US President Donald Trump confirmed during a Friday evening briefing that the United States had carried out air strikes against Iran, describing the move as the start of “major combat operations.”

Trump said the US would move to destroy Iran’s missile industry and “annihilate” its navy. He also addressed the Iranian military directly, offering what he described as “immunity” or “certain death,” and told the Iranian people, “Hour of your freedom is at hand.”

US media outlets reported Saturday that Washington had begun strikes on Iran in a joint operation with Israel, which earlier said it had attacked its long-standing regional adversary. The reports, citing American officials, said the operation followed Israeli action against Iran.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to international media for comment.

An hour prior to Trump’s decision, the Israel Defense Forces announced on X that immediate changes would be made to the Home Front Command Guidelines beginning Saturday at 08:00.

“Following a situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Saturday), at 08:00, immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command Guidelines. As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Full Activity to Essential Activity,” the post read.

The guidelines included a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings and workplaces except for essential sectors. The public was instructed to follow updates published through official Home Front Command channels, with full guidelines to be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.

On Saturday morning, two loud blasts were heard in Tehran as reported by AFP journalists. Two plumes of thick smoke were seen rising over the center and east of the Iranian capital.

“The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack,” the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

Israel later closed its airspace to civilian flights after announcing it had carried out what it described as “preventive strikes” on Iran. Sirens were sounded in Jerusalem as part of the response.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced.

Israel’s defense ministry said the country had launched a “preemptive strike” against Iran, with Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country.

“The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country,” the ministry said in a statement.