US enters Israel-Iran war: Trump says nuclear facilities 'obliterated'

Israel closes airspace after US strikes on Iran

Israel has closed its airspace until further notice "due to recent developments", the Israel Airports Authority announced on Sunday morning following the US bombing of Iran.

"The airspace of the State of Israel is closed to entry and exit due to recent developments," the authority said in a statement, specifying that "land crossing points (with Egypt) and Jordan are operating normally".

'Will not stop' nuclear activities: Iran

Iran will carry on with its nuclear activities despite the US attacks on key facilities.

"The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil plots of its enemies ... it will not let the path of development of this national industry (nuclear), which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped," the organisation said in a statement published by state media.

No signs of contamination: Iranian official

An Iranian lawmaker stated that the Fordow nuclear facility has not suffered serious damage, according to the Fars News Agency. The official also noted that there are "no signs of contamination" following the U.S. strikes on key nuclear sites.

Most of the damage at Fordow was reportedly limited to surface-level structures, which the lawmaker said "can be restored."

A satellite image shows the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran in this handout image. Photo: Reuters

US strikes a dangerous escalation: UN secretary general

The UN has reacted and Secretary General António Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed" after the US attacked Iran.

Secretary General António GuterresThis is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace. 'No danger' to residents after US attack: Iran

Following the surprise US attack, Iranian authorities there was "no danger" to residents in the city of Qom, south of Tehran.

"There is no danger to the people of Qom and the surrounding area" around the Fordow nuclear enrichment site, said the province crisis management department in a statement, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Hamas condemns 'blatant US aggression'

Palestinian group Hamas condemned "blatant US aggression" against Iran.

"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemns in the strongest terms the blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the group said in a statement issued after Trump announced the United States had joined Israel's bombing campaign against Iran.

"This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation," the Hamas statement added, calling the attack "a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security".

No radiation detected: Saudi regulator

After the US attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, Saudi Arabia’s nuclear regulator announced on Sunday that no radioactive traces have been detected in the environment. The regulator, in a post on X, confirmed that neither Saudi Arabia nor other Arab Gulf states have recorded any signs of radiation.

US strikes "in perfect coordination" with Israel: Netanyahu

Netanyahu said "promise to destroy Iran's nuclear programme fulfilled." He added that the the US attack on Iran's nuclear sites were made "in perfect coordination" with Israel.

The attack demonstrated America was "truly unsurpassed," Netanyahu said, thanking Trump for creating a "pivot of history" that will "help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace".

"President Trump and I often say, peace through strength. First comes strength, then comes peace," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu congratulates Trump

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been urging the US to take military action, congratulated Trump.

Benjamin NetanyahuCongratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history... History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons.

Netanyahu added that Trump had created a "pivot of history" that will "help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace".

More strikes if peace 'doesn't come quickly'

"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill," said Donald Trump.

US attacks on nuclear sites 'barbaric'

Iran's atomic energy organisation condemned Sunday the US attacks on key nuclear sites including the mountain-buried Fordo as "barbaric" and in violation of international law.

'A spectacular military success'

"The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said from the Oval Office. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."

In a speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held "either peace or tragedy," and that there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.

Iran must 'now make peace': Trump

During his televised address to the nation, Donald Trump said Iran "must now make peace". "If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," he says.

No severe explosions felt by people near Fordow: Iran news agency

Residents near the Fordow facility did not feel any severe explosions, and the situation in the area is normal: Iranian News Agency

Fordow, is gone: Trump

After days of deliberation and two weeks before his self-imposed deadline, Trump surprised the world with US air strikes on Sunday that had "completely and totally obliterated"

Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump said. "Fordow is gone."

What comes next?

Trump called on Iran to "agree to end this war," saying that "now is the time for peace."

But it remains to be seen whether the strikes will push Tehran to deescalate the conflict, or to widen it further.

If Iran chooses the latter option, it could do so by targeting American military personnel who are stationed around the Middle East, or seek to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of global oil output.

US strikes on Iran: What we know

Early Sunday morning, the US carried out strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Until now, President Donald Trump kept the world guessing when he would enter the conflict. On Thursday, the White House said he will decide whether to attack Iran within the next two weeks.

Today, Trump said the US strikes were a "very successful attack" and that all American planes were safely on the way home.

• The targets

US struck three main Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, with the former being hit with a "full payload of bombs."

• The munitions

Trump did not identify the type of munitions used in the strikes, but the GBU-57, a powerful 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) American bunker-busting bomb, was likely used to hit Fordow.

The US military says the GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet (60 meters) underground before exploding.

• The aircraft

The only aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-57 is the American B-2 Spirit, a long-range stealth bomber that can carry two.

Prior to the Iran strikes, specialist flight tracking sites and US media reported that multiple B-2s had left a base in Missouri in the central United States.

The bombers, which can fly 6,000 nautical miles (9,600 kilometers) without refuelling, are designed to "penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defences and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets," according to the US military.

Israel army raises country alert level

Israel has raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice, the military announced on Sunday after US strikes on Iran.

"It was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity," including "a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors", the Israeli military statement said.

Nuclear sites 'attacked by enemy strikes': Iranian media

Part of the Fordow uranium enrichment facility as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked, Iranian media said on Sunday.

"A few hours ago, after Qom's air defenses were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes," Tasnim news agency reported, quoting Morteza Heydari, spokesperson for the Qom Provincial crisis management department.

Separately, Fars news agency said: "The air defenses of Isfahan and Kashan began to work to counter hostile targets, and several explosions were heard simultaneously."

Trump and Netanyahu spoke after US strikes

President Donald Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the US military launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, a senior White House official said Saturday.

The United States also "gave Israel a heads-up before the strikes," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, as Washington joined Israel's air campaign against Iran.

US B-2 bombers

Earlier on Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers, which carry so-called "bunker buster" bombs, were headed out of the US.

Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.

Tehran had threatened reprisals on US forces in the Middle East if Trump attacked but the US president called for "peace."

"There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!" he said.

'Very successful attack' on 3 Iran nuclear sites

President Donald Trump said Saturday the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

"A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow."

Trump added that "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors."

US strikes Iran on Day 10

Khaleej Times returns this morning with the latest updates as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its ninth day.

For in-depth coverage of the ongoing hostilities, explore our previous real-time updates:

• June 13–18 live blog

• Day 7 live updates

• Day 8 live blog

• Day 8 live blog

US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says

At 3:57am, US President Donald Trump announced that the US has carried out successful strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran — Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan.