As Iran retaliates, largest US military base in Middle East hit by ballistic missile, Qatar says

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post to X on Tuesday that the "combined Israeli-American attack on Iran" is intended -- in part -- to "create the conditions for the Iranian people to act and remove" the government in Tehran.

"We have severed the head of the Iranian octopus and we are now working to crush and sever the octopus's tentacles," Katz wrote.

The Israeli-U.S. campaign, he said, "is unprecedented in its scope, precision, and power -- and it aims to crush the regime's capabilities, protect Israel's home front and U.S. military forces in the region, prevent Iran from returning to the path of nuclear weapons production and mass missile production," and help Iranians topple the regime.

The operation, Katz said, "will continue with full force for as long as required."

U.S. Central Command -- CENTCOM -- said in a post to X on Tuesday morning that it had "destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields."

"We will continue to take decisive action against imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime," CENTCOM added.

The Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday morning that it launched a new "wave of strikes" against what it called "key Hezbollah centers of gravity" in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The IDF said that among its targets were Hezbollah command centers, weapons storage facilities and satellite communication components.

The strikes targeted the Dahiyeh area in the south of the city, which is known as a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post to X on Tuesday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "authorized" the Israel Defense Forces "to advance and seize additional controlling areas in Lebanon to prevent firing on Israeli border settlements."

Israeli forces have been occupying five positions within southern Lebanon since 2024, when the IDF entered the country as part of the last major round of fighting with Hezbollah.

Israeli forces did not withdraw from the five positions despite agreeing to do so as part of a November 2024 ceasefire deal. Israel has also continued launching airstrikes against Hezbollah targets all over Lebanon. The strikes intensified after Hezbollah began launching projectiles toward Israel on Sunday.

The IDF said in a post to X on Tuesday that Israeli soldiers "are operating in southern Lebanon and are positioned at several points near the border area as part of an enhanced forward defense posture."

Hezbollah took responsibility for multiple drone and rocket attacks into Israel on Tuesday morning.