BREAKING Israel announces it has 'preemptively' attacked Iran. Explosions in Tehran – VIDEO

Israel said it launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran on Saturday, with strikes including in the capital Tehran, where clouds of smoke rose from the site of the strikes. The neighborhood where Ayatollah Khamenei's residence and the presidential palace are also attacked. Israel also turned on the alarm sirens, warning the population that retaliatory strikes by Iran could follow.

“The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to eliminate threats to the State of Israel,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, according to Iranian media, and images showed at least one cloud of black smoke at the site of a strike.

Let the world know that we did not start this war pic.twitter.com/9G3vbJYw1D

— Iran Military Monitor (@IRIran_Military) February 28, 2026

According to the Isna news agency, one of the clouds of smoke is over the Pasteur district, where the supreme leader's residence and the presidential palace in central Tehran are located.

Israel has announced the closure of its airspace to civilian aircraft. The Israeli military also announced a “ban on educational activities, public gatherings” on Saturday

The attack, which comes after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June, follows repeated warnings by the US and Israel that they will strike again if Iran continues its nuclear and ballistic programs.

The United States and Iran had resumed negotiations in February in an attempt to resolve the decades-long dispute through diplomatic means and avoid the threat of a military confrontation that could destabilize the region.

But Israel has insisted that any US deal with Iran must include dismantling Tehran's nuclear infrastructure, not just halting uranium enrichment, and has pressed Washington to include restrictions on Iran's missile program in the talks.

Iran has said it is ready to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, but has ruled out linking the issue to missiles.

Tehran has also said it will defend itself against any attack and has threatened neighboring countries that host US troops to retaliate against US bases if Washington attacks Iran.

Last June, the United States joined Israel's military campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities, in the most direct US military action against the Islamic Republic.

Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest in the Middle East.

Western powers have warned that Iran's ballistic missile project threatens regional stability and could lead to the delivery of nuclear weapons if developed. Tehran denies that it is pursuing atomic bombs.