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In a dramatic escalation in the Middle East, the United States and Israel launched a major military strike on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, marking one of the most significant interventions in recent years. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the country since 1979.
The strikes reportedly targeted areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with smoke rising over Tehran as Iranian media confirmed attacks nationwide. While it’s unclear whether Khamenei was at his offices during the strikes, the impact was immediate and devastating.
Trump, in a video announcement, said: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these words, emphasizing that the operation aimed to empower the Iranian people to take control of their own fate.
This is the second major military operation by the Trump administration against Iran in just eight months, following a previous campaign that weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership, and nuclear program. The recent strikes came shortly after a U.S.-led operation targeting Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.
The targets of the strikes included key figures in Iran's leadership, military installations, and strategic sites, though no official word has yet confirmed whether high-ranking officials were killed. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel, as well as U.S. military positions in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, forcing the UAE and Iraq to shut down their airspace temporarily.
The strikes also tragically affected civilians. According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, at least 57 people were killed at a girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province, with dozens more injured. Flights across the Middle East were disrupted, and air defense systems were active over cities like Dubai.
The backdrop of these strikes includes weeks of increased U.S. military presence in the region and failed nuclear talks. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, a mediator in the negotiations, condemned the escalation, urging the United States to avoid further involvement.
President Trump justified the strikes citing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile development, and support for armed groups in the region, warning Iranian forces of “certain death” if they failed to lay down their arms. The strikes could also disrupt global markets, particularly oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, which sees over 14 million barrels per day transported worldwide.
Iran has vowed retaliation, with its Revolutionary Guard announcing waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel. Houthi forces in Yemen also pledged renewed attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, U.S. embassies in the region advised Americans to shelter in place amid the ongoing conflict.
This new chapter in U.S.-Iran-Israel tensions underscores a volatile geopolitical landscape, with the potential to reshape Middle East security, international relations, and global markets for months to come.