Trump Says War with Iran Could Last for Weeks; Urges US Citizens in More Than a Dozen Countries to Leave
President Donald Trump has finally done it. After promising to help the Iranian people following the nationwide protests in late December, the United States has launched a war aimed not only at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile arsenals, and navy, but also at the regime’s leaders themselves. It is the biggest gamble of the Trump presidency to date, for better or for worse.
The compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been reduced to rubble. The Times of Israel reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also been targeted in Israeli airstrikes. Unverified reports circulating on social media also claim that high-ranking generals in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been targeted, including its commander, Mohammad Pakpour, according to Israeli broadcaster N12. Iran has already retaliated, attacking Israel and US military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
At the close of an eight-minute address to the world, released early Saturday morning, Trump made a direct appeal to the Iranian people. “The hour of your freedom is near,” he said. “Stay indoors. Don’t go outside. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be falling everywhere. When we’re finished, take control of your government. It will be yours. This will probably be your only opportunity for generations.”
