The US strikes got here after every week of open battle between Israel and Iran, sparked by Israel’s sudden barrage of assaults in opposition to Iran’s nuclear and army construction.
Right here we provide you with a recap of what has occurred to date.
Israel assaults: Israel attacked Iran on 13 June, putting Iranian army and nuclear websites and killing a number of high army officers and nuclear scientists.
Why? Israeli leaders argued Iran might shortly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent risk, whereas US intelligence and the Worldwide Atomic Power Company assessed Tehran was not actively pursuing a bomb.
Iran retaliates: Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israel, a few of which penetrated the nation’s vaunted Iron Dome air defence system.
Extra strikes and counter-strikes: Israeli strikes on Iran killed at the very least 950 individuals, together with 380 civilians, and wounded 3,450 others, in response to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. Israel mentioned Iranian assaults killed 24 individuals and wounded tons of.
US joins battle: Bombers carried out “large precision strikes” on Iran’s Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear websites on Saturday evening, Trump mentioned. American bunker-buster bombs have been the one munitions that might have hit Fordow, buried beneath a mountain.
Aftermath: Defence secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned the strikes weren’t aimed toward toppling the Iranian authorities, however Donald Trump prompt regime change can be a optimistic final result. For its half, Iran has threatened the US with a “decisive response”.
Watch: Mark Stone explains US strikes on Iran
