as preventive measures against nuclear proliferation, stating: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. This vicious group of very hard, terrible people directly endangers the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.”
The operation drew immediate political division in Washington. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump’s decisiveness, noting it represented the first time in 47 years that a U.S. president had “stood with the people of Iran.” Conversely, Democratic lawmakers condemned the unilateral action. Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey criticized Trump for repeating “the same dangerous and foolish decision President Bush did a generation ago,” while Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey declared the strikes “illegal and unconstitutional” due to the absence of Congressional authorization.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry vowed forceful retaliation, asserting that while prepared for negotiations, the nation remained “more prepared than ever for defense.” The statement emphasized: “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond to the aggressors with authority.”
The military action raises significant constitutional questions regarding war powers and follows earlier controversial operations ordered by Trump in Venezuela, further complicating an already volatile geopolitical landscape.