President Trump gave the final go-ahead to strike Iran on Saturday afternoon at his private club in New Jersey, the Wall Street Journal reported. His order came after he said he would make a decision on the matter in two weeks. “The goal was to create a situation when everyone wasn’t expecting it,” said a senior administration official. The decision was made after direct coordination with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the report said. A U.S. official said that the Trump administration conveyed to Iran that the strikes were a one-time attack, not the start of a war. Last Tuesday, Trump approved plans to strike Iran but withheld a final order. “There was real debate earlier in the week about what we should do,” said the senior official. “But Trump signaled on Tuesday he was leaning toward going forward, so that changed everything.” According to the report, Trump made the decision to proceed with the operation after Iran continued to spurn his demands to drop its uranium enrichment program. Iran has vowed revenge on the US. Trump warned that he will carry out additional strikes on Iran if retaliatory strikes are carried out against US forces in the region. “Future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” he warned. “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Post-strike images of the Fordow fuel enrichment facility in Iran show large craters caused by the US strikes on the ridge above the underground complex. A layer of grey-blue ash can also be seen covering the area around the site.
Satellite imagery shows a significant convoy near the Fordow nuclear site two days prior to the US strike, possibly indicating the relocation of enriched uranium from the facility.
Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Tehran is calculating the reality that planes flew from the middle of America in Missouri over night, completely undetected, over 3 of their most highly sensitive sites. And we were able to destroy nuclear capabilities, and our boys in those bombers are on their way home right now.”
TIMELINE OF EVENTS: Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Lt. Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. strikes on Iran were a “complex and high-risk mission” that was known to only a few people and relied on decoys to protect the integrity of the mission.
Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth: “This mission was not and has not been about regime change. The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program.”
Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth: “As President Trump has stated, the United States does not seek war, but let me be clear: we will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened.”
Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to Peace Through Strength, Iran’s nuclear visions have been obliterated.”
Five hours after the United States announced the destruction of Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched two missile salvos targeting Israel – the first such attack in more than 30 hours. A total of at least 27 missiles were fired in the attack, with impacts recorded in Haifa and across central Israel. According to IDF assessments, the first barrage consisted of 22 missiles, followed by a second with five more. Following the attack, Magen David Adom teams treated and transported victims. Twenty-five people were rushed to hospitals, including a man in his 30s in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds to his upper body. The remaining victims had minor injuries. United Hatzalah’s spokesperson summarized at 10 a.m. that following the missile strikes this morning in the center and north of the country, approximately 25 people were treated across all locations. Shloimi Feder and Nati Dana, United Hatzalah paramedics who were at one of the locations in the north of the country, said: “This was a direct hit that caused extensive damage to buildings and vehicles. We provided medical assistance to those lightly injured by shrapnel, some of whom were evacuated to hospitals, and assistance to those suffering from shock.” David Malka and Yoni Uziel, United Hatzalah paramedics who were at one of the locations in the center of the country, reported, “We provided medical assistance to the injured—one in moderate condition, the rest, fortunately, in light condition. United Hatzalah’s resilience teams provided assistance to those suffering from shock.” Around 30 minutes later, the IAF announced that warplanes had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. Additionally, this morning, the IAF struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israel, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralized the launchers that launched missiles toward Israel a short while ago.
UPDATE ON INJURIES: Magen David Adom is treating and transporting 11 people to the hospital. Among the injured, one man in his 30s is in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds to his upper body. The other ten victims have minor injuries, including bruises. Rescue teams are continuing to search for additional casualties. At least 27 missiles were launched in the attack in two salvos, with impacts in Haifa and in central Israel. The first barrage included 22 missiles, and the second was made up of five, according to IDF assessments.
UPDATE: MDA Director Eli Bin reported that the organization’s teams are en route to more than 10 sites for which reports have been received. About 30 rockets have been fired so far in the heavy barrage from Iran.
