Trump announces launch of major US-Israel major attack on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, Feb. 27. Reuters-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The United States conducted major combat operations against Iran, Saturday, to safeguard Americans from "imminent threats" from Tehran, President Donald Trump said, following Washington's massive military buildup in the Middle East and a struggle to reach a nuclear deal with the Islamic republic.

Trump made the announcement in a video clip posted on Truth Social, saying the U.S. military was conducting a "massive and ongoing" operation to prevent the "very wicked radical dictatorship" in Iran from threatening America and its core national security interests.

"A short time ago, the U.S. military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime -- a vicious group of very hard, terrible people," Trump said.

"Its menacing activities directly endanger the U.S., our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," he added.

He reiterated that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, while stressing that the U.S. military will totally "obliterate" Iran's missiles and missile industry, which the U.S. sees as a major threat to the U.S., its forces in the region and its allies, including Israel.

"We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the regime's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world, and attack our forces," he said.

Trump warned that the Iranian regime will soon learn that no one should challenge "the strength and might" of the U.S. armed forces.

"I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration, and there is no military on Earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication," he said.

Trump outlined a history of Iran's decades-long campaign against the U.S., which he said started with Iran backing the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days.

"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many countries," he said.

In a message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, he called on its members to put down their arms.

"So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death," he said.

He also sent a message to what he called "great and proud" people of Iran, calling on them to "take over your government" when the U.S. military operation is finished. Earlier, he sent a message of support to Iranian protestors when Tehran conducted a bloody crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

"This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it," Trump said. "No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want.

"America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach," he continued. "This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."