Marco Rubio has cancelled his planned trip to Israel following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran.
The United States Department of State confirmed the development on Saturday.
“Due to current circumstances, Secretary Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on March 2,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, Dylan Johnson, wrote on X.
The decision comes after a wave of coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets earlier on Saturday. Explosions and columns of smoke were reported in Tehran and other cities.
US President Donald Trump said Washington’s objective was to eliminate imminent threats from Iran.
In a video message shared on social media, Trump stated, “The United States military began major combat operations in Iran.”
He added, “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the action as a preventive strike.
In a related development, the United States Department of Defense said Iran’s retaliation caused no reported American casualties.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversaw the American operation, stated that its forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.
“There have been no reports of US casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to US installations was minimal and has not impacted operations,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The situation marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran, with global observers closely monitoring further developments.
