The United States and Israel have launched joint “major combat operations” against Iran following months of increasing tensions and a breakdown of diplomatic relations. 

Retaliatory strikes had been made against US bases in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. 

Explosions have been heard across Iran and Middle Eastern cities as the capital Tehran has been hit. 

Joining Emmet Oliver to get the latest is Mark Weiss, Irish Times Contributor Based In Israel & Scott Lucas, Professor & Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin.

Iranian state media has already confirmed reports that more than 40 people have been killed after an Israeli air strike hit a school for girls. 

President Donald Trump said the operation, named ‘Epic Fury’, held the objective to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”

He claimed the Iranian regime had “armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts” and that it was by Iran’s proxy that Hamas launched the October 7th attacks two years ago.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has vowed to offer a “crushing response” to the American and Israeli strikes ordered while the UAE Irish embassy has instructed citizens to shelter and avoid all unnecessary movements. 

The New York Times has reported that the strikes could last and effectively affect the regional economy, Western economies and even oil prices as the tensions have been regionalised. 

“It’s clear that this time, this is going to be a big and prolongued operation,” Mark Weiss,  Irish Times Contributor based in Israel told Newstalk Saturday’s Emmett Oliver. 

“It will be at least four or five days of intensive, probably around-the-clock strikes against all elements of the Iranian military and the political leadership, along with major figures from the Revolutionary Guards under the siege.

“The aim is quite clear if you take Netanyahu’s speech and President Trump’s announcement, that this time the aim is regime change.”

Smoke rises up after Israel's attack, in Tehran, Iran. Picture by: AP Photo.

He said the Iranian’s retaliation is likely to be strong, particularly if they feel the regime is in danger. 

“The operations this morning are a combination of trying to knock out Iran's elite military positions”, Scott Lucas, Professor & Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin, told Emmett Oliver. 

“We have reports that there are casualties at Revolutionary Guards headquarters, but they also are going for the political leadership.

“There are explosions near or in the district where the President's offices are located, where the National Security Council is located and reports that the Supreme Leader's offices have been targeted as well as the Assembly of Experts.”

He emphasized however that there is no clear successor should this regime effectively fall given the past treatment of oppostion leaders. 

“The one thing that could stop them would be domestic opposition,” he added. 

“Iraq 2003 and Afghanistan are so firmly implanted in American political culture, I don't think Trump can get his political supporters to back that, especially when he said,’I'm the president of peace who will not get us involved in foreign interventions’.”

President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington. Picture by: Carlos Barria.

According to Mr Lucas the strike seems “heavily unilateral” but that it remains a US-Israeli operation. 

“He’s just doing things with Netanyahu without much reference to anybody else whatsoever,” he told Newstalk. 

“I think what you're going to see is a paradox. You're going to see the Trump camp and Israel being isolated in waging this assault on Iran,but at the same time, I don't think anybody can limit them right now.

“I don't think the UN can limit them. I don't think former allies can limit them because they are dedicated to taking the regime change out.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee  has repsonded to this morning’s events and called them “deeply concerning.”

The Minister is calling on all sides to de-escalate the situation. 

Irish Defence Forces personnel located accross the Middle East have been accounted for and are safe.

Main Image: Rescuers work at the scene of an explosion after an Israeli strike in Tehran. Picture by: Iranian Red Crescent Society.