US and Israel Launch “Operation Epic Fury” Against Iran
Israel-attacks-Tehran
In a massive military escalation, the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive across Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Labeled “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon, the campaign marks the largest military intervention of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Casualties and Key Targets
The state-run IRNA news agency reported that an Israeli-US strike on a girls’ school in Minab (Hormozgan province) has killed at least 40 people and wounded 45 others. While the city houses a Revolutionary Guard base, the high civilian toll at the school has drawn international scrutiny.
Key initial strikes targeted:
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Tehran: Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the capital. Strikes targeted government symbols, including the compound of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is currently unconfirmed if he was present during the attack.
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National Infrastructure: Missile sites, naval assets, and intelligence facilities across the country were reported hit.
Trump Calls for Regime Change
In a video posted to Truth Social, President Trump officially announced the start of “major combat operations,” citing Iran’s alleged attempt to rebuild its nuclear program following previous US strikes in June 2025.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump told the Iranian people, in what is being viewed as an explicit call for the end of the country’s theocracy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, describing the operation as a necessity to “remove an existential threat” and allow Iranians to take their fate into their own hands.
Regional Counterattacks and Closures
The conflict has immediately spiraled into a regional confrontation:
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Iranian Retaliation: The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles toward Israel and US bases in the Gulf.
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Gulf Impact: Explosions were reported in Bahrain (home to the US 5th Fleet), Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. In the UAE, shrapnel from an Iranian missile killed one person.
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Airspace Closed: Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan have closed their airspace. Qatar Airways has suspended all flights as sirens blare across major Middle Eastern capitals.
| Location | Status | Key Event |
| Tehran, Iran | Under Attack | Strikes near Supreme Leader’s office. |
| Minab, Iran | Under Attack | 40 dead in strike on girls’ school. |
| Tel Aviv/Jerusalem | High Alert | Nationwide warnings; air defenses active. |
| Bahrain | Under Attack | US 5th Fleet headquarters targeted. |
| UAE | Under Attack | One fatality reported from missile shrapnel. |
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has vowed a “crushing retaliation,” stating that “the time has come to defend the homeland.”