US and Israel Launch Attacks on Iran, Triggering Regional Retaliation as Trump Declares ‘Major Combat Operations’

TEHRAN, Iran — The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, with massive explosions rocking the Iranian capital and triggering waves of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, plunging the region into its most serious confrontation in decades .

President Donald Trump announced the operation in a video posted on his Truth Social platform, declaring that “major combat operations” were underway to defend the American people by eliminating what he described as imminent threats from the Iranian regime . The strikes, which targeted areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian in central Tehran, marked a dramatic escalation after the collapse of last-ditch diplomatic efforts in Geneva just two days earlier .

Israel’s Defense Ministry described its participation as a “preemptive strike” designed to remove threats to the Jewish state, with military officials confirming that the operation was planned for months in close coordination with Washington . The attack represents the most significant military confrontation between these powers since the 12-day war in June 2025, when US strikes last targeted Iranian nuclear facilities .

The Attack: Targeting Tehran’s Leadership

The operation began early Saturday morning local time, with multiple explosions reported across the Iranian capital. Satellite imagery from Airbus showed black smoke billowing from the compound of Iran’s supreme leader in central Tehran, with damage appearing to hit several buildings within the compound . It remained unclear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at the time of the strikes, though Iranian sources later confirmed that both he and President Pezeshkian were unhurt .

Witnesses described scenes of panic as explosions echoed across the city. Long queues formed at gas stations as residents attempted to flee the capital, while schools and universities were ordered closed until further notice . Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that government offices would operate at 50 percent capacity and urged citizens, “while maintaining calm,” to travel to safer areas where possible to avoid danger .

The strikes extended beyond Tehran, with attacks reported in the western cities of Kermanshah and Tabriz as Israeli aircraft conducted “a broad strike on a number of military targets” in western Iran, according to the Israel Defense Forces . In southern Iran, a strike in Minab in Hormozgan province killed five students at a girls’ school, marking the first confirmed fatalities in the operation .

Trump’s Declaration and Call for Regime Change

President Trump, overseeing the operation from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, delivered an extraordinary address framing the strikes as part of a broader campaign .

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy,” Trump declared, citing grievances stretching back to the 1979 US embassy takeover in Tehran and the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 Americans .

In an unprecedented appeal directly to the Iranian people, Trump urged them to “take over your government” once the strikes concluded. “It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said, while warning civilians to remain sheltered as “bombs will be dropping everywhere” . He also called on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, armed forces, and police to lay down their arms, offering immunity to those who surrendered and threatening “certain death” to those who resisted .

The Pentagon codenamed the operation “Epic Fury,” with officials indicating that the attacks were expected to continue for several days and were planned months in advance with close US-Israeli coordination .

Iran Retaliates Across the Region

Iran’s response was swift and wide-ranging. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, while simultaneously striking American facilities across the Middle East.

Explosions were reported across the region :

• Bahrain: Missiles struck the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, with state media confirming the facility was “subjected to a missile attack” .
• Qatar: Multiple explosions were heard near Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the region. Qatar’s defense ministry said it had “successfully countered a number of attacks” and intercepted several missiles, causing no damage .
• United Arab Emirates: Five explosions were reported in Dubai, with smoke rising near the Jabal Ali port, a major global shipping hub. In Abu Dhabi, the UAE intercepted what it described as a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles” . One person was killed by shrapnel in the capital .
• Kuwait: Explosions and sirens were reported across the country .
• Israel: The military warned of multiple waves of incoming missiles, with sirens sounding across Jerusalem and the country. One man was lightly wounded in northern Israel from an impact .

Collapse of Diplomacy

The strikes followed the failure of intense diplomatic efforts to reach a negotiated solution. The United States and Iran had concluded their third round of indirect talks in Geneva on February 26, with Omani mediators shuttling between the two delegations .

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi had expressed optimism just days earlier, stating that negotiators had “demonstrated unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions” and that a deal was “within our reach” . He revealed that Iran had offered proposals including never again maintaining a stockpile of enriched uranium, committing to irreversible downgrading of its existing stockpile, and accepting verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency .

However, fundamental differences remained unresolved. US officials had demanded that Iran shut down its three principal nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and transfer its enriched uranium stockpile out of the country . Washington also insisted on limits to Iran’s ballistic missile program and an end to its support for regional proxies—demands Tehran rejected as a breach of its sovereignty .

President Trump expressed frustration with the negotiations on Friday, telling reporters he was “not happy” with Iran’s negotiating position . Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged in a statement that although Tehran was aware of US and Israeli “intentions” to attack, it had entered negotiations nonetheless, noting that the strikes occurred “while Iran and the United States were in the midst of a diplomatic process” .

International Reaction Deeply Divided

The strikes drew sharply divided international reaction .

Allies Express Concern: European Union leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen called the developments “greatly concerning,” urging “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law” . French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security” .

Sharp Condemnation: Russia demanded an immediate return to diplomacy, with the foreign ministry describing the strikes as a “premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression” against a sovereign UN member state in violation of international law . Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, criticized Western negotiations with Iran as unserious . China expressed deep concern and called on all parties to exercise restraint .

Regional Reactions: Qatar condemned Iranian missile strikes on its territory as a violation of its sovereignty . Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country refused to be “dragged into war” . Malaysia called for an immediate halt to hostilities . Yemen’s Houthi group warned that the attacks were part of a broader effort to undermine regional deterrence .

Supportive Voices: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced support for US action, accusing Iran of being “a long-term destabilizing force in the region” . Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country “supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon” .

Domestic Criticism: Democratic Senator Tim Kaine denounced the strikes as “dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic,” calling for the Senate to immediately return to session and vote on a War Powers Resolution to block the use of US forces in hostilities against Iran .

Humanitarian and Economic Fallout

The conflict triggered immediate disruption across the region. Iran experienced a “near-total” internet blackout, according to NetBlocks, with connectivity severely restricted . Several countries closed their airspace, including Iraq, Syria, and the UAE .

Major airlines suspended flights, including Qatar Airways at its Doha hub, Turkish Airlines to multiple destinations, and various European carriers . Dubai’s two main airports—among the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic—suspended all operations indefinitely .

The United Nations reported that five students were killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran, while the full human toll of the strikes and retaliation remained unclear . The International Crisis Group warned that the conflict could lead to higher energy costs and disrupt global oil supplies, as Iran sits along the Strait of Hormuz through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes .

What Comes Next

As of Saturday evening, the conflict showed no signs of abating. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council promised a “crushing response,” warning that operations by the US and Israel could continue in Tehran and other cities . The council noted that the “enemy” wrongly assumed the Iranian people would “surrender to their petty demands through such cowardly actions” .

With both sides having prepared for this confrontation for months—the US having amassed its largest military presence in the Middle East in decades, including two aircraft carrier strike groups and over 150 combat aircraft—the risk of further escalation remains high .

As Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group warned: “Iran sits along the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Even limited disruption could spike energy prices, fuel inflation, and rattle global markets” . For the millions of civilians across the region now caught between the world’s most powerful militaries, the path back to diplomacy appears increasingly remote.

with inputs from
AP: Live updates Israel confirms Tehran attack
Reuters: Israel US launch strikes Iran
Al Jazeera: US Israel attack Iran explosions Tehran
CNN: Live US Israel attack Iran

For broader context, see our in-depth analysis on Modern World Order Explained: Power, Alliances & Global Systems.

Also in this section: UN Chief ‘Deeply Concerned’ by Escalation of Violence Between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and Iran Says US Must Drop ‘Excessive Demands’ in Nuclear Negotiations as Geneva Talks Conclude.