(UPDATED) WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced a major attack against Iran, vowing to “annihilate” its navy and missile sites and telling Iranians their “hour of freedom” had come from the Islamic republic.
In a video address after the United States and Israel started bombing Iran, Trump made clear the goal was destruction of the Islamic republic’s military and toppling of the authorities in power since the 1979 revolution.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally — again — obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy,” Trump said in the address from his Florida home posted to his Truth Social platform.
Speaking to Iranians, Trump said: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”
“This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said. “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”
Trump urged Iranian forces to surrender, including the elite Revolutionary Guards that is tasked with safeguarding the cleric-run government.
“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity or, in the alternative, face certain death.”
Trump justified the assault on Iran, saying: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“They attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland,” he said.
And Trump warned ordinary Iranians that the US bombing would be large-scale.
“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Iran and all the countries in the Middle East following reports of airstrikes.
“We have received reports of airstrikes which hit Iran. We are in the process of getting more information,” Marcos said in a statement.
“In the meantime, the safety of Filipino citizens in Iran and in the Middle East is paramount. I have instructed the DFA and the DMW to take measures to determine their whereabouts in affected areas and to take immediate measures to ensure their safety,” he added.
Military buildup
The attack was widely expected after Trump ordered the biggest military deployment to the Middle East in years.
But Trump on Friday had insisted that he had not decided whether to attack, and his envoys on Thursday held talks with Iran’s top diplomat toward a deal on concerns led by Tehran’s nuclear program.
The top diplomat of Oman, which mediated talks Thursday in Geneva between the United States and Iran, had been optimistic for a compromise.
He met Friday with US Vice President JD Vance and told CBS News that Iran had agreed to zero stockpiling of enriched uranium that could build an atomic bomb, a goal denied by Tehran.
Trump in June ordered the US military to bomb Iran’s main nuclear sites in support of an Israeli military campaign.
Israel launched a daylight attack Saturday on Iran’s capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from the city’s downtown. The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States is participating, though it was not immediately clear the full extent of its involvement, according to a US official and a person familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations.
It also wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei had been in his offices at the time. He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown.
But the attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Iran would immediately strike back, but it had warned that American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.
In Tehran, witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.
Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time as it closed its airspace. The Israeli military said that it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”
More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.
Meanwhile, Iran shut down its airspace, and mobile phone services were cut.
The warning to pilots came out as explosions rang out across Tehran, the Iranian capital.
Republicans back Trump's decision
Republicans largely welcomed strikes launched Saturday by US forces and ally Israel against Iran but prominent Democrats condemned what they called an illegal aggression.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of US military intervention against Iran, Donald Trump's speech "will go down in history as the catalyst for the most historic change in the Middle East in a thousand years."
Philippine advisory
Before the attacks, the Philippine Embassy in Israel issued a security advisory urging all Filipinos in Israel to remain vigilant as it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the country and the wider region.
In a public notice released on Saturday, the embassy called on members of the Filipino community to stay informed by regularly monitoring official updates and safety instructions from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command.
Authorities have advised residents to remain alert and to strictly follow any changes in safety guidelines that may be announced in the coming days.
The embassy emphasized the importance of preparedness, reminding Filipinos to identify the nearest mamad (reinforced safe room) or public shelter in their area.
Residents should be ready to enter these protective spaces immediately upon receiving a “Tzeva Adom” (Red Alert) warning through mobile applications, text messages, or when air raid sirens sound.
To ensure timely access to verified safety advisories and official announcements, the embassy encouraged Filipinos to follow its official WhatsApp channel.
The platform provides immediate updates, emergency instructions, and other critical information relevant to the Filipino community in Israel.
Canceled Flights
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific have canceled or diverted several flights due to operational restrictions at select Middle East stations.
On Saturday evening, PAL said that it was closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the region following recent developments.
PAL emphasized that the safety and security of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority and all operational decisions were guided by authoritative risk assessments and civil aviation safety protocols.
Cebu Pacific announce on their social media page that Flight 5J 14 to Dubai was turned back and was currently en route to Manila, with an expected arrival of 10:45 p.m.
Affected passengers have been informed via email and provided with the following options through the Manage Booking portal on the CEB website https://www.cebupacificair.com/manage-booking.
Cebu Pacific added that affected passengers may opt to rebook their flights, convert the value of their tickets into a travel fund that can be used for new bookings, add-ons, or a full refund.
Passengers going to and from Dubai on March 2, as well as those flying to and from Riyadh on March 1 and 2, were also given a chance to rebook without charges or convert their tickets to a travel fund.
Iran retaliates
Explosions rocked cities across the Gulf, killing a civilian in Abu Dhabi, while smoke and flames rose from Dubai landmark The Palm as Iran launched waves of attacks in retaliation for the US and Israeli strikes.
The attacks hit Kuwait's airport, as well as Gulf military bases and residential areas, raising fears of a wider conflict and rattling a region long seen as a haven of peace and security in the region.
Four people were injured at the luxury Palm development, and missiles streaked across the skies of every Gulf country but Oman, a mediator in the recent US-Iran talks.
