TEHRAN, Iran — February 28, 2026 — The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran early Saturday, with President Donald Trump declaring that “major combat operations” are now underway. 

Explosions were reported across Tehran and other key locations, as Israeli officials described the offensive as a preemptive strike aimed at removing threats from Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.

In an address lasting eight minutes, Trump said, “It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” He added that the U.S. was “undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.”

Witnesses in Tehran reported hearing loud blasts and seeing smoke rising from the southern districts of the capital following Israeli airstrikes. Sirens sounded across Israel as the Israel Defense Forces warned of possible missile retaliation from Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the strikes were carried out “to remove threats,” though he did not elaborate on specific targets.

The coordinated attack follows weeks of escalating tensions, with Trump repeatedly warning Iran to curb its nuclear program and criticizing its crackdown on protesters earlier this year. U.S. officials said the strikes were intended as a preventative measure to stop Iran from advancing nuclear weapons capability.

Iranian state media condemned the attacks, calling them acts of aggression, and vowed that the country would respond. Analysts warn that the situation could spiral into a wider regional conflict, as Iran has previously threatened retaliation against both U.S. and Israeli interests.

The strikes mark one of the most significant escalations in U.S.-Iran relations in recent years, raising fears of prolonged conflict in the Middle East. As of Saturday morning, both Washington and Tel Aviv confirmed that operations were ongoing, with Trump emphasizing that the campaign would continue until Iran’s nuclear ambitions were neutralized.

 Image from Ziabul Hossain Foundation