TEHRAN / JERUSALEM — The Middle East has been thrust into a full-scale military confrontation today, Saturday, February 28, 2026, as Israel and the United States launched a coordinated “pre-emptive” strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Codenamed “Operation Shield of Judah” by Israel and “Operation Epic Fury” by the U.S., the massive aerial campaign targeted key military and government installations across several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, and Karaj.
The assault, which began during daylight hours to maximize the element of surprise, saw initial explosions rock downtown Tehran near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Iranian state media reported that the 86-year-old leader is “safe and sound” and has been moved to a highly secure location, plumes of smoke were seen rising from the capital’s skyline. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the operation in a video statement, declaring that the joint action was necessary to “remove an existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
In a dramatic social media address from his Mar-a-Lago resort, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had commenced “major combat operations” in Iran. Trump asserted that the objective is to annihilate Iran’s missile industry and naval capabilities to defend the American people from “imminent threats.” In a direct appeal to the Iranian public, the President urged citizens to “take over your government,” suggesting that the hour of their freedom had arrived.
The regional response has been immediate and volatile. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) announced the commencement of a “first wave” of retaliatory missile and drone attacks, with sirens already sounding across Israel, Jordan, and Bahrain. Interceptions have been reported over northern Israel as the country’s air defence systems engage incoming fire. Airspaces across Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan have been shuttered, forcing international carriers like Air India and IndiGo to divert flights mid-journey.
Global leaders have expressed grave concern over the escalation. The African Union called for immediate de-escalation to prevent global economic instability, while the Indian Embassy in both Tel Aviv and Tehran issued urgent advisories for its nationals to exercise “utmost caution” and remain indoors. As the initial phase of the operation is expected to last several days, the world watches with bated breath to see if this confrontation will spiral into a broader regional war.
