On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States coordinated a strike on Iran, supposedly targeting nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and leadership.
What Happened?
Strikes from both sides caused devastation throughout Iran. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, as of Monday, March 2, 131 cities have been attacked killing 555 people in the Islamic Republic. At least 55 of these deaths are related to a strike on an all girls school. Many other civilians were injured. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, talked to NPR on Saturday Feb. 28, about the reports of civilians being harmed. “We take these reports seriously, and are looking into them… the protection of civilians is of utmost importance and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimize the risk of unintended harm,” Hawkins said.
The U.S. attacks were focused on what is considered high-value Iranian targets. This included Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control facilities, naval assets, and underground sites that are believed to be associated with these. Israeli forces focused on sites linked to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei had been killed, as well as over 40 other senior Iranian security and regime figures. According to BBC the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) “pre-emptive” attack is considered the largest in Israeli Air Force’s history. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a news conference Monday that the U.S.-Israeli campaign was “the most precise aerial operation in history.”
Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon fired missiles at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar in response to the strikes, killing dozens. Iran later escalated, killing four U.S. service members. In the chaos, three U.S. fighter jets were shot down by Kuwait “friendly fire.”
Why Did This Happen?
While the primary reason for these strikes remains unclear, the main consensus is a goal of regime change. In their statements, both United States president Donald Trump and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran was a danger to their countries. Netanyahu said the goal of these strikes was to remove the existential threat posed by the theorist regime in Iran.
Trump claims the attacks were a massive operation to destroy the country’s military capabilities and eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons. This comes after Trump’s many prolonged frustrations with negotiations. In a statement to NBC Trump revealed, “They weren’t willing to stop their nuclear research.” In a Truth Social post, Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history,” and blamed his death on the wrong doings of Iranian Leadership. Trump insists Khamenei’s death is a part of peace for the Middle East, ending his post with “PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD.”
