U.S. President Donald Trump said America will protect Israel if Iran answers with a counterattack. He gave this message during a Fox News interview. Trump confirmed that he knew about Israel’s attack before it happened. However, he made it clear that the U.S. was not part of the strikes. Still, he promised full support for Israel if things get worse.
Trump stressed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. He said America wants Iran to return to peace talks. He added that Iran must choose peace over war. Trump showed hope that Iran will change its nuclear plans. He wants Iran to work with the U.S. through dialogue.
At the same time, Trump’s team informed a key Middle Eastern ally about the coming attack. But they said the U.S. did not help carry it out. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke about the issue. He said America’s first goal is to protect its forces in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel launched a large air operation on Friday. It hit more than 100 targets inside Iran. These included nuclear sites, missile factories, and military bases. Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the Natanz nuclear facility was among the sites attacked. He said this is the start of a long mission to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons.
Iranian media said many top leaders were killed. This includes top generals and nuclear scientists. At least five civilians also died, and many were hurt. Loud blasts shook several Iranian cities. In response, Israel declared an emergency and is now preparing for possible missile and drone attacks. The situation is tense and could grow more dangerous.