WATCH: U.S., Israel strike Iran in Operation Epic Fury

(The Center Square) – Massive strikes by the United States against Iran in Operation Epic Fury started overnight, with allied support from Israel.

Second-term Republican President Donald Trump addressed the nation and the Iranian people shortly after the strikes began. He told the Iranian people the “hour of your freedom is at hand. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”

Trump instructed the Iranian people to “stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home.”

The president underscored that the objective of the mission is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

“Iran is the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” said the president.

More from this section

Athens court convicts four over Greece spyware saga

Swastikas tagged at former Nazi transit camp near Paris

Fears of Mideast war as US-Iran conflict flares

In response to the large, coordinated attack, Iran has been carrying out strikes against several American military bases in the region, including striking the U.S. Fifth Fleet Naval headquarters in Bahrain, according to multiple reports.

In his address, the president warned there could be American casualties. He said his administration “has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region.”

“I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill the lives of courageous American heroes," Trump said. "We may have causalities, 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.”

The president warned members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian police to “lay down” their weapons. If not, he said, they would “face certain death.”

This is the second strike against the Islamic State in less than a year. In June, the U.S. carried out Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting Iran’s nuclear sites.