TEHERAN/WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM –  President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US military has begun major combat operations in Iran, after Israel confirmed launching "preemptive" strikes against Iran "to remove threats to Israel."

Israel has launched two waves of strikes on Tehran so far during the day.

Media reports said explosions caused by air strikes were heard in Teheran's eastern area around Ali Khamenei's office zone, adding that the supreme leader is not in the capital and has been moved to a secure location.

Israel said Saturday that it will not rule out targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader in its new air strikes on Iran, Israel Broadcasting Authority reported.

The Iranian Civil Aviation Authority, meanwhile, has said the country's airspace will remain closed until further notice, according to the Mehr news agency.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a special and immediate state of emergency in all areas of Israel, according to the statement.

The ministry warned that a missile and drone attack against Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future.

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Sirens were sounded across Israel to warn the public to prepare for the possibility of an Iranian missile attack on Israel and mobile phone services have been cut in parts of Tehran.

The Israel Defense Forces has prohibited educational activities, public gatherings, and attendance at workplaces, allowing exceptions for essential services.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights on Saturday following the joint Israeli-US attack on Iran, according to local authorities.

The Israeli public was asked not to travel to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and other airports until further notice.

Passengers staying abroad are advised to stay updated on the news and flight schedules for information on when the airspace will reopen.

Local media in Lebanon, meanwhile, reported quoting the Israel Defense Forces that Israel is also carrying out strikes against the infrastructure of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

‘State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention'

Earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Iran as a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention" amid escalating tensions between the two countries.

In a press statement, Rubio attributed the designation to Iran's continued arrests and imprisonment of "innocent Americans" as well as other foreigners as political leverage.

The move does not impose penalties immediately, but Rubio said that if Iran does not stop, additional measures will be imposed, including "a potential geographic travel restriction on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran."

"No American should travel to Iran for any reason. We reiterate our call for Americans who are currently in Iran to leave immediately," he said.