US, Israel launch attack on Iran as Trump announces ‘major combat operations’
The United States and Israel launched a massive coordinated military offensive targeting Iran known as “Operation Epic Fury.” President Donald Trump had warned of possible U.S. intervention in response to deadly anti-regime protests and if Iran did not accept a sweeping nuclear deal.
Covered by: Efrat Lachter, Morgan Phillips, Benjamin Weinthal, Michael Sinkewicz, Alexandra Koch, Rachel Wolf, Michael Dorgan, Elizabeth Elkind, Alex Miller and Amanda Macias
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday published a video of its airstrike on missile launchers in western Iran as Israel and the U.S. take part in a joint effort against Tehran.
“Within the ‘Roaring Lion’ operation, the IDF struck with the direction of IDF intelligence, hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran,” the IDF’s statement read.
“Alongside the IAF’s strikes in Iran, the Aerial Defense Array is currently identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel,” the IDF added.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was notified by the Trump administration before strikes on Iran were carried out, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Saturday morning.
Johnson got a call from Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the joint operation between the U.S. and Israel began.
It’s customary for an administration to brief congressional leadership before any significant military actions, which it also did when the U.S. engaged in an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro weeks earlier.
The speaker has not yet made any comments on the Iran operation but is likely to do so sometime Saturday morning.
The only member of congressional leadership to have released a statement so far is House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who praised it as a “bold and decisive act of strength.”
Posted by Elizabeth Elkind
18 mins ago
Iran retaliates with missiles strikes at US facilities in multiple countries
Iran has started retaliating after the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury early Saturday morning.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel. Meanwhile, the U.S. military in Iraq intercepted at least one missile targeting U.S. facilities. Additionally, Iran appeared to hit the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but no casualties were reported and it appeared as though the regime struck an empty warehouse.
Iran also launched missiles at Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. has squadrons of advanced fighter jets, Griffin reported. This led to condemnations from Jordan, the U.A.E. and others.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said on X that he was “dismayed” by the attacks after her recently mediated indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran.
“I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer. I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war,” the foreign minister said.
Posted by Rachel Wolf
28 mins ago
Oman’s Foreign Ministry expresses ‘profound regret’ as US, Israel hit Iran
Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
The Omani Foreign Ministry condemned Operation Epic Fury, which the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran on Saturday.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Sultanate of Oman’s profound regret over the military operations launched by Israel and the United States of America against the Islamic Republic of Iran, warning of the danger of the conflict expanding into consequences that cannot be rectified in the region,” the Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to X’s translation.
“The Sultanate of Oman considers this action to be in contravention of the rules of international law and the principle of resolving issues through peaceful means rather than hostile means, the shedding of blood, and calls on all parties to immediately suspend military operations, while urging the United Nations Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to impose a ceasefire and for the international community to take a clear stance in support of international law,” it added.
Posted by Rachel Wolf
1 hour ago
Iran speaks out as US, Israel carry out Operation Epic Fury
Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran’s Foreign Ministry blasted the U.S. and Israel, which began carrying out Operation Epic Fury on Saturday.
“Our sacred and beloved homeland, proud and civilization-making Iran, has once again been subjected to criminal military aggression by the #UnitedStates and the #ZionistRegime,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the attacks by the U.S. and Israel “a gross violation of Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.”
Iran also called on the United Nations and the Security Council, where the U.S. has veto power, to act as the attacks unfold. Tehran claimed that the attacks by the U.S. and Israel, which it calls “the Zionist regime” were carried out in violation of the U.N. Charter.
“All member states of the United Nations, especially regional and Islamic countries, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and all states that feel responsible for international peace and security, are expected to firmly condemn this act of aggression and take urgent and collective action to confront it, which has undoubtedly exposed the peace and security of the region and the world to an unprecedented threat,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
Posted by Rachel Wolf
1 hour ago
Emmer makes first statement from congressional leadership on Iran strikes
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is praising President Donald Trump after the U.S. and Israel began joint strikes on Iran overnight.
“This is a bold, decisive act of strength by President Trump. The Ayatollah is responsible for killing hundreds of U.S. service members and slaughtering its own people,” Emmer told Fox News Digital.
“We pray that because of this leadership, the U.S. and the world will be a safer place. May God bless and protect the men and women of our military conducting this mission and serving in the region.”
It’s the first significant statement on the operation from a member of congressional leadership.
Emmer has been one of Trump’s most vocal allies on Capitol Hill so far this term.
Posted by Elizabeth Elkind
1 hour ago
Qatar reserves ‘full right’ to defend itself against ‘Iranian aggression,’ calls for dialogue
A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026. (ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it reserves its “full right” to defend itself after what it described as Iranian aggression targeting Qatari territory.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry said it had “successfully thwarted a number of attacks targeting the country’s territory” after multiple rounds of alerts sounded. Authorities reported no immediate injuries or damage in residential areas.
In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the state will respond in accordance with international law and in a manner proportionate to the nature of the attack, in defense of its sovereignty and national security.
The ministry said targeting Qatari territory contradicts the “principles of good neighborliness” and “cannot be accepted under any pretext or justification.”
Qatar also condemned what it described as violations of the sovereignty of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain, expressing full solidarity with those nations.
Despite the escalation, the ministry reiterated its call for dialogue with Iran and urged an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to negotiations.
Blasts were reported across several Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets, including Qatar, according to Al Jazeera, after the United States and Israel launched military strikes across Iranian territory.
The outlet cited Iran’s Fars News Agency as confirming attacks targeting military bases in the region, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command.
Posted by Michael Dorgan
1 hour ago
Ukraine declares its support for the Iranian people, ties the regime to Russia in scathing statement
Ukraine ripped the Iranian regime and its ties to Russia in a statement on Saturday, as it also declared its support for the people of Iran.
“The Iranian regime, which has been mocking the Iranian people for decades, has launched a large-scale policy of violence against its own people and other countries. This includes massive human rights violations within the country, support for militants who have brought chaos to other countries in the region, and direct military support for the aggressor state of Russia in its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We remember and will never forget the strikes of thousands of ‘Shaheeds’ on our peaceful cities and people,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement.
“Such cooperation between the regimes in Moscow and Tehran constitutes a gross violation of international law and undermines global efforts to restore peace and stability.”
The Ukrainian MFA also condemned Iran’s human rights abuses as well as the oppression of its own people.
“The reason for the current events is precisely the violence and arbitrariness of the Iranian regime, in particular the murders and repressions against peaceful protesters, which have become particularly large-scale in recent months,” the statement read.
Posted by Rachel Wolf
1 hour ago
NYPD ‘closely monitoring’ the situation in Iran and the Middle East
The New York Police Department (NYPD) said it is “closely monitoring” the situation unfolding in Iran as the U.S. and Israel participate in joint attacks. The department also said that it was coordinating with its federal and international partners.
“As is our protocol and out of an abundance of caution, we will be enhancing patrols to sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites,” the NYPD’s statement read.