In a dramatic escalation that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East and beyond, President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the United States, in coordination with Israel, has launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. The strikes, which began on February 28, 2026, are the culmination of weeks of failed diplomatic negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities, and they have already triggered fierce political debate at home and a dangerous round of retaliatory attacks across the region.
Trump delivered the news in an eight-minute video posted to his Truth Social account, stating, “We are going to raze their missile industry to the ground.” He described the operation as “massive and ongoing,” warning Americans that “the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties — that often happens in war.” According to Politico, the president’s address marked the official beginning of what the Pentagon has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
The United States confirmed that the strikes, conducted jointly with Israel, targeted Iranian missile sites, naval assets, and reportedly several top political officials. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Politico, said the campaign involved dozens of Tomahawk missiles launched from warships in the region and American fighter planes. The official added that the operation would likely last “days not hours,” suggesting a prolonged campaign rather than a single night of attacks.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly released his own video, confirming the joint action and calling the Iranian regime “an existential threat.” He urged the Iranian people to seize the opportunity to overthrow their leaders, echoing Trump’s message. “This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” Netanyahu declared, according to Politico.
Trump, for his part, made a direct appeal to the Iranian people: “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight: The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations.” He also addressed Iran’s military, urging them to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or, in the alternative, face certain death.”
The strikes come after months of mounting tension. The United States and Israel had been pressuring Iran to halt its uranium enrichment and end its support for proxy militias across the Middle East. Trump had demanded that Iran declare it “will never have a nuclear weapon,” a point he reiterated in recent speeches. While Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, U.S. officials remain deeply skeptical, especially given the high levels of uranium enrichment observed in recent months.
According to Hindustan Times, the operation follows a previous conflict in June 2025 between Israel and Iran, during which the U.S. joined in bombing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Trump had claimed at the time that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “obliterated,” but in his latest address, he accused Iran of attempting to rebuild and develop long-range missiles capable of threatening U.S. allies and potentially the American homeland.
Iran wasted no time in retaliating. Within hours of the U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iranian forces launched a “barrage of missiles” toward Israel. The Israeli military reported that its aerial defense systems were intercepting incoming threats and that sirens had sounded in several areas across the country. Explosions were also reported in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Dubai, according to Hindustan Times. In Bahrain, a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, prompting Gulf countries to close their airspace amid fears of further escalation.
The regional fallout has been swift and severe. Turkish Airlines announced the suspension of flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan until March 2, and to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman until February 28, citing security concerns. U.S. embassies in several Middle Eastern countries issued alerts urging staff to shelter in place, underscoring the volatility of the situation.
Back in Washington, Trump’s decision to launch the strikes without congressional authorization drew immediate and sharp criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. “I lost friends in Iraq to an illegal war. Young working-class kids should not pay the ultimate price for regime change and a war that hasn’t been explained or justified to the American people,” wrote Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on X, referencing his own military service. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent critic of executive overreach, labeled the strikes “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.”
House Democrats, led by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Massie, were already preparing to force votes on a war powers resolution aimed at restricting the administration’s ability to conduct military action without congressional approval. Senate Democrats planned a similar move, reflecting deep divisions over the wisdom and legality of the operation. According to Politico, the votes were expected to be close, with both parties facing internal splits — some Republicans wary of a full-scale regime change effort, and some centrist Democrats concerned about Iran’s threats to Israel.
Despite the political firestorm, some voices in Congress supported a more aggressive approach. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said earlier in the week, “In my view, if you’re going to do something there, you better well make it about getting new leadership.”
Iran’s government, meanwhile, condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty, insisting that both military and non-military sites had been struck. The foreign ministry said, “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault. Just as we were prepared for negotiations, we are more ready than ever to defend the essence of Iran.”
As the dust settles from the initial wave of violence, the world watches anxiously. Will the U.S. and its allies press forward with their campaign, or will the specter of a wider regional war force a return to the negotiating table? For now, uncertainty reigns — and the stakes could hardly be higher.