Trump says we're 'blowing up the whole country' if Iran doesn't make deal in 48 hours
Two C-130 aircraft were lost during the operation, an official said.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.
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Key Headlines
China and Pakistan working to de-escalate tensions, official says
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a briefing on Wednesday that Beijing is working with Pakistan in "raising a voice for reason and justice," following the release of a joint five-point Chinese-Pakistani plan to end the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
"Our aim is to contribute to de-escalating current tensions and facilitating the early restoration of peace and tranquility in the Gulf and the Middle East," Mao said.
"I believe that the current situation in the Middle East is the focal point of concern for all parties involved. The situation remains tense, and any spillover of the conflict serves the interests of no one. The immediate priority is to initiate peace talks," she said.
The proposal calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the start of peace talks as soon as possible, the security of nonmilitary targets, the security of shipping lanes and the primacy of the United Nations Charter.
-ABC News' Karson Yiu and Patrick Reevell
Iranian missile fire injures at least 14 people in Israel, authorities say
Iranian missile fire toward central Israel and Tel Aviv wounded at least 14 people on Wednesday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service.
Eleven of those injured were "in light condition," the MDA said in a post to X. One 11-year-old girl was in a serious condition, while a 36-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy were reported to be in moderate condition, the MDA said.
The Israel Defense Forces posted to X reporting "impact sites in the center of the country" and the deployment of emergency responders to the sites.
'Why the attack now?' Marco Rubio continues to make case for war in social media video
Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued to make the case for the U.S. war with Iran as Americans prepare to hear from President Donald Trump in a primetime address to the nation on Wednesday night.
“Many Americans are asking, 'Why did the United States have to attack Iran now?'" Rubio said in a video posted by the White House on Tuesday. "Well, let me explain. Iran wants to have nuclear weapons. Of that, there is zero doubt."
Rubio said Iran was "trying to build a conventional shield, in essence have so many missiles, have so many drones that no one could attack them and they were well on their way."
He added, "We were on the verge of an Iran that had so many missiles and so many drones, that no one could do anything about their nuclear weapons program in the future. That was an intolerable risk."
Regarding the U.S. decision to launch strikes on Feb. 28, Rubio said: "This was our last best chance to eliminate that conventional threat -- that conventional shield that they were trying to build -- and the president made the right decision to wipe it out now. That is the goal of this operation."
-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr
Trump to address nation on Wednesday with 'important update' on Iran
President Donald Trump will address the nation with "an important update on Iran" at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.