The China Story
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China's permanent representative to the UN said "China has consistently maintained that all parties should observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and opposes and condemns the use or threat of force in international relations".
China condemns killing of Iran's Khamenei by US and Israel.
Alireza Arafi was appointed to Iran's Leadership Council, a body that will manage the role of the supreme leader until a new one is elected.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in full health: Mehr news agency
JERUSALEM - The alert level of all hospitals in Israel has been raised to the highest level after attacks in Iran, and hospitalized patients were transferred to shelters, the Israeli Health Ministry said in a statement. All non-urgent hospital activities have been canceled.
Thick smoke seen from building in Tel Aviv -- media
Israel has launched a daylight attack on Iran's capital, with a cloud of smoke seen rising from downtown Teheran near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been transferred to a secure location, according to media reports.
According to the Fars news agency, several missiles struck University Street and the Jomhouri area of the Iranian capital. Iran shut down its airspace soon after the attack began.
The United States is also participating in Saturday's strikes, according to a US official and a person familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Associated Press reported.
In addition, an Israeli defense official told Reuters that the latest Israeli attack against Iran was coordinated with the US.
Ahead of the attacks, the US had assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region in what was portrayed as an attempt to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
"The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, as sirens sounded across Israel and the Israeli military warned civilians to stay close to bomb shelters.
While it wasn't immediately clear if Iran would immediately strike back, it had previously warned that US military personnel and bases which are spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.
The US embassy in ?Qatar has implemented shelter-in-place for all ?personnel, recommending that all of ?its citizens do the same until further notice.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said early Saturday morning that the US forces are carrying out a "massive and ongoing" attack on Iran to "destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."
"The United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation ...," he said in a video message on his social media platform Truth Social. "We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."
Sources told CNN that Trump's assertion that Iran was working on missiles that could reach the United States is not supported by US intelligence.
Trump also called on the Iranian people to "take over the government" after US military operations conclude.
Meanwhile, Trump acknowledged that the attack on Iran could result in US casualties. "We may have casualties," he said. "That often happens in war."
Thomas Massie, a Republican lawmaker from Kentucky, criticized the strikes on Iran as "acts of war unauthorized by Congress" in a social media post.
JERUSALEM/TEHRAN - Israel said Saturday that it will not rule out targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in its new air strikes on Iran, Israel Broadcasting Authority reported.
Israel has launched two waves of strikes on Tehran so far on Saturday. Media reports said explosions caused by air strikes were heard in Tehran's eastern area around Ali Khamenei's office zone, adding that the supreme leader is not in Tehran and has been moved to a secure location.
Mobile phone services have been cut in parts of Tehran: Iranian media
Tehran prepares for retaliation: media
Israeli source says all leaders of Iran are targets of attack, including its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - media
US official says strikes against Iran being launched by air and by sea: media
JERUSALEM - The first phase of the attack against Iran is expected to include four days of combined strikes, Israel's Channel 12 News reported Saturday morning.
Explosions heard in Iran's Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah - media
BAGHDAD - Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday the closure of the country's airspace following Israeli strikes against Iran.
The announcement was made by the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, said Maetham al-Safi, the ministry's spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that the closure was preceded by the clearing of all aircraft from Iraqi skies to ensure safety during escalating regional tensions.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei not in Tehran, has been moved to secure location: media
Israel launches second wave of air strikes against Iran: media
US strikes on Iran are underway: New York Times citing US official
Apparent strike in Tehran happened near offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Joint Israeli-American attacks launched against Iran: Israeli media
Multiple missiles hit university street, Jomhouri area in Tehran: media
Air raid sirens sounding in Israel, residents ordered to take shelter: media
