The U.S. military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel鈥檚 effort to decapitating Iran's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran鈥檚 threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.
The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country鈥檚 air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
But U.S. and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb. bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.
announced the. Iran鈥檚 state-run IRNA news agency reported that attacks targeted the country鈥檚 Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. The agency did not elaborate. Iran's foreign minister said Iran reserves the right to retaliate.
Here is the latest:
The UN nuclear watchdog says no increase in radiation levels off sites hit by the US
The International Atomic Energy Agency says in a message on X that there has been 鈥渘o increase in off-site radiation levels鈥 after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
鈥淭he IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,鈥 it said. The 鈥淚AEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available.鈥
Iranian missiles hit areas in northern and central Israel after US strikes on Iran
The Israeli rescue service United Hatzalah said it was dispatching first responders. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage.
Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel since Israel launched a surprise attack on its military and nuclear facilities last week. Israel鈥檚 sophisticated air defenses are able to shoot down most but not all of the missiles and drones.
At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded.
Democratic lawmaker: Last intel briefing showed 鈥業ran posed no immediate threat鈥
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy posted on X that he and other senators received a classified briefing last week from intelligence officials who indicated that Iran did not pose an immediate threat through its nuclear program.
鈥淚ran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon,鈥 Murphy said. 鈥淭he negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.鈥
Iran's ally Hamas and Yemen's Houthi rebels condemn US strikes
The Houthi rebels in Yemen are vowing to support Iran in its fight against 鈥渢he Zionist and American aggression.鈥
Their statement called for the Muslim nations to join the holy war and act as 鈥渙ne front against the Zionist-American arrogance.鈥
The militant Palestinian group Hamas says the U.S. aid strikers on Iran are a 鈥渄irect threat to international peace and security鈥 and 鈥渁 blind pursuit of the rogue Zionist occupation鈥檚 agenda.鈥
Iran asks for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over US strikes
Iran鈥檚 ambassador to the United Nations called on Sunday for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America's 鈥渉einous attacks and illegal use of force鈥 against Iran.
In a letter, obtained by the AP, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the U.N.鈥檚 most powerful body must 鈥渢ake all necessary measures鈥 to hold the U.S. accountable under international law and the U.N. charter.
鈥淭he Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which have followed the large-scale military attack conducted by the Israeli regime on 13 June against Iran鈥檚 peaceful nuclear sites and facilities," the letter continued.
Israel's army says Iranian missiles are incoming, asks people to go to shelters
The Israeli military says it's identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of Israel and says its defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.
The public has been asked to go to shelters and protected areas and remain there until further notice.
Iran鈥檚 top diplomat warns US attacks on its nuclear sites 鈥榳ill have everlasting consequences鈥
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on X that Tehran 鈥渞eserves all options鈥 to retaliate. He's the first ranking official to comment on the strikes on Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz by the Americans.
鈥淭he events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,鈥 Araghchi wrote.
He added: 鈥淚n accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.鈥
Flames seen at Fordo nuclear site in Iran after US strike, report says
Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency has published an account by one of its reporters, saying flames could be seen after the bombs hit the Fordo facility.
Fars, which is believed close to Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said its reporter heard anti-aircraft fire around 2:05 a.m. local time and explosions two minutes later.
鈥淲hen I reached the vicinity ... the air defense system was operating intensely, and its activity was clearly visible in the sky,鈥 the reporter said. Later on, the reporter said, "flames suddenly erupted from the direction of Fordo.鈥
Simultaneously with the flames, a faint trail of smoke and a significant amount of dust rose in the area, Fars quoted the reporter. It offered no photos or video showing the attack
Israeli officials lauded the strikes
Israeli officials lauded the strikes in sweeping and dramatic language. Israel鈥檚 president, Isaac Herzog, thanked Trump and said the strikes marked a 鈥渄ecisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.鈥
Israel鈥檚 defense minister congratulated Trump on what he described as a 鈥渉istoric decision.鈥
US steps up efforts to evacuate citizens from Israel
The U.S. is stepping up evacuation flights for American citizens from Israel to Europe and continuing to draw down its staff at diplomatic missions in Iraq as fears of Iranian retaliation again U.S. interests in the Middle East grow.
Even before those airstrikes were announced by President Donald Trump on Saturday evening in Washington, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem announced the start of evacuation flights for American civilians from Israel.
Sixty-seven American citizens left Israel on two government flights bound for Athens, Greece on Saturday and four more evacuation flights to Athens were planned for Sunday, according to an internal State Department document seen by The Associated Press.
In addition to the flights, a cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 American citizens, including several hundred Jewish youngsters who had been visiting Israel on an organized tour, arrived in Cyprus, according to the document.
鈥 Matthew Lee
Israel closes airspace in wake of US attacks
Israel鈥檚 Airport Authority announced it was closing the country鈥檚 airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
The agency said it was shutting down air traffic 鈥渄ue to recent developments鈥 and did not say for how long.
Iran says 鈥榥o signs of contamination鈥 after US strikes nuclear facilities
Iran said early Sunday there were 鈥渘o signs of contamination鈥 at its nuclear sites at Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facilities.
Iranian state media quoted the country鈥檚 好色tv Nuclear Safety System Center, which published a statement saying its radiation detectors had recorded no radioactive release after the strikes.
鈥淭here is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,鈥 the statement added.
Earlier Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites similarly have caused no recorded release of radioactive material into the environment around the facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said.
Strikes used 鈥榖unker buster鈥 bombs and cruise missiles
The U.S. military used 鈥渂unker-buster鈥 bombs in its attack on Iran鈥檚 Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, which is built deep into a mountain, a U.S. official said. That official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
The 30,000-pound known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to penetrate underground and then explode. Saturday鈥檚 strikes were the first time it has been used in combat.
U.S. submarines also participated in the attacks in Iran, launching about 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles, according to another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
It was not clear what those missiles were aimed at. Two Iranian nuclear sites besides Fordo were attacked, Isfahan and Natanz.
鈥 Lolita C. Baldor
Trump called Netanyahu after strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video that Trump called him after the strikes.
鈥淚t was a very warm conversation, very emotional,鈥 Netanyahu said.
Speaking in Hebrew, he called Trump a friend of Israel like no one before him.
鈥淚n my name, and on behalf of all citizens of Israel and on behalf of the entire Jewish world, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.鈥
