by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent, with regional reporting
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran early Saturday, prompting a swift Iranian missile response that rocked northern Israel with explosions, witnesses said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes telling the nation that Israel and the United States carry out “an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran.”
Following the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes, explosions reverberated across northern Israel as the military activated air defenses to intercept incoming Iranian missiles.
There was no immediate word on damage or casualties from the ongoing exchange.
ISRAEL INTERCEPTS IRANIAN MISSILES
Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel had launched what he described as a “preemptive” strike against Iran amid soaring tensions over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile programs.
Explosions were also reported Saturday in Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said. Video footage obtained by Worthy News appeared to show a large plume of smoke rising over parts of the city.
U.S. military aircraft, including aerial refueling tankers, were seen at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, according to several sources and video footage reviewed by Worthy News.
The footage appeared to show large U.S. Air Force refueling planes on the tarmac. Such aircraft are typically used to extend the range of fighter jets and bombers during long-range operations. Officials have not publicly detailed the specific role of those aircraft in the strikes.
U.S. REFUELING TANKERS SPOTTED
The presence of refueling tankers suggests logistical coordination and preparedness for extended operations, though U.S. authorities have not officially confirmed operational specifics.
Additional video recordings circulating online and reviewed by Worthy News appeared to show some Tehran residents reacting with joy to the explosions. One social media post on platform X attached to the footage read: “We’re thrilled about a US/Israel strike to kill the dictator right now,” adding, “Regime bots & American leftists, shut up! Thanks to President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu for standing with us.”
Worthy News could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage or confirm the identity of the individual behind the post. Other online reactions reflected fear and uncertainty as blasts were reported in multiple districts of the capital.
As of this update, neither Iranian nor Israeli authorities have released confirmed casualty figures related to the strikes or the reported missile response.
TEHRAN EXPLOSIONS TRIGGER MIXED REACTIONS
Israeli officials said Iran launched missiles toward Israeli territory following the earlier strikes. Air-raid sirens were heard in several northern communities, and residents were instructed to seek shelter as interception systems were activated.
The Israeli military said it was working to intercept incoming projectiles and urged civilians to remain near protected areas until further notice.
Iran has not yet issued a detailed public statement on the reported missile launches, though state media confirmed explosions were heard in Tehran earlier.
The reported U.S. participation in direct strikes on Iranian territory represents one of the most significant escalations in the long-running conflict between Israel and Iran.
REGIONAL WAR RISK GROWS
Direct military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem raises the risk of broader regional retaliation, potentially involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza — both designated as terrorist organizations by the United States and several Western countries — as well as Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
Any expansion of the conflict could also threaten shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes each day — potentially impacting global energy markets, analysts say.
The coming hours are expected to be critical in determining whether Tehran opts for a calibrated response or broader retaliation that could draw the region into a wider confrontation.
(Stay with Worthy News for continuing coverage.)
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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