Beginning on 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been engaged in coordinated joint attacks on various sites in Iran, which has started a major conflict. Codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, it targeted key Iranian officials, military commanders and facilities, and was aimed at regime change. Iran's response has been named Operation True Promise IV, an incremental continuation of the country's previous military operations named Operation True Promise. The operation began with joint strikes by the US and Israel in the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. The attack included the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose compound was destroyed, as well as Ali Shamkhani, former head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and several other Iranian officials. In retaliation, Iran launched dozens of its drones and ballistic missiles throughout the Persian Gulf in addition to targeting Israel as well as US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran launched strikes on civilian airports and shipping ports in Kuwait, the UAE, and Oman. Britain's Akrotiri and Dhekelia military base in Cyprus was struck as well. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global oil and gas shipments. US president Donald Trump declared that the objective of the operation was to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ultimately topple the regime. On 1 March, Trump stated that the operation would likely take one month or less for these objectives to be completed, and that he is not ruling out the possibility of using ground forces. The United Nations and several uninvolved countries condemned the initial strikes for undermining the stability of the Middle East; others condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes on US allies in the region. Critics of the operation also described it as illegal under US law and a violation of Iran's sovereignty under international law. Both celebration rallies and protests against the strikes were held worldwide, along with several shootings also occurring in response to the strikes. == Background == A US and UK-backed coup d'etat in 1953 deposed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and strengthened the rule of the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Resentment of the shah's deference to Western interests and his monarchical rule led to the 1979 revolution in which he was deposed, after which Iran became an Islamic republic and adopted a hostile posture towards both the United States of America and Israel. During the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, the US provided economic, intelligence, and indirect military support to Iraq. Iran has supported an informal Axis of Resistance to US and Israeli interests in the Middle East. Iran's development of nuclear enrichment capabilities has been an international controversy for decades, with the US and its allies seeking to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development. The United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018 led to the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran and a turn towards the use of force rather than diplomacy in relations between the US and its allies and Iran. The first Trump administration adopted a "maximum pressure" strategy. The Biden administration did not relax the economic sanctions against Iran, and instead implemented more measures. The second Trump administration reimposed the "maximum pressure" approach on Iran. The re-imposition of US sanctions severely impacted Iran's economy, being a major factor towards the Iranian economic crisis. The Iranian rial fell by 20%, from 35,000 to the dollar to 42,000 in 2021. International banks that traded with Iran paid heavy fines. All major European companies abandoned doing business with Iran out of fear of US punishment. Sanctions drove millions of Iranians into poverty and reduced their purchasing power with respect to imported essential goods such as food and medicine while fuelling inflation, unemployment and infrastructure deterioration. By December 2025, the value of the Iranian rial reached a record low of 1.45 million per US dollar; the year on year inflation rate by then was up at 42.2 percent. Tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel have increased since the 7 October attacks on Israel and the onset of the Gaza war in 2023, which has led to Israel weakening Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and others. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes in April and October 2024, and were engaged in a brief war in 2025 that included an American airstrike aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, the US engaged in its largest military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. === Anti-government protests in Iran and initial US deployments === Beginning in late December 2025, massive nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Iran, driven largely by economic crisis, the collapse of the rial, and rising prices. The protests, which included calls for regime change, became the largest in scale since the 1979 revolution, spreading to over 100 cities across the country. The Iranian government responded with violent repression, including massacres of protesters, with the deadliest incidents occurring on 8 and 10 January 2026. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated the death toll at 7,000, the Iranian government said the death toll was 3,117, while Donald Trump and others said the death toll was 32,000 people. AP News reported that the government's overwhelming use of violence had caused despair among the Iranian public and had given rise to hopes among some citizens for an American attack. Several scholars have argued that the Iranian government now faces a fragile state that could lead to its demise. On 2 January 2026, US president Donald Trump threatened a "lock and loaded" military intervention in Iran if the government decided to kill peaceful protesters. On 13 January, he expressed support for Iranian anti-government protesters and pledged that "help is on the way" for them, and later, on 23 January, Trump announced that a US "armada" was heading to the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers. On 13 February, Trump ordered the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its supporting warships to sail to the Middle East. However, Trump held off from immediate military intervention for the protesters, reportedly due to Israel and the Gulf states advising Trump against immediate intervention and as an apparent reaction to Iranian officials holding off on carrying out executions of prisoners arrested after protests. US and European officials said Washington had presented Iran with three core demands: a permanent end to all uranium enrichment, strict limits on Iran's ballistic missile programme, and a complete halt to support for regional proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The planning for a proposed series of attacks also started in co-ordination with Israeli intelligence agencies. In February 2026, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent claimed that Washington engineered a dollar shortage in Iran to send the Iranian rial into freefall and cause protests in Iran. === Nuclear negotiations === On 6 February 2026, Iran and the US held indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman's capital, Muscat. Iran emphasized that progress depends on consultations back in capitals. A second round of nuclear talks was scheduled in Geneva. Between 15 and 20 February, Iran increased its oil exports to 3 times normal rate, and reduced oil storage. Just before the strikes began, on 27 February 2026, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said a "breakthrough" had been reached and Iran had agreed both to never stockpile enriched uranium and to full verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); furthermore, Iran had agreed to irreversibly downgrade its current enriched uranium to "the lowest level possible". Al-Busaidi said peace was "within reach". However, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Iran began recent nuclear talks by insisting on its "inalienable right" to enrich uranium, rejecting a US proposal for zero enrichment, and even boasting that its 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium could produce 11 nuclear bombs. After US and Israel attacked Iran, Al-Busaidi said that he was dismayed and that "active and serious negotiations" had been undermined. === Situation of evidence for nuclear armament in Iran === On 27 February 2026 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered that Iran had hidden highly enriched uranium in an underground facility that was undamaged in the previous round of fighting, and IAEA said that they could not be sure that Iran's nuclear programme was "exclusively peaceful". In 2024 a statement by the Iranian government official Kamal Kharrazi stated paradoxically both that the Iranian government would change its policy against nuclear armament if faced with an existential threat but that a prior ruling by Khamenei would be a definite factor for stopping the change of policy, without suggesting which reality would prevail. The Defense Intelligence Agency in 2025 concluded it would be a decade before Iran would be able to gain the technical skill to produce numerous missiles to reach the United States; the United States Department of Defense estimated Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by two years following earlier strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. The Trump administration in February 2026 stated that Iran had restarted its nuclear programme and was developing missiles with enough range for an attack on the United States. According to an anonymous US source, Trump authorized the strike after the US received intelligence that Iran was planning to preemptively launch missiles. The regime did not provide any evidence that Iran was planning to preemptively strike American assets, and regime officials reported that the Pentagon told Congress in closed-door briefings there was no intelligence suggesting Iran was planning to attack US forces first. === US buildup of military presence === On 23 January 2026, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers were sent to the Middle East. On 11 February 2026, the 47th anniversary of the 1979 revolution was marked by pro-government rallies and strong anti-American rhetoric. On 13 February 2026, Trump stated that regime change in Iran would be "the best thing that could happen" and the US deployed a second aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran. A day later, on 14 February, US officials told Reuters that the US military was preparing for a broad campaign involving weeks-long, sustained operations against Iran that could target its state and security infrastructure. By 19 February the US buildup was described as the largest in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On 24 February 2026, during a State of the Union speech, Trump accused Iran of reviving efforts to build nuclear weapons, condemning these alleged ambitions as "sinister" and claiming that Iran had also developed increasingly advanced missile capabilities that could threaten the US, Europe, and US bases overseas. He warned that the US was prepared to act if necessary. Such claims by American officials have suggested that Iran is pursuing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or similar weapons and that the United States needed to intervene militarily against it, echoing false allegations of WMDs in Iraq prior to the Iraq War in 2003. American intelligence reports suggested that alleged threats of long-range Iranian ballistic missiles were unfounded, with such capabilities requiring up until 2035 there should Iran have decided to pursue the project. The Gang of Eight, a group of eight leaders in the US Congress who are commonly briefed on classified intelligence matters, was briefed on the attack prior to its commencement. Also at the time, Bloomberg News claimed NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) craft were surveilling Iran out of Konya Airport, though Turkey later denied reports it was aiding US and Israeli strikes on Iran. On 25 February 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a "historic" agreement with the United States to avert military conflict was "within reach" ahead of renewed talks in Geneva. Araghchi emphasized that diplomacy must be prioritized to avoid further escalation. Despite high tensions and a significant US military buildup in the region, Araghchi reiterated on social media that Iran holds a "crystal clear" position against developing nuclear weapons, while defending its right to peaceful nuclear technology. Before the attack, JD Vance, the vice president of the United States, defended striking Iran. When asked about whether he would support a regime change in Iran despite previously criticizing the Iraq war, he said that life "has all kinds of crazy twists and turns". According to The Telegraph and The Washington Post, crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman conducted multiple phone calls with US president Donald Trump urging him to attack Iran, stating that "Iran would become stronger and more dangerous if Washington did not strike immediately". Prince Khalid bin Salman, brother of Crown Prince Mohammed and Saudi Arabia's defence minister, reportedly warned about the risks of not attacking Iran in a meeting with US officials. The Washington Post reported that President Trump's decision to attack Iran came after Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Israeli government lobbied him repeatedly to make the move. The Guardian reported a few days before the attack that the decision would be determined by the outcome of a meeting in Geneva, in which the US would be led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Charles Wald, a retired Air Force general and deputy commander of US European Command, stated that bringing the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier to the Middle East would help defend Israel from Iran. He also stated that if US-Iran negotiations do not end well, that "it's going to be twice as bad as when Obama didn't do anything in Syria for the chemical weapons." However, according to Royal United Services Institute, there was no evidence of an imminent attack by Iran. Prior to the attack, Khamenei, through his speech addressed to his followers in early February as released by the website of the supreme leader of Iran, warned the United States that "if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war". On the morning of the attack, some of Iran's top military and intelligence leaders, including Khamenei, were gathered together in the national security council offices for meetings. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli and US military intelligence officers identified that the senior Iranian leaders would gather at three meetings that could be simultaneously struck. A New York Times analysis stated that this was a mistake. It is still unknown how US and Israeli leadership were aware of their exact location. A few days before the attack, senior advisors for the Trump administration said it would be better if Israel strikes Iran first, so that the United States would have a better justification for going to war after Iran retaliates. US secretary of state Marco Rubio later disclosed that the initial US attack on Iran was due to an Israeli intention to attack Iranian leadership, which would have jeopardized U.S. forces in the region. Officials from the Trump administration stated that Israel helped lead the United States into war. == Hostilities == === 28 February === ==== Initial Israeli and American strikes ==== On 27 February, at 3:38 p.m. EST (11:08 p.m. IRST) Donald Trump, travelling on Air Force One to Texas, gave the order to proceed with Operation Epic Fury. Airstrikes on Iran began on 28 February, Saturday, at around 9:45 a.m. IRST (1:15 a.m. EST); Saturday is the first day of the week in Iran and a regular work day. A combination of US missiles, drones, and Israeli fighter jets were used in the strikes. Low-cost one-way attack drones of Task Force Scorpion Strike were employed for the first time in combat. US warships launched Tomahawk missiles, while the US Army used HIMARS launchers. Undisclosed long-range standoff weapons were also used. Explosions were reported as Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed an Israeli attack. Among the targets was the Pasteur Street district in Tehran where Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei normally resided; also home to the presidential palace and National Security Council. Early reports suggested that at least seven missiles had been confirmed to have struck the area. American officials confirmed that the strikes were coordinated with the US. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said that it had struck 500 military targets in western and central Iran, including air defences and missile launchers, using approximately 200 fighter jets, in the largest combat sortie in its history. Together with the physical airstrikes, Israel also conducted coordinated cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure, media and phone apps with messages calling on Iranians to rise up against their government. The popular BadeSaba Calendar prayer app (over 5 million downloads) was also compromised in the attack; it was hacked early that morning to broadcast push notifications in Persian urging military personnel and citizens to defect, lay down weapons, and join opposition forces with messages such as "Help has arrived" and "It's time for reckoning." The cyberattacks resulted in a near-total internet blackout in Iran, lasting over 60 hours with connectivity dropping to as low as 1–4% of normal levels, disrupting government communications, state media, and public services. Israel subsequently declared a state of emergency, citing expectation of an Iranian attack. Sirens blared in Israel as the government warned its citizens to remain in protected areas. US president Donald Trump warned that US lives may be lost. The Israeli Ministry of Health moved its hospitals underground. According to Iran International, Israel warned Iranian civilians residing near military industries and infrastructure to evacuate immediately, stating "Your presence in these areas puts your life at risk." According to a US official, dozens of US strikes were carried out by planes based around the Middle East and from one or more aircraft carriers. Reuters reported that strikes were carried out by air and sea. Israeli military officials said months-long planning preceded their strikes, allowing them to pinpoint their targets, attain "tactical surprise", and gain US support. Attacking during the morning, rather than at night which was when most of Israel's previous attacks on Iran took place, added to the element of surprise. Israeli weapons included the usage of the newly developed Black Sparrow Air-launched ballistic missiles, fired from Israeli F-15s Israel later stated its initial strikes used over 1,200 bombs in 24 hours. Iranian naval vessels were also targeted. The US military stated that it used B-2 stealth bombers, as well as B-1 Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses, to strike fortified ballistic missile facilities inside Iran. The Fars News Agency and CNN reported more explosions across other cities in Iran, including Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj. In Tehran, missile strikes were reported to have occurred on University Street, in the Jomhouri area, and in the northern Seyed Khandan area. A sports hall in Lamerd was bombed during a girls' practice, killing at least 18 civilians. Communication services across Tehran were impaired following the attacks, and a near total internet blackout was reported by Netblocks. According to the BBC, the office of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the presidential office of Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran were hit during the strikes. Channel 12, citing unnamed Israeli sources, said Israel assessed that there were "growing indications" that Khamenei was likely killed in the strikes, or that he was "hurt at the very least". Reuters quoted an unnamed Israeli official who stated that Khamenei's body had been found, confirming death. A spokesperson for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces said that two of its fighters had been killed while three more had been injured during strikes in Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad. According to Iran International, quoting the Iranian Students' News Agency, thousands of IRGC personnel, including several senior officials, were killed or wounded as several military bases were attacked. It reported that the port city of Bushehr had also been struck; however, it was unclear whether the nuclear reactor had sustained any damage. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief stated that no evidence has been found that nuclear facilities have been hit from these attacks. Israel called up 20,000 in addition to the 50,000 reservists who are on duty. On 2 March 2026, Khamanei's wife was confirmed to have also died of injuries sustained in the strike. ==== Israeli and American leaders' statements on their aims ==== At exactly 2:30 AM EST on 28 February, US president Donald Trump released an 8-minute video statement on Truth Social, saying that the purpose of the US strikes in Iran was effectively regime change. Trump said that Iran's "menacing activities" endangered the US and its allies. He cited the Iran hostage crisis, support for proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah, its killings of protesters, and its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. He asserted that in the conflict, "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war". Trump urged members of the IRGC to "lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death". Addressing the Iranian public, he said: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." He added: "For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it ... So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force", concluding: "Now is the time to seize control of your destiny ... This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass." Shortly after, Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement saying Israel and the United States had launched strikes against Iran "to remove the existential threat" posed by what he called "the terror regime in Iran". Netanyahu accused Iran's leadership of decades of hostility, saying that "for 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called out 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America'", and described it as a "murderous terror regime" that "must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons". He said the joint US-Israeli action would "create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands", and called on the people of Iran to "cast off the yoke of tyranny". The Times of Israel reported that Israel Katz had labelled the strikes a "pre-emptive attack" intended to "remove threats to the State of Israel". United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns raised by some Democrats in the US, saying "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives. As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties. War is hell and always will be." ==== Iranian response and missile attacks in the Persian Gulf theatre ==== Iranian forces reacted within hours by launching missiles against targets in Tel Aviv and Haifa as well as the US military bases in the Persian Gulf region. The quicker response relative to that of the Twelve-Day War suggests a change in Iran's command structure, according to the BBC. Iran targeted multiple US military bases throughout the Persian Gulf region. Bahrain activated air-raid sirens to warn of an Iranian attack on US military bases within the nation, with Arabic media saying explosions and smoke were seen in the capital, Manama. Bahrain later confirmed the strikes and said that the US Fifth Fleet headquarters had been targeted. Explosions were also reported at Kuwait International Airport and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Following the missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, its Foreign Ministry summoned Mohammad Toutounchi, Iran's ambassador in Kuwait. The IRGC said that Iran had targeted four US bases in the Middle East: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait (which also hosted Italian soldiers), Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and a video was posted in which smoke could be seen rising from the direction of the base in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia confirmed that there had been Iranian attacks on Riyadh and its Eastern Province. It claimed to have successfully intercepted Iranian attacks aimed at those areas and said that the Kingdom will "take all necessary measures" to defend itself, "including the option of responding to aggression". The UAE stated that it had successfully intercepted a number of Iranian missiles and that one Asian national had been killed by interceptor debris which had fallen on a residential area. Qatar said that it had intercepted at least two waves of missile attacks, stating that no casualties or property damage had been reported. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iranian aerial attacks targeted infrastructure hosting US military and civilian personnel, including Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate General in Erbil. However, according to local media reports, most missiles and drones had been intercepted. A nine-storey building was hit by missiles in northern Israel, injuring one person. Strikes were reported in Haifa and Tel Aviv. A strike on a residential area in Tel Aviv killed a civilian woman in her 40s and injured 27 others. Reports claim missiles from Iran had hit Jordanian territories and the capital Amman. Jordan said that its armed forces had shot down two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting its territory and that it had handled 54 reports of falling debris that caused material damage but no casualties. Residential areas of Dubai in the proximity of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina and the Dubai Palm were hit by strikes, setting the Fairmont The Palm hotel on fire, causing four injuries, as well as a residential building on the outskirts of Doha. Local sources say Iran used Shahed drones, which are one of the deadliest weapons used by the regime as well as its proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. The UAE said that it had intercepted a "new wave" of Iranian missiles and that "fragments from the interceptions" had fallen in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing damage to Burj Al Arab. Strikes on Kuwait International Airport caused several undefined injuries. In Bahrain during the evening a tower in a residential area was reported to be hit by an Iranian drone. The Al Minhad Air Base was attacked by Iran. The Air Base is also home to Camp Baird, the Australian Defence Force Headquarters Middle East (HQME). The New Zealand Defence Force also operate out of Camp Baird. Later in the day Israel said that it had begun another wave of attacks on Iranian air defense and missile launchers in central Iran. According to an analysis in Reuters, by sending missiles at Gulf states, Iran has caused the Gulf states to realize that Iran poses a threat to them, and could thus cause them to support the US-Israel strikes. === 1 March === Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, announced the Interim Leadership Council on 1 March and accused the US and Israel of trying to dismantle Iran. He warned "secessionist groups" of severe consequences if they take action. Trump relayed to NBC News that "a large amount of leadership" in Iran had been killed. Israel executed another wave of strikes against Iranian targets as part of its ongoing campaign, aiming at the centre of the capital. The US Air Force launched B-2 bombers to strike Iranian ballistic missile facilities. CENTCOM declared that it was instructed to "dismantle the Iranian regime's security apparatus." Iran launched missiles and drones on Israel, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The United Kingdom initially reported there were strikes against Cyprus, but later confirmed that there were not. Two oil tankers, the Palau-flagged Skylight and the Marshall Islands-flagged MKD VYOM, were targeted off the coast of Oman. As a result of the conflict and higher risk to ships, 150 freight ships, including many oil tankers, are stalled behind the strait. To avert further Iranian strikes, the E3 (the UK, France, and Germany) resolved to back, if needed, "proportionate military defensive measures" against drones and ballistic missiles, signaling the potential for direct involvement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that US can use British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iran and disclosed that Ukrainian and other specialists would aid Gulf efforts to foil Iranian drone strikes. CNN reported that Crown Prince Salman, with US backing, vowed to employ military force against further Iranian incursions, calling Iranian strikes "cowardly" due to Saudi airspace being closed to US and Israeli attackers. On 1 March, Trump announced that the US had accepted an Iranian proposal to further negotiations. Trump later said the US operations were to be completed within a four-week timetable in an interview with the Daily Mail. However, Ali Larijani subsequently ruled out talks. === 2 March === Iranian strikes were reported on 2 March, including strikes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Beersheba. The US embassy in Kuwait was struck and subsequently closed indefinitely. The US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative and the Honduras-flagged tanker Athe Nova were also struck. A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official who is an advisor to the IRGC commander said he would set fire onto any ship coming through the Strait of Hormuz, and added that no oil will leave the area. Qatar shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers, making it the first nation to shoot down an Iranian aircraft in the conflict. Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran targeting Tehran, Sanandaj, and military and strategic locations including command centers and missile sites. This also included the Natanz Nuclear Facility and the Khatam-al-Anbia and Gandhi hospitals. A double tap strike on Tehran's Niloofar Square killed more than 20 civilians. A friendly fire incident took place when Kuwait shot down three US F-15 fighters. According to Al Arabiya, in the evening, Israeli special forces and Mossad operatives carried out a ground operation inside Iran; no additional information was reported. Israeli authorities did not issue a response to the report by 3 March. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes against one another. Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in retaliation for Khamenei's killing. An IDF spokesperson issued an emergency statement stating that the attack is to be considered "an official declaration of war by Hezbollah", vowing to "neutralize" the threat. Israel struck southern Lebanon, Beirut, and the Beqaa Valley. The IDF said it killed the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters Hussein Makled in the strikes. The Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was targeted by a drone strike around midnight local time, with one causing minor damage. Another strike on Cyprus led to Greece announcing that they would deploy frigates and F-16s to defend Cyprus from any further strikes by Iran. Later in the day IRGC general Sardar Jabbari commented that there was a US presence on the island of Cyprus and that Iran planned to strike the island "with such intensity that the Americans will be forced to leave". The pro-Iran group Guardians of the Blood Brigade claimed responsibility for attacks on the US Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport and Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for over 23 drone strikes on US assets in Erbil. On 2 March, satellite images taken by Vantor on 1 and 2 March were made public, which showed that Iran's Natanz Nuclear Facility in Isfahan, Iran had sustained damage. Subsequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that satellite ​imagery showed that entrance buildings at Natanz were damaged, but no radiological consequence was expected and no additional impact had been detected at the fuel enrichment plant itself. === 3 March === ==== US and Israeli strikes ==== Israel continued to pursue bombing and operations in Lebanon and Iran in the early hours of the day. Israel said it killed one of the commanders of the IRGC, and detained a dozen Hezbollah members following a rocket strike on Israel. The IDF announced that it had destroyed the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) headquarters, along with command-and-control infrastructure and the president's office, noting that it targeted "the regime's most central and significant headquarters". Additionally, Israel's Defense Minister authorized a ground invasion of Lebanon, to seize strategic positions. According to US sources they have severely damaged Iran's naval capabilities, mainly in the Gulf of Oman, where several Iranian warships have reportedly been destroyed and key bases hit. Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was hit by debris from an Israeli-US airstrike, causing damage including to the Brilliant Hall and the Marble Throne. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts officially asked UNESCO to evaluate the situation, and UNESCO issued a statement, noting that damaging the property is against international laws. The IDF said that it killed Daoud Alizadeh, the commander of the Quds Force's Lebanon branch, in Tehran. US–Israeli airstrikes also leveled the Expediency Discernment Council building in Tehran. According to Israeli officials, the attacks could become more intense and involve a deeper ground invasion. The IDF said it hit a secret nuclear weapons development facility in Tehran that it identified as Min Zadai, and had destroyed 300 Iranian missile launchers since the war began. US president Trump said the US retained a "virtually unlimited supply" of heavy weaponry, but that it was seeking more supplies from other states. Trump added that he was confident in a "BIG" US victory. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that three paramedics were killed and six injured while working to help affected people in southern Lebanon. ==== Preparations for ground offensives and uprisings ==== While the US expressed reluctance to deploy its own ground troops to Iran, reports by The Wall Street Journal stated that President Trump was open to supporting armed militias, particularly Kurds in Iran that have been in conflict with Tehran for decades. The Kurds have historically been a regional ally of the United States. The reports coincided with intensified strikes in the Kurdish-majority areas of western Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) targeting police stations, border posts along the Iran–Iraq border, and other security facilities, which some sources suggested may have "paved the way for a Kurdish advance" and also hinted at a strategy built around the Kurds. The human rights organization Hengaw stated that the strikes had already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Iranian security personnel in the Kurdish regions, which it said may have been "underreported." A few days after the start of the attacks, Trump also held calls with Kurdish leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's two main parties, Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, discussing what were described as "sensitive" topics. The Kurdistan Region hosts several armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, which have declared their readiness to help topple the Iranian regime under the umbrella of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK). These groups had already become targets of Iranian strikes during the conflict, with Iranian drones and missiles hitting their bases and camps in the Kurdistan Region, and some also claimed to have carried out combat operations inside Iran. According to ITV News, since the start of last year, weapons have been smuggled into western Iran to arm thousands of Kurdish volunteers, and Kurdish sources have told the outlet that US and Israeli forces were asked to provide air cover when any such ground operation begins. These reports were corroborated by CNN, which stated that the CIA was working to arm Kurdish forces to spark an uprising in Iran, and that President Trump had a phone call with Mustafa Hijri, the leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. Earlier in the conflict, President Trump urged Iranians to "take over your government" and said that "America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force," framing US military action as an opportunity for a broader uprising. Trump also reshared opinion pieces arguing that "there is no need for a U.S. invasion force [...] the Iranian people are the boots on the ground," signaling support for internal resistance. However, the day before, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that he would not rule out sending American ground troops to Iran. ==== Iranian retaliation and Hezbollah strikes ==== At 1:40 AM local time (22:00 GMT) a series of loud blasts were recorded in Doha, and continued to be heard hours later. Explosions were also heard in Cyprus, in Larnaca, Mackenzie neighbourhood, near Larnaca International Airport and the British base in Dhekelia. The UAE detected numerous missiles heading from Iran towards the UAE at around 3:30 AM local time (23:30 GMT). The US embassy in Riyadh was struck by two Iranian drones, causing a fire and prompting its closure. Israeli Police reported that one person was injured after Iranian shrapnel fell in Tel Aviv. Also in the early hours of the day, sirens all over Bahrain started to be activated as the government called for residents to stay safe. There were reports of explosions in Erbil, with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claiming responsibility for the attack, stating that they targeted a hotel housing US troops. Hezbollah also launched drones and missiles at a trio of Israeli bases. Amazon Web Services were targeted across the Gulf states causing significant damages in their facilities located in the UAE and Bahrain. There was an attack on Hamad International Airport which was stopped by Qatari forces. An Iranian attack on the UAE's Fujairah Oil Industry Zone caused debris to fall and start a fire. The cities of Bnei Brak and Rosh HaAyin saw Iranian strikes causing a total of seven injuries amongst civilians. Hezbollah reported to have struck down an Israeli drone in Nabatieh. Iranian general of the IRGC stated that if the joint US-Israeli attacks continue on Iran, it will hit all economic hubs in the Middle East. The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened that any kind of military involvement including purely defensive actions in the war by European nations is to be considered "an act of war" following European mobilization in Cyprus (after Iranian threats to the island) and European involvement in the overall war effort. The US Consulate in Al Seef, Dubai was struck by multiple drones, resulting in a fire. ==== Qatari strikes ==== Western diplomats told The Jerusalem Post that Qatar struck Iran following Iranian attempts to directly strike Doha's airport; Channel 12 also reported Qatari strikes. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari denied that Qatar had joined the "campaign targeting Iran". === 4 March === ==== United States and Israel ==== Rubio announced that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are going to increase in their intensity. Following an Israeli strike, four people were killed and six others were wounded in a strike in Baalbek. ==== Iranian retaliation and Hezbollah strikes ==== Qatar arrested ten individuals for operating as a cell of the IRGC in Qatari territory, collecting data on military infrastructure, with some trained to use drones. A drone was downed in the proximity of the Baghdad International Airport, whilst another wave of drones and missiles was intercepted in Erbil. It was reported that a CIA headquarters in Riyadh was hit by a drone and later in the night the kingdom downed nine drones as soon as they entered Saudi airspace. A 11 year-old Kuwaiti girl died from her injuries following an incident related to an Iranian shrapnel. The Al Udeid Air Base, which has been described as "the largest American base in the Middle East" was hit with no casualties, reported the Qatari Ministry of Defense. == Strikes and casualties == === Iran === ==== Assassination of Ali Khamenei ==== Shortly before midnight in Iran on 28 February, an unnamed Israeli official said that Khamenei had been killed in the air strikes and his body had been recovered and identified by intelligence sources. Netanyahu stated that there were signs that Khamenei might have been killed, though the Iranian foreign ministry contested his claim. According to Israeli officials, Khamenei's body was found in rubble. Iranian sources later suggested he was "commanding the field". Several Western and Iranian news outlets, citing Israeli government sources, reported that Khamenei was deceased. President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu both indicated they believed he was dead before his death was acknowledged by Iran, with Iranian officials initially denying this. Trump later wrote on Truth Social: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead [...] He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems." CIA assessments suggested that a hardliner from the IRGC would replace Khamenei. Early on 1 March, Iranian state media announced that Khamenei had been killed. Fars News Agency, which is controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, announced that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law had also been killed in the strikes. The state declared 40 days of mourning. Khamenei's wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, reportedly died from her injuries on 2 March. ==== Iranian military and officials ==== Reuters reported several commanders in the IRGC may have been killed, but could not confirm this report. It later reported, citing Israeli military and regional sources, that defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour had likely been killed by Israeli airstrikes. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged but downplayed the losses, deeming them "not such a big problem". Iran International reported that Defence Council head Ali Shamkhani had been killed, along with four top Ministry of Intelligence officials. The IDF later stated that it had confirmed the deaths of seven Iranian security leaders, including Shamkhani, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour. Additional senior officials confirmed to have been killed are Salah Asadi, head of intelligence for Iran's emergency command, Mohammad Shirazi, head of the military office of Ali Khamenei, head of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) Hossein Jabal Amelian and former head of SPND - Reza Mozaffari Nia. On 1 March, chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were confirmed by Iranian state media to have also been killed by strikes. However, later reports stated that Ahmadinejad is alive. CBS News reported that "an intelligence source and a military source told CBS News Saturday evening [28th February 2026]" that 40 Iranian officials had been killed in the strikes but that they were not "clear whether these officials were in one location or multiple locations". The United States said it had sunk an Iranian military vessel identified as IRIS Jamaran, a Moudge-class light frigate. Iran's Foreign Ministry stated the military has lost control over several units, that are operating according to old general instructions. Late on 2 March, Hengaw estimated that 1,300 members of Iranian military forces had been killed in the attacks. ==== Iranian civilians ==== At around 17:30 CET of the first day of strikes, the Red Crescent reported that 201 civilians had been killed and 747 injured in Iran. Two students were killed in a strike in Tehran. A further 20 civilians were killed in Tehran's Niloofar Square on 2 March. On 3 March, the Red Crescent stated that over 600 civilians had been killed, while the Human Rights Activists in Iran estimated that 742 civilians had been killed in the attacks. According to Iranian state-owned media, a girls' elementary school was hit in the Israeli and American attacks on Minab. Reports stated that 148 students had been killed and 95 had been wounded in the strike. Several sources reported there was no independent confirmation of the number killed, although The Washington Post and The New York Times verified footage taken immediately after the attack. A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry called the strike a "war crime" by Israel, though Israel denied the attack and CENTCOM confirmed it was investigating internally. Thousands of people attended the burial of the victims. ==== Iranian Institutions ==== The opening attack on 28 February targeted the compound of Leadership House. On 2 March 2026, video footage released by Iran International showed the IRGC Malek-Ashtar building in Tehran completely destroyed following a joint U.S. Israel missile strike on the capital. In the early hours of 3 March 2026, the complex of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state broadcaster's headquarters in Tehran, was hit in a separate Israeli air operation. Iranian authorities reported that parts of the broadcaster's facilities were struck but no casualties were reported. Iranian state-linked media indicated that Iran's parliament building was also targeted by airstrikes. Trump told reporters that "Just about everything's been knocked out" and that Iran had no navy, air force, air detection, or radar after the attacks. Israel bombed Iran's Assembly of Experts as they were in a meeting to elect the next supreme leader. According to CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, as of 3 March, the United States "destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine that now has a hole in its side." === Other countries and regions === === Akrotiri and Dhekelia === On 2 March, an Iranian drone struck the British Akrotiri Royal Air Force base in the Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Overseas Territory on Cyprus. Earlier, two Iranian missiles had been fired in the general direction of Cyprus, but government sources in the UK and Cyprus said at the time that it did not appear that Cyprus was a target. === Bahrain === On 1 March, an Iranian drone struck Bahrain International Airport, causing minor damage. On 2 March, falling debris from an intercepted Iranian missile on a "foreign ship" in Salman industrial zone resulted in the death of an Asian worker and serious injuries to two others. === Lebanon === By March 2, Israel have done a ground incursion in Southern Lebanon with forces from the 91st Division with the goal to stablish a “security layer' for the Israeli residents of northern settlements against the menace of the Iran-proxy Hezbollah (expecting to destroy their infraestructure in the Israel Lebanon border). The Lebanese government reported that such Israeli Preventive attack reached Kfarkela and Qouzah, provocating Lebanese army to do a redeployment from newly established border posts amid escalating Israeli activity in violation of 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement. At least 31 people were killed and 149 were wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, as well as three additional paramedics. Youssef Ragi, the Lebanese foreign minister, announced Lebanon's Council of Ministers decided to ban the military and security of Hezbollah, and called for them to hand over their weapons. Israel called for Lebanon to take action beyond mere statements. An NBC news analysis described Hezbollah as "significantly weakened". === Iraq === In Iraq, two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed and three injured in an Israeli attack. A later report from The New York Times claimed three dead. ==== Kurdistan Region ==== The Kurdistan Region became a major target of Iranian missile strikes, as the U.S. presence in the rest of federal Iraq had been significantly reduced since 2020 but increasingly redeployed to the autonomous region, which also hosts armed Iranian Kurdish opposition parties. Subsequently, U.S. President Donald Trump, spoke with leaders of the Kurdistan Region's two main factions, Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, a day after the bombing campaign began, discussing what were described as "sensitive" topics. === Israel === The first connected Iranian airstrike targeted a building in Israel, leaving one Israeli civilian injured. Magen David Adom reported that Iran's initial attacks had left 89 injured, with three directly wounded and the rest indirectly. On 28 February, a direct hit in Tel Aviv killed a woman and injured 22 others, one seriously. On 1 March, an Iranian strike hit a synagogue and residential buildings in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people and injuring 49 others. === Kuwait === An Iranian drone struck Kuwait International Airport. On 2 March, Kuwait shot down three American F-15Es in an incident of friendly fire. The crew members survived. The United States embassy in Kuwait was likely hit by an Iranian missile strike. === Oman === Two Iranian drones struck Duqm Port, a major commercial port in Al Wusta Governorate on the Arabian Sea. The attack injured a foreign worker. === Qatar === On 2 March, Qatar shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 jets which approached Qatari airspace. === Saudi Arabia === An Iranian drone attacked the US embassy in Riyadh and President Trump promised to retaliate. According to two unnamed sources cited by Reuters, an explosion was heard in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh early on the morning of 3 March, and a fire broke out at the US embassy. A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defence stated that it had been struck by two drones. Shortly after, two more drones struck the Diplomatic Quarter. === United Arab Emirates === By 1 March, the United Arab Emirates reported that three foreign nationals were killed and 58 other people were injured by Iranian attacks. Two tankers were targeted off the UAE, including one that was struck by a projectile 17 nautical miles northwest of Mina Saqr, causing a fire that was extinguished. The other was undamaged. On 4 March, explosions were seen at the US Consulate in Dubai. === United States === On the first day of the conflict, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) initially stated that it had suffered no casualties, noting that light damage to its facilities had not disrupted its operations and that it had neutralized several hundred Iranian drone and missile strikes. At 9:30 a.m. ET on 1 March, CENTCOM confirmed that three US service members were killed and five others were seriously injured during the operation. On 2 March it was announced that US fatalities had risen to six, with four others seriously injured. Four of the victims have been identified, who are, according to CENTCOM: "Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa", all members of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. === Casualties by country === == Impact == === Iranian politics === The killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei led to the creation of an interim government, the Interim Leadership Council. === State of emergency in Israel === Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying that the strikes on Iran were the largest that it had ever launched. Israel Katz issued a statement saying "Under my authority pursuant to Section 9C(b)(1) of the Civil Defence Law, 5711-1951, and after being convinced that there is a high probability of an attack on the civilian population, I hereby declare a special state on the home front throughout the entire territory of the country." Israeli schools and workspaces were closed and public gatherings were cancelled. ==== Gaza Strip ==== Because of the strikes and other safety concerns, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories closed multiple aid crossings in the Gaza Strip (specifically interrupting free circulation on the Egypt–Gaza border). Israeli forces suspended United Nations humanitarian movements and postponed planned rotations of international humanitarian staff (including medical evacuations and the return of people into Gaza), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned this. === Renewed internet blackout and suppression of Iranian civilians === Amid the renewed "near total" internet blackout in Iran, NetBlocks reported that internet connectivity in Iran dropped to 4% of ordinary levels. As news of Khamenei's death broke, Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration, though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets. === Prosecution of other civilians === The Arab states of the Persian Gulf started a campaign of prosecution against civilians and foreign citizens that shared or reposted rumours from unverified sources about the Iranian attacks, with the stated main goal to curb misinformation that could harm public order. Bahrain's Cyber Crime Directorate also started a campaign of arresting civilians who allegedly expressed "their support for the Iranian shelling targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain", describing such activities as treason and as promotion of hostile acts against the state. === Iranian use of civilian sites === After Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson held a televised press conference from a classroom in Tehran, concerns grew over Iran's use of civilian sites. Footage also showed Iranian security forces stationed in schools and hospitals across the country. === Disruption of international trade and geopolitical impact === ==== Airspace closures ==== Iran's airspace was largely empty of civilian aircraft following the strikes as regional states closed airspace. Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE closed their respective airspace following the attacks, with multiple airliners being redirected to other destinations. International airlines like Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air suspended services to the Middle East in view of the conflict, as did airlines based in the region, including Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways. According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean a "catastrophe" for Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE. ==== Strait of Hormuz ==== A Reuters report cited an Operation Aspides official who said that the IRGC had closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, according to maritime VHF radio announcements. A European Union official reported that vessels have been receiving messages stating that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz". Late on 28 February, outgoing traffic was heavy, while ingoing traffic was light. Many vessels stayed outside the area, but some continued through. Three vessels were struck by projectiles, with partial damage, and an Iranian drone attack also killed a seafarer. The current soft closure in Ormuz, alongside the fears of a declared blockade, has caused an increase in financial risk due to the impact in the prices for energy, shipping, insurance, aviation, etc. The conflict in the Persian Gulf theater has provoked Speculation in the World economy, caused by the possibility of prolonged supply disruption, which will have broader consequences for inflation, currencies, and emerging markets. One-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and more than one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade is done by the extraction of oil in the Persian Gulf Basin and its commerce through crossing the Strait of Hormuz. ==== Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb ==== Houthi-controlled Yemen re-started its threats in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, which had been suspended since 11 November 2025 after the Gaza peace plan proposal. Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels (mainly the ones with business links to US or Israeli interests) through missile and drone operations against maritime traffic (in which other vessels could be targeted deliberately or in error) since the start of Gaza war. Some sources claims that Houthis are planning to do incursions in the Arabian Sea and also use bases from the African side of the Red Sea (helped by their presence and some cells established in East Africa). Danish carrier Maersk, due to the risk situation in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, announced it was once again rerouting select services around the Cape of Good Hope route, instead of the Suez Canal one, to reach the Indian Ocean trade. ==== European mobilization in Cyprus ==== Following strikes on the island of Cyprus and the threats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards against the island, numerous nations—including France, Germany, Greece and the United Kingdom—decided to mobilize their armed forces in the sorrounding waters and onto the island, vowing to protect it in case of an attack. The European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho stated that in the coming days following the attack the EU "mutual defence clause will be up for discussion". The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, called Iran a "criminal regime" and vowed that an attack on the Republic of Cyprus would be considered an attack on Europe. Iran's response was to state that such acts of involvement in the conflict could be considered "acts of war", however analysts note that the European mobilization in Cyprus was not the reaction Iran expected and seems to have worked as a deterrent. Observers in the countries of Cyprus and Greece noted how the war was percieved pretty vividly and fears of further escalation involving both nations is prevalent. === Exodus of people === Tens of thousands of people within the Gulf region are stuck with few ways to leave. The US Department of State urged Americans in the Middle East to leave such countries due to "safety risks" as the conflict could last from four to five weeks or even more, recommending its population to use the available commercial transportation. The United States Department of State subsequently announced it was working on bringing Americans in the Middle East home, and stated they are in contact with more than 3000 Americans there. According to Trump and Rubio, almost 9000 Americans have evacuated from the Middle East since the start of the strikes. The United Kingdom's Foreign Office said it was developing plans to evacuate UK citizens in the region. Russia, through its embassy, made facilitations for Russians unable to leave Iran by liberalizing the route in the Iran–Turkmenistan border. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry started to develop plans for evacuation measures to help its nationals who were living in escalation zones, exploring routes through the Caucasus, Turkey or Central Asia. Tajiks in Iran started to leave the country through Azerbaijan's Astara crossing. However, the UN refugee agency stated there has been no major exodus from Iran. The UAE announced its intent to repatriate 44000 travelers. === Internet infrastructure === Three Amazon Web Services data centers were struck and damaged as a result of drone strikes, leading to outages of web infrastructure within the Middle East. Two data centers were directly targeted within the United Arab Emirates, causing "sparks and fire" as well as "major structural damage", with internal water levels reaching up to 4 cm, alongside the mechanical failure of cooling and air systems. Meanwhile, a data centre within Bahrain was indirectly damaged by a drone strike on nearby infrastructure. As the targeted data centres within the United Arab Emirates were in different availability zones, and Amazon infrastructure was only designed to withstand redundancy of a single zone, fundamental web infrastructure including S3 storage, EC2 compute and DynamoDB databases suffered complete outages within the Middle Eastern region. == Reactions == === Iran === ==== Government ==== Iran's Foreign Ministry vowed a response as Iranian forces struck US bases across the Persian Gulf. The Supreme National Security Council said Iran was targeted by a "brutal air operation" carried out by the US and Israel, saying: "This occurred once again during negotiations, and the enemy imagines that the resilient Iranian nation will surrender to their petty demands through these cowardly actions." Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called the attacks "wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate". ==== Civilians ==== A holistic picture of civilian reactions in Iran is somewhat difficult to obtain due to the government's control over the circulation of information, the renewed internet blackout, and the ongoing heated nature of the conflict. The Daily Telegraph and Iran International posted videos of some people inside Iran celebrating the attacks, hopeful that they will bring forth an end to the ruling government. The New York Times, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published photos of some Iranians during pro-government rallies waving the Islamic Republic flag holding portraits of Ali Khamenei while demonstrating against the US and Israeli attack. As news of Khamenei's death broke, Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration, though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets. ==== Diaspora and opposition ==== Following the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Iranians living abroad showed support for regime change in Iran. Celebratory rallies were held worldwide by the Iranian diaspora, where Iranians gathered waving anti-Islamic Republic symbols, including the Lion and Sun flag. Reza Pahlavi, a leader of the opposition and son of the former Shah of Iran, is supportive of Israel and the US, and states he is ready to have his transitional government take over if the Islamic Republic is overthrown. === United States === President Donald Trump confirmed that the US military have begun "major combat operations" in Iran, describing it as "a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America". In a video posted to Truth Social, he reaffirmed that "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people", adding: "For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries." Trump said that talks with Iran will be easier following the assassination of Ali Khamenei. On the third day of the conflict, Trump said that the US military is "knocking the crap out of Iran but the big wave of attacks yet to come" and mentioning the possible use of ground troops. On 3 March, Trump said on Truth Social: "Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said, 'Too Late!'" Trump claimed victory and said that he had defeated Iran militarily. ==== Public ==== Opinion polling showed that most Americans were unsupportive of US military action against Iran. According to The Guardian, 27% of Americans were supportive of the US operation while 43% were opposed and 29% were uncertain. In addition, most Americans reported they believe that Trump still has not explained the goals behind attacking Iran. Moreover, polls showed splits on the issue on political and demographic lines. Most Republicans supported the action, while most Democrats and independents opposed it. President Trump reacted to the disapproval by denying that opinion polling showed low approval ratings, also adding "I don't care about polling". ==== Politicians ==== Some members of the US congress are calling for a vote on the War Powers Resolution, also known as the War Powers Act, that some other members content would effectively end the attack on Iran. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, called the vote "dangerous". Congress member Thomas Massie and former congress member Marjorie Taylor Greene asserted that Trump started the war as a distraction from ongoing disclosures relating to the Epstein pedophile network. === Israel === Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the strikes was to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran", stating that "our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that military action against Iran was urgently needed "despite the significant risks involved", adding that "delay would have allowed the Iranian regime to reach a level of immunity for its nuclear programme, as well as to engage in the mass production of long-range ballistic missiles". === International === It was reported that European Union Commission President ⁠Ursula von der Leyen supports a regime change in Iran. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, said that Europe is "supportive" of the U.S. attacks on Iran, as Iran is a "threat". The Israeli and U.S. attacks were supported at least in part by Ukraine, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, and Trinidad and Tobago, while being opposed by Afghanistan, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, China, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, North Korea, Norway, Spain, Russia, and Vietnam. Iran's retaliations were condemned by Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, incoming president of Chile José Antonio Kast, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, the Palestinian authority, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Syria, Somalia, Turkey, the UAE, as well as by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, who issued a joint declaration. Additionally, the United Kingdom permitted the U.S. to use British military bases for defensive purposes, and France sent its aircraft carrier towards the Mediterranean. Mixed reactions or calls for peace were made by South Africa, Azerbaijan, India, Lebanon, Ireland, Slovenia, Vatican City, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In addition to condemning both the Israeli and U.S. attacks and Iran's counterattacks, Spain denied the use of its military bases for U.S. flights connected to a military offensive against Iran, leading President Trump to threaten economic retaliation. == See also == 1998 bombing of Iraq 2026 Cuban crisis 2026 United States intervention in Venezuela Greenland crisis Jimmy Carter's engagement with Ruhollah Khomeini List of attacks during the 2026 Iran conflict Timeline of the 2026 Iran conflict Iranian opposition == Notes == == References == == External links == "What we know about the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation". CNN. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026. U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran, C-SPAN