{"id":34437,"date":"2026-02-28T19:47:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T17:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=34437"},"modified":"2026-03-01T07:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T05:30:57","slug":"us-and-israel-launch-attack-on-iran-as-trump-calls-for-regime-change-tehran-retaliates-with-strikes-on-us-bases-and-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-and-israel-launch-attack-on-iran-as-trump-calls-for-regime-change-tehran-retaliates-with-strikes-on-us-bases-and-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"US and Israel launch attack on Iran as Trump calls for regime change, Tehran retaliates with strikes on US bases and Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>11 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The operation, confirmed by Washington as \u201cOperation Epic Fury,\u201d marks the most direct U.S. military engagement against Iran in years and signals the collapse of ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding Tehran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had entered what he described as \u201cmajor combat operations\u201d inside Iran, stating that the objective was to eliminate imminent threats posed by the Iranian government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,\u201d Trump said. He called on Iranian civilians to \u201ctake over\u201d the government once the attacks finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israel said the operation, called \u201cLion\u2019s Roar\u201d, was a pre-emptive action against what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as an \u201cexistential threat\u201d posed by Iran\u2019s missile and nuclear capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry said the attacks targeted a range of military sites, as well as civilian infrastructure, in various cities.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"800\"><p lang=\"zxx\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BZuJDudLej\">pic.twitter.com\/BZuJDudLej<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump\/status\/2027651077865157033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Key Developments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. and Israel called for regime change in Iran. Israel said it targeted a senior Iranian official<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Senior commanders reported killed, including the Iranian defense minister and the IRGC commander<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Israel declared a state of emergency and told civilians to take shelter as Iran retaliated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>World leaders have urged all sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Global airlines have cancelled flights across the Middle East.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in a U.S. strike.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>US-Israel strikes target Iranian leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first wave of U.S. airstrikes targeted senior Iranian political and military leadership alongside strategic command infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-media-max-width=\"560\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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. <br><br>Video: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Vahid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Vahid<\/a> <br><br>Location: 37.941747, 46.141881<br><br>Verified by: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paulybrown?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@paulybrown<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K3nMGNsEhn\">pic.twitter.com\/K3nMGNsEhn<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Shayan86\/status\/2027738951516078479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Reuters reported that Iran&#8217;s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Israeli military said the joint offensive \u201cincluded strikes on numerous targets of the terrorist regime, including military infrastructure, surface-to-surface missiles, command and control centers, and more.\u201d Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said, \u201cThe operation will continue for as long as necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump called it \u201ca massive and ongoing\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Which Iranian Cities were Attacked?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>U.S. and Israeli airstrikes hit multiple Iranian cities, causing significant casualties and widespread damage across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Explosions were reported across several major urban centers, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. Full casualty assessments remain unclear as Iran\u2019s airspace remains closed and damage evaluations are ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s compound.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We obtained the first known satellite image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&#8217;s compound in Tehran. There are several destroyed buildings. While the current whereabouts of Iran&#8217;s supreme leader are unknown, the compound is generally used as his official residence. \ud83d\udef0\ufe0f\ud83d\udcf8: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Airbus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Airbus<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/48krjclMBL\">pic.twitter.com\/48krjclMBL<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/trbrtc\/status\/2027703248887427576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><strong>Iran says 201 killed, 747 wounded in US-Israeli attacks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iran\u2019s Red Crescent Society told Mehr news agency that the joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes have hit 24 of Iran\u2019s provinces, killing at least 201 people and wounding 747 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The relief organization\u2019s spokesperson said that more than 220 Red Crescent teams are present at the targeted sites as rescue operations continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At least 85 schoolgirls were killed in an airstrike in southern Iran&#8217;s Hormozgan province, according to the state media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Panic buying, Traffic jams, and Communications Blackouts grip Tehran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 \u201cprepared all the needs of the society in advance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?resize=1016%2C678&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"US and Israel attack Iran\" class=\"wp-image-34452\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?resize=589%2C392&amp;ssl=1 589w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-under-attack.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 28, 2026, after a joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel. (Image Credit: AP)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Communications were heavily disrupted, with landlines down and most mobile services offline. NetBlocks reported severe nationwide internet outages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Iran Retaliates with Strikes on Israel and US Bases in Middle East<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tehran responded within hours, firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S.-linked military facilities across the Gulf region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iran\u2019s 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\u2019s army. It warned retaliation would continue until \u201cthe enemy is decisively defeated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gulf states confirmed that their air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UAE Ministry of Defense said the country faced a \u201cblatant attack\u201d but confirmed the successful interception of multiple missiles. Loud explosions were reported in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while fighter jets patrolled sensitive areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bahrain confirmed that facilities associated with the U.S. 5th Fleet were targeted in missile attacks. Kuwait\u2019s Defense Ministry said that its air defence systems intercepted a number of ballistic missile attacks on Ali al-Salem Air Base. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Smoke rises in the sky after blasts sounded in Manama\" class=\"wp-image-34448\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bahrain-smoke-us-iran-attack.jpg?resize=589%2C392&amp;ssl=1 589w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Smoke rises in the sky after blasts sounded in Manama, Bahrain, on Feb. 28, 2026. Regional tensions have escalated after the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran. (Image Credit: Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Qatar&#8217;s Defense Ministry said it \u201cthwarted\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saudi Arabia condemned Iran\u2019s actions and declared readiness to support regional partners facing attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Casualties in Iran and the Middle East<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No fatalities were immediately reported in Israel, though at least one person sustained minor injuries during missile barrages.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Israeli-taking-shelter-after-Iranian-missile-attack.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Israeli-taking-shelter-after-Iranian-missile-attack.jpg?resize=1000%2C700&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"People take shelter during an air raid siren in central Israel\" class=\"wp-image-25067\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Israeli-taking-shelter-after-Iranian-missile-attack.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Israeli-taking-shelter-after-Iranian-missile-attack.jpg?resize=300%2C210&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Israeli-taking-shelter-after-Iranian-missile-attack.jpg?resize=768%2C538&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>People take shelter during an air raid siren in central Israel, on October 1, 2024. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Ronen Zvulun)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Israelis seek shelter as sirens ring out amid Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In downtown Jerusalem, dozens took refuge in a public school converted into a bomb shelter, highlighting the widespread civilian impact of Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Airspace Closed, Airlines Halt Flights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rapidly expanding conflict forced widespread aviation shutdowns across the Gulf. At least eight countries closed their airspace as the conflict escalated on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Global air traffic map with local conflicts clearly visible. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aTX7LoE25z\">pic.twitter.com\/aTX7LoE25z<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/flightradar24\/status\/2027755829575737437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Global Reactions and Calls for De-Escalation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multiple governments called for immediate de-escalation, warning that open confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran risks destabilizing global security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest escalation appears to have effectively halted already fragile diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran\u2019s nuclear program. The recent talks ended without a breakthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who has been mediating indirect U.S.-Iran talks, said he is \u201cdismayed\u201d by the violence that has erupted in the Middle East, and told the U.S. that \u201dThis is not your war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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.\u2026<\/p>\u2014 Badr Albusaidi &#8211; \u0628\u062f\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0648\u0633\u0639\u064a\u062f\u064a (@badralbusaidi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/badralbusaidi\/status\/2027716606223388847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>European Union:<\/strong> President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called developments in Iran \u201cgreatly concerning\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>United Nations: <\/strong>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and return to negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Russia: <\/strong>Russia&#8217;s foreign ministry condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes, warning of a humanitarian and regional disaster, and urged a return to diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>China: <\/strong>The Chinese foreign ministry said that China is deeply concerned about the military strikes and urged restraint on all sides. China called for an \u201cimmediate cessation of military action\u201d and return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>United Kingdom: Th<\/strong>e UK government emphasized preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and warned against wider escalation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>France: <\/strong>French President Emmanuel Macron called the outbreak of war \u201cgrave,\u201d stressed diplomacy, and offered protection to partners if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Canada: <\/strong>Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labeled Iran a source of instability and supported U.S. action to prevent nuclear weapons development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Turkiye:<\/strong> Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced deep concern and sadness over U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, while condemning Tehran\u02bcs retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?resize=1016%2C602&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"U.S. President Donald J. Trump monitors U.S. Military Operations in Iran &quot;Operation Epic Fury&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-34467\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?resize=1024%2C607&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?resize=300%2C178&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?resize=768%2C455&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/US-Operation-Epic-Fury-Iran.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>U.S. President Donald J. Trump monitors U.S. Military Operations in Iran &#8220;Operation Epic Fury&#8221; on February 28, 2026. (Image Credit: The White House\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Risk of Regional War Intensifies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The unfolding confrontation represents one of the most dangerous direct military clashes between Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Iranian retaliation spreading beyond Israel, the conflict risks escalating into a wider regional war involving multiple state and proxy actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The greatest danger lies in a protracted campaign with no clear exit, risking an open-ended conflict without resolution.<br><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[44,1,125],"tags":[16,99,75,43,30,4,26,25,215,356,5,31,97,101,13,7,141,128],"class_list":["post-34437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east","category-news","category-united-states","tag-airstrike","tag-bahrain","tag-conflict","tag-drone","tag-iran","tag-iraq","tag-israel","tag-jordan","tag-kuwait","tag-middle-east","tag-military","tag-missile","tag-qatar","tag-saudi-arabia","tag-syria","tag-u-s","tag-uae","tag-war"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/smoke-iran-attack.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8Xr","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34437"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34476,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34437\/revisions\/34476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}