US Attacks Iran Live Updates: Trump Launches ‘Massive and Ongoing’ Combat Operation with Israel

In pictures: Civilians seek shelter in Israel and smoke rises into the sky in Iran

Images have shown people rushing for cover in both Iran and Israel as a "massive and ongoing" combat operation continues to unfold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a joint attack with the US was to "remove an existential threat posed" by Iran.

The Israeli leader said: "My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short time ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.

"I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.

"For 47 years, the ayatollah regime has been shouting 'Death to Israel,' 'Death to America.' It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be armed with nuclear weapons that would allow it to threaten all of humanity.

"Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.

"The time has come for all segments of the Iranian people - the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis, and the Ahwazis - to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peaceful Iran.

"I appeal to you, the citizens of Israel, to listen to the instructions of the Home Front Command. In the coming days, in Operation 'The Roar of the Lion,' we will all be required to have endurance and fortitude.

"Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel."

What Anton and Takht Ravanchi were trying to solve

As talks advanced, the U.S. and Iran launched expert-level meetings led by Michael Anton and Majid Takht Ravanchi.

Their task was to translate political commitments into a technical framework: how to handle Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, what inspections would look like, and what guarantees Iran needed to trust the U.S. after the 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA.

The biggest sticking point was the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium—Tehran wanted to keep it; Washington insisted it be shipped out.