IRIA News

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The United States and Israel launched large-scale coordinated military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East and triggering immediate Iranian retaliation against Israel and multiple Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases.

The operation, confirmed by Washington as “Operation Epic Fury,” marks the most direct U.S. military engagement against Iran in years and signals the collapse of ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had entered what he described as “major combat operations” inside Iran, stating that the objective was to eliminate imminent threats posed by the Iranian government.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said. He called on Iranian civilians to “take over” the government once the attacks finish.

Israel said the operation, called “Lion’s Roar”, was a pre-emptive action against what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks targeted a range of military sites, as well as civilian infrastructure, in various cities.

pic.twitter.com/BZuJDudLej

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026

Key Developments

• U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026
• U.S. and Israel called for regime change in Iran. Israel said it targeted a senior Iranian official
• Senior commanders reported killed, including the Iranian defense minister and the IRGC commander
• Iran has retaliated, targeting Israel and U.S. bases in multiple Middle East countries, including Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq
• Israel declared a state of emergency and told civilians to take shelter as Iran retaliated
• World leaders have urged all sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.
• Global airlines have cancelled flights across the Middle East.
• Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in a U.S. strike.

US-Israel strikes target Iranian leadership

The first wave of U.S. airstrikes targeted senior Iranian political and military leadership alongside strategic command infrastructure.

An Israeli official said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the intended targets, though the outcome of those strikes remains unclear. Iranian sources indicated that the 86-year-old leader had been moved earlier to a secure location outside Tehran.

Iranian sources reported that several senior commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and political officials were killed during the attacks, although independent confirmation remains limited.

An explosion and a plume of smoke is filmed by a passing car near the Sahand University of Technology in East Azerbaijan province, in north-west Iran.

Video: @Vahid

Location: 37.941747, 46.141881

Verified by: @paulybrown pic.twitter.com/K3nMGNsEhn

— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) February 28, 2026

Reuters reported that Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks.

The Israeli military said the joint offensive “included strikes on numerous targets of the terrorist regime, including military infrastructure, surface-to-surface missiles, command and control centers, and more.” Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said, “The operation will continue for as long as necessary.”

Trump called it “a massive and ongoing” campaign against Iran. The attacks came after a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in decades, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, and more than 100 fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s.

Which Iranian Cities were Attacked?

U.S. and Israeli airstrikes hit multiple Iranian cities, causing significant casualties and widespread damage across the country.

Explosions were reported across several major urban centers, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. Full casualty assessments remain unclear as Iran’s airspace remains closed and damage evaluations are ongoing.

Plumes of smoke could be seen above Tehran in the videos, while satellite imagery captured on Saturday shows several destroyed and damaged buildings at Khamenei’s compound.

We obtained the first known satellite image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran. There are several destroyed buildings. While the current whereabouts of Iran’s supreme leader are unknown, the compound is generally used as his official residence. 🛰️📸: @Airbus pic.twitter.com/48krjclMBL

— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) February 28, 2026

Iran says 201 killed, 747 wounded in US-Israeli attacks

Iran’s Red Crescent Society told Mehr news agency that the joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes have hit 24 of Iran’s provinces, killing at least 201 people and wounding 747 people.

The relief organization’s spokesperson said that more than 220 Red Crescent teams are present at the targeted sites as rescue operations continue.

At least 85 schoolgirls were killed in an airstrike in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, according to the state media.

Panic buying, Traffic jams, and Communications Blackouts grip Tehran

Inside Iran, signs of public anxiety surfaced quickly as American and Israeli fighter jets pounded the city. Residents in Tehran rushed to supermarkets and fuel stations, triggering shortages of bread, bottled water, milk, and eggs in several districts.

Highways out of the capital were clogged with traffic as families tried to leave, while long queues formed at petrol stations amid fears of a prolonged conflict. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told nearly 10 million residents to travel, if possible, to other cities away from Tehran and the other places being attacked by Israel and the U.S.

The council said schools and universities would close until further notice, banks would remain open, and government offices would operate at half capacity, adding that authorities had “prepared all the needs of the society in advance.”

Communications were heavily disrupted, with landlines down and most mobile services offline. NetBlocks reported severe nationwide internet outages.

Iran Retaliates with Strikes on Israel and US Bases in Middle East

Tehran responded within hours, firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S.-linked military facilities across the Gulf region.

Iran’s IRGS declared that all Israeli military targets and U.S. bases in the Middle East were within operational range and are considered legitimate targets for Iran’s army. It warned retaliation would continue until “the enemy is decisively defeated.”

Iranian missile attacks or attempted strikes were reported across Israel and U.S. military installations in multiple Middle East countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

Gulf states confirmed that their air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said the country faced a “blatant attack” but confirmed the successful interception of multiple missiles. Loud explosions were reported in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while fighter jets patrolled sensitive areas.

Bahrain confirmed that facilities associated with the U.S. 5th Fleet were targeted in missile attacks. Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said that its air defence systems intercepted a number of ballistic missile attacks on Ali al-Salem Air Base.

Qatar’s Defense Ministry said it “thwarted” several attacks on the country. Qatar condemned the targeting of its territory as a violation of sovereignty after missiles were intercepted near facilities linked to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the region.

Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s actions and declared readiness to support regional partners facing attacks.

Explosions were heard near a U.S. military base close to Erbil airport in northern Iraq, where smoke was observed rising from the vicinity. Local reports indicated missiles were intercepted, though no immediate casualty information was released.

Casualties in Iran and the Middle East

Iranian sources also indicated that several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders and political officials were among those killed during the strikes, though these reports have not been independently verified.

The attacks quickly triggered retaliatory violence across the wider region. In the United Arab Emirates, falling debris from intercepted Iranian missiles killed one civilian in Abu Dhabi and caused limited structural damage.

In Syria, four people were reported killed after an Iranian missile struck a building in the southern city of Sweida. In Iraq, a drone strike targeting a headquarters of the Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah militia killed two people and injured three others.

No fatalities were immediately reported in Israel, though at least one person sustained minor injuries during missile barrages.

Israelis seek shelter as sirens ring out amid Iran’s retaliatory strikes

Israelis rushed to bomb shelters nationwide on Saturday as sirens warned of Iranian missile strikes in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Explosions echoed over cities as air defenses engaged incoming missiles.

In downtown Jerusalem, dozens took refuge in a public school converted into a bomb shelter, highlighting the widespread civilian impact of Iran’s retaliatory strikes.

Airspace Closed, Airlines Halt Flights

The rapidly expanding conflict forced widespread aviation shutdowns across the Gulf. At least eight countries closed their airspace as the conflict escalated on Saturday.

Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE closed their airspace. Syria said it had shut part of its southern airspace along the border with Israel for 12 hours.

Several major airlines that suspended flights to the region include Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines.

Global air traffic map with local conflicts clearly visible. pic.twitter.com/aTX7LoE25z

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 28, 2026

Global Reactions and Calls for De-Escalation

Multiple governments called for immediate de-escalation, warning that open confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran risks destabilizing global security.

France, Germany, and the UK, which previously were involved in negotiations with Iran for a peaceful end to its nuclear program, said they did not take part in these strikes, but they are in close consultation with Israel, the U.S., and other regional partners.

The latest escalation appears to have effectively halted already fragile diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. The recent talks ended without a breakthrough.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who has been mediating indirect U.S.-Iran talks, said he is “dismayed” by the violence that has erupted in the Middle East, and told the U.S. that ”This is not your war.”

Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council while informing regional counterparts that it would employ all military capabilities necessary for national defense.

I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer. I urge the United States not to get sucked in further.…

— Badr Albusaidi – بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) February 28, 2026

European Union: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called developments in Iran “greatly concerning” and urged restraint, civilian protection, and diplomacy. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU is coordinating with Arab partners and keeping a Red Sea naval mission on high alert.

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and return to negotiations.

Russia: Russia’s foreign ministry condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes, warning of a humanitarian and regional disaster, and urged a return to diplomacy.

China: The Chinese foreign ministry said that China is deeply concerned about the military strikes and urged restraint on all sides. China called for an “immediate cessation of military action” and return to the negotiating table.

United Kingdom: The UK government emphasized preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and warned against wider escalation.

France: French President Emmanuel Macron called the outbreak of war “grave,” stressed diplomacy, and offered protection to partners if needed.

Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labeled Iran a source of instability and supported U.S. action to prevent nuclear weapons development.

Turkiye: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced deep concern and sadness over U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, while condemning Tehranʼs retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries.

Risk of Regional War Intensifies

The unfolding confrontation represents one of the most dangerous direct military clashes between Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent decades.

With Iranian retaliation spreading beyond Israel, the conflict risks escalating into a wider regional war involving multiple state and proxy actors.

Missile exchanges continue, air defenses are on high alert, and the situation remains volatile. Global leaders warn of severe civilian and regional consequences, particularly as Iranian strikes hit key targets and proxies in Yemen and Iraq could become more directly involved.

The greatest danger lies in a protracted campaign with no clear exit, risking an open-ended conflict without resolution.