What recent events have escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Air raid sirens echoed across Israel today, where a special state of emergency is in place after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran today. Just a short time ago, a loud boom was heard in Tel Aviv as the military intercepted an Iranian missile. The attack on Iran follows a massive U.S.
military buildup in the region and weeks of escalating tension. NPR's Greg Myhre reports President Trump caught on Iranian citizens to rise up and overthrow their government.
Huge explosions rang out in Iran's capital, Tehran, and videos on social media showed huge plumes of smoke. President Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. was targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs in what he described as a massive operation.
Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard-
Terrible people. He also spoke directly to the Iranian people, saying, quote, When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said in his own statement that his country was also taking part in the air campaign against Iran. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.
Iran's foreign ministry calls the airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel a gross violation of Iran's national sovereignty. Iran's state broadcaster says Iranian missiles were launched at U.S. military targets in Arab Gulf states. The UAE's defense ministry says ballistic missiles targeted the country, which hosts American troops.
For many people in Iran, the airstrikes unfolded just as the workweek was getting underway. NPR's Arzu Rezvani reports on how residents in Tehran reacted as news of the attacks spread.
30-something-year-old V, who lives in Tehran and gives only his first initial for fear of retribution, was settling into work when the attack started.
And suddenly heard some loud noises and then explosions. We even saw one of the explosions from our office window. It was around the middle of the city, downtown Tehran.
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