Israel and the United States launched a coordinated "preemptive strike" against Iran on Saturday, targeting military installations in the heart of Tehran.

The assault, codenamed "Operation Shield of Judah," sent plumes of smoke billowing over the city center and has pushed the region to the brink of a massive military confrontation.

The initial strikes reportedly targeted areas in close proximity to the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

While authorities have closed all roads leading to the compound, it remains unclear if the 86-year-old leader was present, as he has not been seen publicly for several days.

A U.S. official confirmed that the United States is participating in the operation, describing it as a joint effort to "remove threats" and pressure Tehran into a nuclear deal.

This escalation follows months of military buildup by the Trump administration, which has deployed a massive fleet of warships and fighter jets to the region.

In a televised statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a national state of emergency. “The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Katz said, as sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The Israeli military issued a "proactive alert," advising citizens to remain near protected areas in anticipation of Iranian retaliation.

In Tehran, state television acknowledged explosions near University Street and the Jomhouri area but did not immediately provide a cause or casualty figures.

Witnesses reported that mobile phone services were disrupted shortly after the blasts, and the Iranian government has officially closed the country's airspace.

The strikes come on the heels of failed indirect negotiations in Geneva and Switzerland.

President Donald Trump, in his recent State of the Union address, warned that military force remained an option if Iran continued to reject demands regarding its uranium enrichment and ballistic missile programs.

Tehran has previously warned that any such attack would make American military bases and personnel throughout the Middle East legitimate targets for immediate retaliation.

Source: AP