The United States and Israel have launched attacks against Iran. This is a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that began on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026. The United States is calling the attack on Iran Operation Epic Fury. Israel conducted parallel operations under a separate codename Operation Roaring Lion. Planning has reportedly occurred over months. The coordinated U.S.-Israel strikes are targeting military and leadership sites across Iran. The Iranians were quick to respond with drone and missile attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world.”
He stated that Iran has been a threat to the United States for many years, laying out a long history of Iranian attacks on US forces. He recalled the U.S. Embassy hostage event in Tehran decades ago in 1979, the attack on the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983, Iran’s meddling in Iraq while the U.S. was engaged in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, and other terrorist attacks. Trump stated that:
“They can never have a nuclear weapon.”
The objectives of the U.S. attack on Iran include preventing nuclear weapon development, Iranian regime’s support to regional proxies, destroy ballistic missile and military infrastructure, defeat of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and regime change. Trump called it “a noble mission.” He warned the IRGC forces that if they don’t surrender, they will die. The U.S. will attempt to destroy the regime’s missile capability and the IRGC navy. He said that the Iranian people have an opportunity to overthrow the regime. He openly called for the Iranians to take back their government.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a statement on Twitter / X Saturday morning calling for the people of Iran to overthrow the regime “in this final battle”. He called on the country’s military, police, and security forces to defend the people of Iran, not the regime. His father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled Iran in 1979.
Operation Midnight Hammer took place last June 2025 and targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. After the June 2025 attacks the U.S. claimed that the nuclear capability of Iran was “obliterated”. However, in February 2026 some administration officials said that the Iranians were weeks away from a nuclear capability. Operation Midnight Hammer was limited in scope when compared to Operation Epic Fury.
Israel has declared a special state of emergency for the entire country. The Israeli attack on Iran began at 0810 a.m. local time on Saturday morning according to Israel defense officials. The targets include key figures in Iran. Israel sees long-range surface-to-surface missiles as a primary threat from Iran. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has mobilized reservists across the country, moving some units to the Lebanese and Syrian borders. In the last several days Israel has conducted extensive attacks in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah. The IDF says this current attack on Iran will last several days.
Cyber operations appear to be taking place with reports that the Iranian national media outlet IRNA has been hacked. It is posting anti-regime articles.
The attack is a large-scale, multi-city operation. Targets include air defense, missile infrastructure, government and leadership locations, and command and control facilities.
Iran has responded to the attack with drones and missiles launched against Israeli targets and multiple U.S. bases in Gulf states. There are reports of explosions near U.S. installations in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. The U.S. 5th Fleet HQs is in Bahrain and the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base is in Qatar. The Associated Press is reporting that the Houthis have announced the resumption of attacks against ships in the Red Sea.
U.S. embassies in Qatar and Bahrain have said their personnel are sheltering in place. American citizens across the region have been advised to shelter in place as well. Civilian airports in the region have been shut down and flights over several countries in the Middle East have been canceled.
U.S. attempts to mediate an agreement with Iran over the nuclear weapons development issue failed to satisfy the United States. In addition, the violent repression on protesters over the past two months in Iran likely fueled the U.S. response. Some estimates say that over 30,000 protesters were killed by Iranian government security forces.
Both the U.S. and Israel have indicated that this is a large air campaign that will go on for days. There are no plans for a ground invasion or an expanded war campaign. While President Trump indicated that one of the goals was regime change he said that ultimately it is up to the Iranian people to do it. In January he told Iranian protested that “help is on the way.” Time will tell if the Iranian regime can absorb the punishment of U.S. and Israeli air attacks while continuing to keep the activities of protesters at a minimum.
