ibn sultan
Washington:President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the United States has bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, joining Israel’s war against the US’s major rival.
Mr Trump, who on Friday said he would take as long as two weeks to decide whether the US should enter the conflict on Israel’s side, said the American planes “completed a very successful attack” on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. The strikes were a spectacular military success,” he said in a televised Oval Office address.
Mr Trump said that Iran’s future held “either peace or tragedy,” and that there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.
“If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” he warned Iran.
The Israel-Iran war began when the Israeli military launched “Operation Rising Lion” and attacked Iran’s nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. Israel said it had concluded Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
More than 600 people have been killed in Iran, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Israel has said that Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, killing at least 24 people.
Mr Trump first announced US strikes on his Truth Social platform.
“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home,” he said.
“Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Mr Trump said.
“This is a HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Donald Trump after the US forces struck Iranian nuclear sites.
“Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” the Israeli PM said in a video address after the US joined Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
“President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, Donald Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength,” he said.
“In Operation Rising Line, Israel has done truly amazing things, but in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been unsurpassed – it has done what no other country on Earth could do. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime – the world’s most dangerous weapons,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu said that Mr Trump’s leadership has created a “pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace”.
“God bless America. God bless Israel. May God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu has said Israeli military operations in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate the “existential threats” of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles.
US B-2 Bombers Involved In Iran Strikes
The US used B-2 bombers in strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, news agency Reuters reported, citing a US official.
