On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel initiated coordinated military strikes against Iran, marking the onset of what President Donald Trump described as “major combat operations.” The operation, designated “Operation Epic Fury” by the United States and “Roaring Lion” by Israel, has rapidly escalated into direct armed conflict. Explosions were reported across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, and Kermanshah, targeting military, missile, and leadership infrastructure. Iran has responded with ballistic missile strikes on United States bases throughout the Gulf region and on Israeli territory. This development represents the most significant direct confrontation between these powers in decades and occurs mere days after indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva failed to yield a breakthrough.
The belligerents are clearly defined along national lines. On one side stand the United States and Israel, conducting joint offensive operations. United States forces, supported by carrier strike groups including the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, have deployed aircraft and naval assets to execute strikes from regional bases and vessels. Israel has contributed precision airstrikes, focusing on high-value political and military targets. On the opposing side is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has mounted a defensive retaliation through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian forces have launched dozens of ballistic missiles toward Israel and United States installations in Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base), Kuwait (Ali Al Salem), the United Arab Emirates (Al Dhafra), Bahrain (Fifth Fleet headquarters), Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Iranian proxies, such as the Houthis in Yemen, have announced resumed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, though they remain secondary actors. No other states have entered the conflict as direct combatants, although regional airspace closures and condemnations from nations including Russia and China underscore the risk of broader involvement.
The stated purpose of the United States-led campaign centers on three interlocking strategic objectives. First, the destruction of Iran’s missile and military capabilities. President Trump explicitly declared the intent to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground” and to “annihilate their navy.” Strikes have targeted IRGC headquarters, missile production facilities, and naval assets at ports such as Bushehr. Second, the prevention of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons remains a core justification. Despite ongoing indirect talks in which Iran reportedly agreed to zero uranium stockpiling and full International Atomic Energy Agency verification, the United States and Israel cited imminent threats from Iran’s enrichment activities and prior violations of international agreements. Trump emphasized that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” framing the operation as essential to American national security.
Third, and most explicitly articulated, is the aim of regime change. In a video address, President Trump urged the Iranian people: “The hour of your freedom is at hand… When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations.” He offered amnesty to IRGC members who lay down arms, warning others of “certain death.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this position, stating that the joint action would “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands” and remove the “existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran.” These statements align with a broader “maximum pressure” strategy revived from the first Trump administration, now intensified by domestic unrest in Iran following widespread protests since late 2025.
The immediate context for these strikes is instructive. Nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman had shown “significant progress” as recently as 27 February, yet collapsed without a final agreement. United States officials had prepared for sustained operations, briefing congressional leaders and deploying additional naval forces weeks earlier. The strikes follow a pattern of escalation: indirect exchanges in 2024, a brief but intense 12-day war in June 2025, and Iran’s continued support for regional proxies. Targets have included the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (reported heavily damaged) and other senior officials, underscoring the operation’s ambition beyond mere disarmament.
Critics within the United States Congress and abroad have described the campaign as a “war of choice,” noting the absence of explicit congressional authorization and the timing during delicate diplomacy. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, condemned the attacks as undermining negotiations and vowed a “crushing” response. Casualties already include civilians: reports confirm over 50 deaths in an Iranian school strike and injuries from retaliatory missiles in the Gulf. The conflict remains in its earliest hours, with internet blackouts in Iran, regional airspace restrictions, and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz adding layers of uncertainty.
In summary, the belligerents are the United States and Israel on the offensive against Iran in defense. The purpose, as articulated by the highest levels of American and Israeli leadership, combines immediate military neutralization with a longer-term goal of regime transformation to eliminate perceived existential threats. Whether these objectives will be achieved, or whether the operation will instead provoke wider regional instability, remains to be determined as events unfold. The coming days will test the resilience of both the Iranian state and the international order.
