Key Points
- Israeli and U.S. forces conducted coordinated daylight strikes on Saturday, February 28, 2026, hitting targets in Tehran and five other major Iranian cities.
- Targets included ballistic missile facilities and areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency, suspending all schools and non-essential workplaces in Israel.
- Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles, triggering air raid sirens in Israel, Jordan, and Bahrain.
- The escalation follows the failure of the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva, where the U.S. demanded the permanent dismantling of Iranian enrichment sites.
In a dramatic and historic escalation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the United States military launched a massive preemptive campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran on the morning of February 28, 2026. Dubbed “Roar of the Lion,” the operation involved precision strikes on government and military infrastructure. Eyewitnesses in Tehran reported massive explosions and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the city’s downtown district, specifically near the Pasteur and Keshvardoost areas where the Supreme Leader’s offices are located.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the joint operation shortly after the initial blasts. Netanyahu stated that the move was necessary to “remove an existential threat,” while President Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort, announced that the U.S. had begun “major combat operations” to neutralize Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities once and for all.
Iran Vows Decisive Retaliation
The Iranian government has responded with fierce rhetoric and immediate military action. A spokesperson for the Iranian military issued a chilling warning, stating, “You started the war, but we will end it.” Within hours of the initial strikes, the IDF confirmed that a series of retaliatory ballistic missiles had been launched from Iranian territory toward Israel.
The regional impact was immediate. Airspaces across Iran, Israel, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates were closed, forcing international flights to divert or return to their origins. Reports of explosions have also emerged from Abu Dhabi and near a U.S. naval base in Bahrain, while sirens echoed across the Jordanian capital, Amman, as the kingdom scrambled its air force to protect its borders.
The Collapse of Diplomacy in Geneva
This military action comes on the heels of the failed third round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, which concluded on February 26 without an agreement. The United States had issued a final ultimatum, demanding that Iran dismantle its key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and ship its entire stockpile of enriched uranium to the U.S.
Tehran rejected these terms as a violation of national sovereignty, leading to a breakdown in communication and a rapid military buildup in the Persian Gulf. Analysts suggest the “preemptive” nature of the current strike was timed to coincide with intelligence reports suggesting an imminent Iranian move to weaponize its uranium stockpile.
Israel on Total Lockdown
Inside Israel, Defense Minister Israel Katz has signed an order placing the home front under a special 48 hour state of emergency. All educational institutions have been closed, and public gatherings are strictly prohibited. The IDF Home Front Command has instructed every citizen to remain within reach of a fortified safe room and to keep cellular devices fully charged for incoming alerts.
“Challenging days lie ahead of us,” President Isaac Herzog warned the nation, “but we are a strong people and we will prevail.” As the sun sets on February 28, the world watches with bated breath to see if this “preemptive strike” will remain a contained operation or descend into the largest regional war in decades.
