US and Israel Launch Coordinated Military Strikes on Iran; Tehran Responds with Missile Attacks
The United States and Israel initiated joint military operations targeting multiple sites in Iran, including Tehran, prompting Iranian missile retaliations against Israeli and US positions in the region.
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel commenced coordinated military operations against Iran, targeting multiple locations including the capital, Tehran. The offensive, named "Operation Epic Fury" by the US Department of Defense and "Lion's Roar" by Israel, aimed to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities and disrupt its military infrastructure.
President Donald Trump announced the initiation of "major combat operations" in Iran, stating the objective was to eliminate imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime. He urged members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender, offering amnesty, and warned of "certain death" for those who resisted.
The strikes resulted in significant explosions in Tehran and other cities, with reports indicating damage near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media reported casualties, including at least 85 fatalities in a strike on a girls' school in southern Iran.
In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting northern Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Explosions were also reported in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and US bases in Jordan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military operation "will continue as long as necessary." Iranian officials, including Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, warned of a "crushing" response, emphasizing that the situation was escalating beyond control.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating conflict. Russia condemned the joint US-Israeli strikes as a "preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression" and warned of potential humanitarian and economic disasters in the region. The United Nations has called for restraint and emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation.