The United States and Israel jointly launched a large-scale airstrike against Iran on Saturday the 28th. President Donald Trump urged the Iranian people through a video statement to seize this opportunity to take over their government.

In an 8-minute video posted on the TruthSocial platform, President Trump told the Iranian people, "I say to you today, your time of freedom is coming," and confirmed that the United States, along with Israel, had begun "major combat operations" against Tehran.

"Our goal is to protect the American people by eliminating the imminent threat from the very brutal and terrible Iranian regime," he said, adding, "Iran's threatening activities directly endanger the United States, our military, our overseas bases, and our allies around the world."

Trump's announcement came shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that a "preemptive strike" had been carried out against Iran, with smoke seen rising from various parts of the capital, Tehran.

Iran vowed immediate retaliation, and the Israeli military ordered civilians to stay in safe places and not gather in public areas amid concerns of retaliatory attacks. Israel stated that missile attacks had been launched towards its territory.

The day before the airstrike on Iran, Israel destroyed a missile logistics base held by Hamas.

According to the Associated Press, some of the airstrikes in Tehran occurred near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Minister Katz stated that the attack was "intended to eliminate threats" but did not provide further details.

In a video message in Hebrew, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the joint attack was carried out "to eliminate the existential threat" posed by Iran and "to create conditions for regime change" in Iran.

"Our joint action will create conditions for the brave Iranian people to forge their own destiny," he said.

He added, "Now is the time for all the people of Iran, Persians, Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Balochis, and Ahwazis, to throw off the yoke of tyranny and build a free and peaceful Iran."

The Israeli military announced a "ban on educational activities, gatherings, and workplace activities" in preparation for a counterattack from Iran, with exceptions for "essential sectors."

The airstrikes occurred just hours after President Trump declared himself "dissatisfied" with negotiations in which Iran partially agreed to reduce its nuclear enrichment levels but refused any agreement on ballistic missile reductions. President Trump stated that he strongly demands a "complete prohibition of nuclear enrichment."

On Friday the 27th, President Trump said, "We prefer to resolve this peacefully," but added, "sometimes force must be used."

Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince of Iran exiled in the United States, stated that what the US President promised the Iranian people has arrived. "This is a humanitarian intervention, and its target is the Islamic Republic, its oppressive regime, and its machine of slaughter, not the country of Iran and its great people. However, even if this support arrives, the final victory will still be made by our own hands," he said.

Social media buzzed with reports that Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, the chief justice of Iran's Supreme Court, was eliminated shortly after the airstrikes began. He is known to have sentenced thousands of protesters to death.

Meanwhile, on the 27th, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Iran had been designated as a state sponsor of unlawful detention, hinting at further sanctions.

Secretary Rubio stated, "When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his power by condoning the hostage crisis at the US Embassy. For decades, Iran has cruelly detained not only innocent Americans but also citizens of other countries, using them as a tool of political pressure on other nations. This abhorrent practice must end."

In another post on TruthSocial, President Trump wrote, "Iran tried to interfere in the 2020 and 2024 elections to stop Trump, and now it faces a new war with the United States."

He then shared an article from Just The News, which claims that Iran disrupted President Trump's re-election bid through cyberattacks in 2020 and, in 2024, engaged not only in election interference but also assassination attempts. The article also details the gradual actions President Trump has taken with Israel to counter Iran, which has been hostile to the United States for decades.

Senator Tom Cotton (Republican, Arkansas) stated on X, "A nuclear weapons program. Thousands of missiles. State-sponsored terrorism. Iran has been at war with the United States for 47 years. Hostage crises, the Beirut barracks bombing, the Khobar Towers attack, roadside bomb attacks that killed or injured thousands of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and even assassination attempts on President Trump. It is now time for the Iranian leaders to pay the price. I pray that God blesses and protects our soldiers as they carry out this vital mission of retribution, justice, and safety."

Sung Ku Hong, Editor-in-Chief, NNP, USA / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com