Newsletters
Israel's Mossad intelligence agency called on Iranian citizens to share photographs and videos amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes across Iran on Saturday, as explosions were reported in multiple cities and Israeli media said senior Iranian military leaders, including the chief of general staff, were being targeted.
The Mossad published a message in Farsi on its Telegram channel addressed to the Iranian people: "Together, we will return Iran to its former days of glory."
"We have opened a highly secure Telegram channel especially for you," the message said, calling on Iranians to share photos and videos with Mossad as part of what it described as a "fight against the regime."
Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing a security source, that Iran's Chief of General Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi was among the targets in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, which are focused on "regime targets and military sites."
The report said all senior Iranian leaders are being targeted and that the attacks are expected to last several days. A security official cited by Channel 12 said Israel is preparing for four days of intense joint attacks on Iran in the initial phase of operations.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced earlier Saturday that Israel had launched a "pre-emptive attack" against Iran and declared a nationwide state of emergency.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that the U.S. joined Israel's strikes against Iran, citing an American official familiar with the operation.
American and Israeli officials told The New York Times that both countries are attacking Iran. U.S. officials said dozens of strikes are being carried out from attack aircraft positioned at Middle East bases and from one or more aircraft carriers.
Two U.S. officials told CNN that the US is conducting strikes against Iran, with one saying the attacks are ongoing and "these are not small strikes." Another official said the strikes are focused on military targets and aimed at preventing the "military threat" from Iran and protecting U.S. forces.
U.S. officials said they expect the current strikes to be far more extensive than last June's Operation Midnight Hammer attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites.
The U.S. administration has not yet issued an official statement.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
