Jerusalem/Tehran/Washington – February 28, 2026 – Israel announced early Saturday that it had carried out a "pre-emptive" military operation against Iran, with the United States joining in coordinated strikes, marking one of the most significant direct confrontations in the ongoing shadow war between the two sides and raising immediate fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the strikes were launched "to remove threats to the State of Israel," describing the action as pre-emptive following months of joint planning with the US. The operation, codenamed "Roaring Lion" by Israel and referred to as "Operation Epic Fury" by the US Department of Defense, targeted multiple sites across Iran, including military facilities, missile production infrastructure, and reportedly senior leadership elements.
Explosions were reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, and other locations, with smoke rising over the capital and air raid sirens sounding across Israel as Iran launched retaliatory missile barrages toward Israeli territory. Iranian state media confirmed strikes on various provinces, reporting civilian casualties—including claims of an attack on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, that killed at least 40 people—and vowed a "crushing" response.
US President Donald Trump confirmed American involvement in an eight-minute video posted to Truth Social around 2:30 a.m. ET, declaring that "major combat operations" had begun. He described the campaign as "massive and ongoing," aimed at destroying Iran's missile industry, annihilating its navy, eliminating threats from regional proxies, and preventing nuclear weapon acquisition. Trump urged Iranian military forces to surrender and called on civilians to "take over your government," framing the strikes as creating conditions for regime change.
"We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon," Trump stated, acknowledging potential US casualties: "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost... That often happens in war." He accused Tehran of rejecting diplomatic opportunities despite indirect talks mediated by Oman and held in Switzerland earlier in February, where Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi had described progress as "within our reach" but needing more time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the "historic leadership" of Trump and projected that the joint action would empower Iranians to "take their fate into their own hands." Sources indicate the strikes targeted high-value assets, including elements linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the president, armed forces chief of staff, and nuclear-related sites like Natanz, amid claims Iran had rebuilt capabilities following prior US-led actions in June 2025.
Iran responded swiftly, launching missiles and drones toward Israel, with explosions reported in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as interceptors engaged incoming threats. Tehran also targeted US military facilities in the Gulf, including bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with reports of debris causing at least one fatality in Abu Dhabi. Gulf states placed forces on high alert, closed airspace in some cases, and condemned the escalation.
The strikes follow a pattern of tit-for-tat actions, including Israel's June 2025 air campaign against Iranian nuclear sites and ongoing proxy conflicts involving Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. The timing coincided with the apparent expiration of a reported US deadline for Iran to accept terms on its nuclear and missile programs.
International reactions have been swift and divided. Russia and China condemned the attacks as violations of sovereignty and called for de-escalation, while the UN Security Council convened an emergency session. European allies expressed concern over broader fallout, urging restraint, while some Gulf nations quietly supported efforts to curb Iranian influence but warned of energy market disruptions. Oil prices surged sharply amid fears over the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation is expected to continue for several days, with US and Israeli officials indicating sustained efforts to degrade Iran's capabilities. As retaliatory strikes unfold and regional airspace remains volatile, global attention focuses on whether diplomacy can prevent a full-scale war or if the conflict spirals further.
