US and Israel Strike Iran Near Khamenei Offices; President Donald Trump Declares 'Major Combat Operations'

U.S.–Israeli strikes in Iran

On Feb. 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out coordinated strikes inside Iran.

President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had "launched 'major combat operations' in Iran," framing the action as aimed at eliminating alleged "imminent threats" and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Multiple outlets reported explosions and smoke over Tehran and said strikes hit sites in and around the capital.

The New York Times described the operation as "a coordinated wave of strikes in Iran—including hits near Tehran at sites that house the presidential palace, the National Security Council and the Ministry of Intelligence."

Media reporting named the U.S. campaign "Operation Epic Fury" and Israel’s action as "Lion’s Roar" or similar labels as leaders framed the strikes as preemptive measures.

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraNew York Timesdw

Operation Epic Fury overview

Officials and reporting gave operational details and names while stressing the campaign had been planned. Pentagon/White House messaging and some outlets used the name 'Operation Epic Fury,' and Israeli officials described their strike as preemptive. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were intended 'to remove threats to the State of Israel.'

Reporting suggested planners prioritized senior regime figures as initial targets. Some intelligence and media accounts characterized portions of the operation as coordinated 'decapitation' or leadership-focused strikes. The U.S. and Israel also described aims that included degrading Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and dismantling proxy networks.

Reporting for this sectionTask & PurposelokmattimesWION

Iran-Israel military exchanges

Iran responded militarily and the exchanges quickly spread across the region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched a "first wave" of drones and missiles toward Israel. Multiple outlets reported incoming projectiles, interceptions and air-raid sirens in Israel and neighboring states.

Israel declared an emergency and its air defenses reported multiple interceptions as authorities warned of follow-on attacks. U.S. embassies and bases in the Gulf issued shelter-in-place orders and precautionary measures. The strike-and-retaliation sequence prompted closures or restrictions of airspace in Iran, Israel and Iraq and activated civil-defense protocols across the region.

Reporting for this sectionRadio Free Europe/Radio LibertySky NewsNPR

Immediate impacts, conflicting reports

The human and information impacts were immediate but remain contested. State and witness reporting showed smoke over Tehran and road closures around the Supreme Leader’s compound; the Jerusalem Post and Iranian outlets said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was moved to a "secure location." Many outlets initially reported no confirmed casualty totals.

Other reports — including one account naming a specific strike on a girls' school in Minab — gave much higher civilian death claims, illustrating conflicting accounts that have not been independently verified. Communications and internet connectivity were widely disrupted, with at least one monitoring group reporting near-total outages as people sought information.

Reporting for this sectionThe Jerusalem PostBBCSMH.auMetro.co.uk

Political and diplomatic reactions

The strikes prompted sharp political responses and legal and diplomatic questions. President Trump publicly framed the campaign as necessary to stop an “imminent threat,” urged Iranians to “take over your government,” and issued ultimatums telling Revolutionary Guard and security forces to “lay down your arms” or “face certain death,” while offering immunity to those who surrendered. That language polarized opinion in Washington and abroad.

Lawmakers and commentators split: some called the strikes necessary, others described them as unauthorized “acts of war unauthorized by Congress,” and international voices urged restraint and warned of broader escalation. Observers cautioned that many claims remain unverified and that the strike's long‑term strategic consequences are uncertain.

Reporting for this sectionNew York PostNBC NewsPoliticoAl Jazeera