US enters Israel-Iran war: Trump says nuclear facilities 'obliterated'

US strikes on Iran: What we know

Early Sunday morning, the US carried out strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Until now, President Donald Trump kept the world guessing when he would enter the conflict. On Thursday, the White House said he will decide whether to attack Iran within the next two weeks.

Today, Trump said the US strikes were a "very successful attack" and that all American planes were safely on the way home.

• The targets

US struck three main Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, with the former being hit with a "full payload of bombs."

• The munitions

Trump did not identify the type of munitions used in the strikes, but the GBU-57, a powerful 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) American bunker-busting bomb, was likely used to hit Fordow.

The US military says the GBU-57, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet (60 meters) underground before exploding.

Israel army raises country alert level

Israel has raised its alert level, permitting only essential activities until further notice, the military announced on Sunday after US strikes on Iran.

"It was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity," including "a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors", the Israeli military statement said.

Trump and Netanyahu spoke after US strikes

President Donald Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the US military launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, a senior White House official said Saturday.

The United States also "gave Israel a heads-up before the strikes," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, as Washington joined Israel's air campaign against Iran.

Nuclear sites 'attacked by enemy strikes': Iranian media

Part of the Fordow uranium enrichment facility as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked, Iranian media said on Sunday.

"A few hours ago, after Qom's air defenses were activated and hostile targets were identified, part of the Fordo nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes," Tasnim news agency reported, quoting Morteza Heydari, spokesperson for the Qom Provincial crisis management department.

Separately, Fars news agency said: "The air defenses of Isfahan and Kashan began to work to counter hostile targets, and several explosions were heard simultaneously."

US B-2 bombers

Earlier on Saturday there were reports that US B-2 bombers, which carry so-called "bunker buster" bombs, were headed out of the US.

Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.

Tehran had threatened reprisals on US forces in the Middle East if Trump attacked but the US president called for "peace."

"There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!" he said.

'Very successful attack' on 3 Iran nuclear sites

President Donald Trump said Saturday the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

"A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow."

Trump added that "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors."

US strikes Iran on Day 10

Khaleej Times returns this morning with the latest updates as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its ninth day.

For in-depth coverage of the ongoing hostilities, explore our previous real-time updates:

• June 13–18 live blog

• Day 7 live updates

• Day 8 live blog

• Day 8 live blog

US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says

At 3:57am, US President Donald Trump announced that the US has carried out successful strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran — Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan.