US strikes Iran: What you need to know

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Early Saturday, the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran, marking the start of what appears to be a far-reaching and open-ended war. President Donald Trump said the operation was meant to eliminate an “imminent threat,” destroy Iran’s missile and naval forces, and ultimately encourage Iranians to overthrow their government. He later said the strike had killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior regime figures.

Iran has since responded with retaliatory missile attacks on US, Israeli, and allied targets across the region. After weeks of military buildup, all signs point to a campaign far larger than recent clashes.

Politically, the moment seems to mark a sharp reversal for Trump. 

After years of condemning the Iraq war and even branding himself the “peace” candidate, he has now embraced the kind of regime change conflict he long criticized. Allies once praised him for avoiding new wars, including politicians like JD Vance, while contrasting him with past hawks like Hillary Clinton, who infamously backed the Iraq war as a senator. That record now collides with a war whose goals and consequences remain deeply unclear.

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