DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded to a joint US-Israel attack on Saturday by saying that the country “will not hesitate” in its response to the strikes. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.” The US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” — an extraordinary appeal that suggested the allies could be seeking to end of the country’s theocracy after decades of tensions.

The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" were underway.