TEL AVIV, Israel: Israel launched a daylight attack Saturday on Iran’s capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from the city’s downtown. It wasn’t immediately clear what the target was. 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. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate. In Tehran, witnesses heard the blast.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had waged the attack to preemptively "remove threats to the State of I

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.”