Reactions and statements from the international community
An Iranian resident in Ahwaz province claims that the IRGC is deploying missile and drone launch platforms within villages, using Arab civilians as human shields. The resident appeals for international attention to highlight their plight.
In a video message, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the start of military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, urging Iranians to "be brave and take back their country" and calling on the IRGC and military forces to defect to avoid "certain death." Trump stated that the aim is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and pledged U.S. support for the Iranian people.
The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint declaration stating that Iran's missile strikes are "indiscriminate and disproportionate" and that they will take defensive measures, including cooperation with the United States and other allies, to protect their interests in the region. Britain's Foreign Office reported that 94,000 British citizens have registered their presence in Gulf states, an increase of 76,000 from previous reports.
Israel's Defense Forces announced in a statement that all "senior leaders of terrorist organizations" in Iran have been eliminated in airstrikes over the past two days, claiming this action significantly weakens Iran's terror axis.
Iranian state media reported that the Ray County Police Command Headquarters building in southern Tehran was targeted in an airstrike.
On January 15, 2026, the Israeli Air Force secured air superiority over Tehran and launched a series of strikes against dozens of regime combat headquarters, including IRGC command centers, intelligence hubs, and internal security sites, after these targets were identified as coordinating operations against Israel and regional states.
On Saturday night, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran's fortified ballistic missile facilities, armed with 2,000-pound bombs.CENTCOM made this announcement in a post on X on Sunday.
According to the post, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence headquarters in Tehran has been targeted in what is claimed to be a massive airstrike, an agency that the author characterizes as responsible for civilian repression.
On July 15, 2019, Ali Khamenei appointed Alireza Arafi as a member of the Guardian Council's jurists, one of six responsible for approving laws and overseeing elections, to strengthen his control over power in Iran.
US CENTCOM contradicts Iran's UN statement that its military response targeted only American bases, instead accusing the Iranian regime of attacking civilian infrastructure across multiple countries including airports, hotels, and residential areas in the UAE, Iraq, Israel, Bahrain, and Qatar. The allegation directly challenges Iran's claims of precision targeting and raises questions about civilian casualties in the regional escalation.
Masih Alinejad expresses gratitude to Martha MacCallum for amplifying Iranian voices against forced hijab policies since 2014, citing loyalty and support during international dismissals of the issue as cultural practice.
Video shows Iranians expressing joy in areas of Tehran that were bombed. Citizens are seen filming the scene without apparent fear.
