United States President, Donald Trump, has announced a major attack against Iran on Saturday.

Speaking in a video address after the United States and Israel started bombing Iran, Trump vowed to annihilate” the country’s navy and missile sites, and urged Iranians to overthrow their government.

Trump made it clear that the goal was the destruction of the Islamic Republic’s military and the toppling of the authorities in power since the 1979 revolution.

Here is the full text:

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.

Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries.

Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Coal. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as US naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes.

It’s been mass terror. And we’re not going to put up with it any longer. From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts.

And it was Iran’s proxy Hamas that launched the monstrous October 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal. Something like the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon.

That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons. And we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it, they didn’t want to do it again. They wanted to do it, they didn’t want to do it, they didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practise evil.

But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions. And we can’t take it any more. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland.

Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans.

And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration.

And there is no military on Earth even close to its power. Strength or sophistication. My administration has taken every possible step to minimise the risk to US personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement likely, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now, we’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission.

We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail.

We have the greatest in the world. And they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or, in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.

Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

For many years you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach.

This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you

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The Chief Imam of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye in Ogun State, Professor Akeem Akanni, has advised parents across the country not to allow their children to be recruited as terrorists or bandits.

The professor of Islamic Studies made this declaration while delivering the 33rd Ramadan lecture organised by University of Ibadan Muslim Community (UIMC) on Saturday. Akanni while speaking on the topic “Between ‘scapegoatism’ and responsibility: Muslims’ roles in and Islam’s response to security concerns in Nigeria” noted that Quran recongnises sanctity of life and condemns all forms of violence.

He said that any group such as Boko Haram, ISWAP or any other terrorist groups taking lives of people and burning houses or destroying properties unjustly has no basis in Islam.

He then used the opportunity to warn parents not to allow their children or relatives be recruited as members of Boko Haram, ISWAP or any other violent groups.

Akanni tasked the governments at all levels to engage youths in meaningful endeavours to address the problem of insecurity in the country.

He advised that the government and other stakeholders engage in moral education, youth empowerment, community vigilance and responsible leadership.

He said, “Do not allow your children to be recruited as terrorists by Boko Haram, ISWAP. The Quran recongnises sanctity of life. Whichever group taking people’s lives, Islam does not recognise it. So, it is very wrong to say that Islam encourages people to kill people. Islam does not encourage shielding in whatever forms.

“So, Boko Haram, ISWAP or any other groups taking lives and destroying properties unjustly are condemned in Islam. Islam condemns public disturbance. Those who kill and burn properties unjustly are spreading public disturbance. Islam encourages peace building. So as long as it is peace building, Islam encourages it. Therefore, acts that encourage terrorism, banditry are condemned in Islam.

“Parents should give their children tools, skills that will make them economically independent. The government should engage the youths through provision of empowerment tools and job opportunities.

“Thus, any Muslim involvement in insecurity constitutes a betrayal of Islamic identity, not its fulfilment. Thus, acts that destabilise society, like terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or communal violence are therefore categorically prohibited (haram) in Islam.

“To address these, therefore those in positions of authority in Nigeria would be required to engage in moral education, youth empowerment, community vigilance, and responsible leadership. It is a collective responsibility for all as parents, leaders.”

The event was attended by Secretary to Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, UIMC President, Professor Musiliu Onilude, Chairman of UIMC, Professor Sirajudeen Bankole, Chairman of the occasion, Engineer Ishaq Folorunso, and Chief Imam of the institution, Professor Ibrahim Uthman.

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Ghana’s Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that 55 Ghanaians have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, describing the situation as “depressing and frightening.”

In a post on X on Friday, February 27, Ablakwa said the government had been informed that 272 Ghanaians were believed to have been lured into the conflict since 2022, with 55 confirmed dead and two captured as prisoners of war.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to these heartbreaking statistics. These are not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation,” he wrote after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv.

Ukraine said earlier this week that more than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries had been identified among Russian forces. Ablakwa said Ghana’s government was “committed to tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction,” amid growing concerns that African nationals are being deceived with promises of jobs before being deployed to the frontlines.

AFP reporters in late 2025 met prisoners of war from Kenya, Togo, Cameroon and Nigeria. Several Africans have alleged they were promised lucrative civilian employment in Russia but were instead forced to sign military contracts and sent into combat with minimal training.

In Kenya, a key figure accused of facilitating the recruitment of more than 1,000 nationals to fight for Russia was charged with human trafficking on Thursday, according to the state prosecutor.

South Africa has also reported similar cases. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said 15 men who were reportedly tricked into joining mercenary forces were recently repatriated, though several remain in Russia and at least two have died in the conflict.

The revelations have intensified scrutiny over alleged recruitment networks targeting African nationals amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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