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President Donald Trump urged \u201cthe great, proud people of Iran\u201d to overthrow the Iranian regime after the United States and Israel conducted joint strikes on Iran early Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
In an eight-minute address to the nation, Trump announced the major military operation against Iran, named \u201cOperation Epic Fury,\u201d and suggested that it would clear the way for Iranians to finally strip power from their authoritarian government.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,\u201d Trump said. \u201cStay sheltered, don\u2019t leave your home. It\u2019s very dangerous outside; bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump said his actions on Saturday show how the United States is committed to \u201cbacking\u201d the Iranian people and their fight for freedom.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many years, you have asked for America\u2019s help but never got it,\u201d he said. \u201cNo president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who has given you what you want, so let\u2019s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump offered members of Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, armed forces, and police \u201ccomplete immunity\u201d if they were to lay down their weapons.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr, in the alternative, face certain death,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Trump began his address by stating that the \u201cmajor combat operation\u201d is to \u201cdefend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.\u201d The strikes came after a long U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. The Trump administration sought to pressure Iranian leaders into agreeing to a deal to end their ambitions of obtaining a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: Trump announces that the U.S. is conducting strikes against Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/ycFiiZ05Eb<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The joint U.S.-Israeli operation hit numerous targets throughout Iran, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2019s compound in Tehran. A satellite image obtained by The New York Times following the strike shows the compound, which is Khamenei\u2019s primary residence, completely leveled in the bombings. It\u2019s unclear if Iran\u2019s supreme leader was at his compound when the United States and Israel launched their attack.<\/p>\n
\nWe obtained the first known satellite image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2019s compound in Tehran. There are several destroyed buildings. While the current whereabouts of Iran\u2019s supreme leader are unknown, the compound is generally used as his official residence. \ud83d\udef0\ufe0f\ud83d\udcf8: @Airbus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/48krjclMBL<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
During his address, Trump warned that Iran would respond to the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes by targeting American troops in the region. The United States has multiple military bases in Arab countries surrounding Iran, and Trump has been building up a massive armada of U.S. ships and fighter jets around Iran in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThe lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war, but we\u2019re doing this not for now. We\u2019re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran already responded to the U.S. strikes by targeting a U.S. military base in Bahrain. A video obtained by Fox News shows a missile striking a U.S. naval base in Bahrain, obliterating an empty warehouse, according to a U.S. official. No Americans were wounded in the retaliatory attack, a U.S. official said.<\/p>\n
\nNEW: Video shows the moment Iranian missiles struck a U.S. Naval base in Bahrain in retaliation for coordinated strikes conducted by the U.S. and Israel.<\/p>\n
A U.S. official tells Fox News that no Americans were injured in the attack. The strike reportedly hit an empty warehouse. pic.twitter.com\/LJMhcf3oB7<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Fox News (@FoxNews) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The Iranian regime has also fired missiles toward Israel. As of Saturday morning, there have been no reports of civilian casualties following Iran\u2019s response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n