Jerusalem/Tehran/Washington – February 28, 2026 – Israel and the United States conducted coordinated strikes on Iran early Saturday, with Israeli sources and US officials confirming that the attacks deliberately targeted high-level political and military leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to multiple reports from Axios, CNN, Israel's Channel 12, Kan public broadcaster, and other outlets.
A senior US official told Axios that Israel carried out airstrikes specifically against Iranian senior commanders and political leaders as part of the operation. Israeli officials speaking to CNN and other media described the strikes as targeting Khamenei, Pezeshkian, armed forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, and other top regime figures in an effort to destabilize the leadership and degrade command structures. Israel's Channel 12 reported strong assessments in Tel Aviv that Ali Shamkhani—Khamenei's advisor responsible for the nuclear program and a former defense minister—had likely been eliminated, though confirmation was pending.
Iranian authorities have not issued official confirmation of any deaths or injuries among the leadership. State media and officials pushed back on some claims, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating he was in good health and the Foreign Ministry issuing statements denying harm to key figures. Iranian state television and agencies like Fars reported senior officials, including Pezeshkian, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and security chief Ali Larijani, were "in perfect health" and "safe and sound." No visual evidence or independent verification of the leaders' status has emerged amid restricted access and ongoing conflict.
The strikes, part of a joint US-Israeli campaign announced by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were framed as pre-emptive to eliminate threats from Iran's missile capabilities, nuclear program, and regional proxies. Trump, in a Truth Social video, declared "major combat operations" underway under "Operation Epic Fury" (US designation) and "Roaring Lion" (Israeli codename), vowing to destroy Iran's military infrastructure and prevent nuclear weapon development. He called on Iranian forces to surrender and urged the public to overthrow the regime, acknowledging possible US casualties.
Explosions were reported in Tehran (including near Khamenei's compound), Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, and other sites, with smoke plumes visible and air defenses activated. Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages targeting Israel and US bases across the Gulf, including in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Initial reports indicate air defenses intercepted many projectiles, but debris caused at least one fatality in Abu Dhabi and damage in several locations.
The attacks follow indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman, with rounds in Geneva ending Thursday. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi had described progress as "within reach" but requiring more time. Trump accused Iran of stalling while advancing its program.
This escalation builds on prior confrontations, including US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan) in June 2025 during a 12-day Israel-Iran war, which degraded but did not eliminate capabilities, per IAEA assessments. The June 2025 conflict involved Israeli initial strikes followed by US intervention, highlighting recurring patterns of direct action against Iran's nuclear and military assets.
Gulf states expressed alarm, closing airspace and placing forces on alert amid fears of energy disruptions and spillover. Oil prices surged sharply. The UN Security Council held an emergency session, with Russia and China condemning the strikes as sovereignty violations, while Western allies urged restraint to avoid broader war.
As operations continue—potentially spanning days—regional airspace remains volatile, with missile exchanges ongoing. No official Iranian casualty figures for leadership have been released, and the full impact on command structures remains unclear amid fog of war.
