Live news: Israel launches air strikes on Iran

Defence minister says ‘pre-emptive’ strike that followed weeks of tensions between US and Tehran needed to ‘remove threats’

Israel launches preemptive strike against Iran, defense minister says

Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran early Saturday, according to an announcement from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Iran launches ‘preemptive’ strike against Iran, saying it seeks ‘to remove threats’

Israel launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran on Saturday morning “to remove threats to Israel,” the Israeli Defence Ministry said in a statement. Sirens were sounded across Israel to warn the public to prepare for the possibility of an Iranian missile attack on Israel. More to follow...

By SCMP Reporter

Israel launches attack on Iran as explosions heard in Tehran

Blasts heard in Tehran as Israel declares state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile strikes Israel said it had attacked Iran early on Saturday morning, as explosions were heard across Tehran. An Israeli military spokesman said the country had “launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the state of Israel.” Continue reading...

By Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem