Israel on Saturday launched a preemptive attack on Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, declaring an "immediate state of emergency throughout the entire country".

"The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," he said, as sirens sounded across Israel and the IDF Home Front Command warned civilians to stay close to bomb shelters.

Meanwhile, in Iran, witnesses reported an explosion, though there was no immediate comment from the government about the blast.