A wave of explosions across Tehran early Saturday signals a dramatic escalation in regional tensions, as Israel confirmed it had launched coordinated strikes inside Iran, and US officials acknowledged American involvement in the operation.
Rather than a limited strike, the attack appeared calibrated to send a political and strategic message.
Plumes of thick smoke were seen rising from a high-security district of the capital that houses key leadership compounds, including offices associated with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The area also includes the presidential complex and facilities linked to Iran’s national security establishment.
Iranian newspaper Shargh and residents in central Tehran reported blasts near the leadership enclave. Iranian state television later confirmed explosions but provided no details about the cause or possible casualties.
It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at his offices during the strike. He has not appeared publicly in recent days amid mounting tensions with Washington.
The lack of visibility fueled speculation, though no official Iranian statement addressed his status.
The strikes came as the United States has positioned significant air and naval assets across the region in recent weeks, part of what American officials have described as pressure aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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A U.S. official and a person familiar with the operation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that American forces were participating in the Israeli-led action. The Pentagon declined immediate public comment.
The acknowledgment of U.S. involvement marks a notable shift, suggesting the operation may represent coordinated Western military pressure rather than a unilateral Israeli move.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as necessary “to remove threats,” without elaborating on specific targets or intelligence that prompted the action.
Simultaneously, air-raid sirens sounded across Israel. The Israeli military said it had issued a “proactive alert” warning of the possibility of retaliatory missile fire from Iran.
Iran moved quickly to shut down its airspace as the explosions echoed across the capital, issuing notices to pilots amid the unfolding operation. Authorities have not released casualty figures or damage assessments.
The rapid closure of airspace and limited public information suggest Iranian officials are still assessing the scale of the strike and weighing their response.
The strikes represent one of the most direct confrontations in years between Israel and Iran, raising fears of wider regional conflict.
