Tensions simmering between Israel and the United States and the Axis of Resistance reached a violent zenith on today. During coordinated daylight and evening strikes by Israeli and American fighter jets, Israeli jet fighters struck major military and government facilities in Iran, immediately transferring Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to an undisclosed “secure location.”
Strikes Near the Heart of Power
The operation, which Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described as a “preemptive strike to remove immediate threats to the State of Israel,” saw several missiles hit central Tehran. The smoke poured heavily from the Jomhouri area and University Street, not far from the Supreme Leader’s official residence and offices, witnesses reported.
While Iranian state media initially downplayed the blasts’ cause, they later announced that high-security zones were violated. The strikes, according to intelligence sources, were carefully coordinated to undermine Iran's command-and-control capabilities and its retaliatory missile system.
U.S. Participation Confirmed
While the attacks are new, and a major departure from earlier direct confrontations, the United States is currently playing an active role in this offensive. One U.S. official confirmed that the assaults were part of a joint military offensive, as the massive fleet of carrier strike groups and long-range bombers assembled in the region.
This involvement comes in direct relief of a collapse in nuclear negotiations in Geneva and the earlier warning from President Trump that “time has run out” for a diplomatic solution. The strikes, too, only come 24 hours after OpenAI struck a landmark deal with the Pentagon to use frontier AI models for classified military work, demonstrating the tech-heavy nature of warfare today in 2026.
Khamenei Moved, Airspace Closed
Iranian security protocols were instantly triggered as the first wave of explosions rang out throughout the capital. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a man who has not been seen in public for days, was whisked away to a fortified underground facility. Iran has since closed national airspace to all civilian traffic, and internet service across Tehran has been heavily curtailed.
Israel Readies for Retaliation
At the same time that strikes were being carried out in Iran, air raid sirens wailed over central Israel. The IDF issued a “proactive alert” warning and warning the public to brace themselves for the “high probability” of long-range missile launches from Iran or its regional proxies, including Hezbollah. Defense Minister Katz announced a nationwide state of emergency. “We’re prepared for all potential situations,” Katz said. “If Tehran’s regime decides to escalate it to another level, they will face an unprecedented response.”
As of Saturday night, waves of second and third strikes have been reported in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, sites for some of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear and missile facilities. Now the world wonders about whether the Islamic Republic will send a direct counter-offensive, or if that “preemptive” action has been accomplished in neutralizing Tehran’s strategic grip.
