Incredible video exhibits US strike on Iranian troops as they had been about to fireside a missile
The Israeli Air Force revealed incredible video footage of Iranian troops loading a missile launcher towards Israel before they were struck down.
The black and white drone footage depicted two individuals, whom Israeli officials said were Iranian regime operatives, loading a missile launcher in western Iran.
The Israeli Air Force said in a statement online that its defense forces are working to thwart launchers targeting Israeli civilians.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday after failed negotiations to halt Iran’s developing nuclear capabilities.
President Donald Trump released a video message shortly after the US strikes, vowing a ‘massive and ongoing’ effort against Iran to ‘raze their military industry to the ground.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added in a separate statement: ‘Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands.’
The strikes reportedly targeted Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran then launched counterstrikes across Middle Eastern countries that house US bases, including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
The Israeli Air Force shared drone footage of two individuals believed to be Iranian operatives setting up a missile launcher
Israeli officials said in a statement that the launch was prevented by striking the forces and the launcher
Dramatic video footage revealed the two reported operatives setting up the missile unit, which Israel officials said was aimed at Israeli civilians
‘As part of the Air Force strikes in western Iran, operatives from the Iranian terror regime’s ground-to-ground missile unit were identified arming a launcher in western Iran and preparing it for immediate launch toward the civilians of the State of Israel,’ the Israeli Air Force said in a statement alongside the new video footage.
‘The IDF identified the threat and, in a rapid closing of the circle, struck the forces and the launcher, thereby thwarting a launch toward the rear of the State of Israel.’
The IDF said in a separate statement that the Iranian launch depicted in the video was prevented by a strike.
Iranian media first reported the strikes around 9.30am Tehran time/1am EST. Trump first confirmed the strikes on Truth Social, announcing a ‘major combat operation.’
Trump and Netanyahu issued ominous messages to Iran, urging the country to ‘take over your government’ and ‘throw off the yoke of tyranny.’
Iran responded to the strikes with a chilling promise of ‘crushing retaliation,’ launching a barrage of missiles across Middle Eastern countries.
‘All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,’ Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
Reporters on the ground across the region filmed sirens ringing out. Many civilians also received phone alerts urging them to seek shelter in a secure building.
The US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran after failed negotiations over nuclear power. Pictured above is an intercepted missile over Tel Aviv
Iran was hit with a barrage of missile strikes on Saturday from the US and Israel. Smoke is seen rising on the skyline in Tehran after an explosion
Bahrain’s state news agency reported that the US Navy 5th Fleet was the subject of a missile attack.
There were also reports of explosions in Qatar’s capital, Doha. Qatar houses the largest US military facility in the region, the Al Udeid Air Base.
Middle Eastern countries have been attempting to intercept Iranian counterstrikes, with civilians in the region in terrifying circumstances as loud booms rock homes, smoke is seen billowing in the air and emergency alerts ring out.
The death toll for the military operations remains unclear, but Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that 40 girls at a school near the strikes were killed and at least 45 others were wounded.
Syrian state television reported four people killed by an Iranian missile, while Iraqi officials reported two people killed in a drone strike.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently told NBC News that Khamenei was alive ‘as far as I know,’ adding that he believed ‘almost all officials are safe and sound and alive.’
He added that he spoke to leaders in the Persian Gulf to tell them Iran intended to attack US bases as an act of self-defense and was not targeting their countries.
Araghchi criticized the attacks against Iran and accused the US of engaging in negotiations while launching a military strike.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News after the strikes that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive ‘as far as I know.’ He’s pictured above on February 17 in Geneva during negotiation talks
Iran launched counterstrikes against US military bases across the US. Smoke is seen above after missiles struck Bahrain
The attacks targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound. It’s unclear if he survived. Khamanei is pictured above in a file photo on February 19
‘There is no communication right now, but if America wants to talk to us, they know how they can contact me,’ he added.
Araghchi said in a letter to the UN Security Council that the US and Israel violated international law by attacking Iran, defending Iran’s counterstrikes as an act of self-defense, according to the New York Times.
The strikes have divided the international community, with United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk suggesting that civilians will be the ones to pay the ultimate price.
Russia condemned military action against Iran, while leaders in Britain, France and Germany have called for negotiations to resume.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Iran an ‘accomplice of Putin’ and supported the US military action.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting at 4pm EST to address the ongoing tensions in the region.
