In the early hours of 28 February 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a coordinated military strike against targets across the Islamic Republic of Iran, described by Israeli officials as Operation Lion’s Roar (Wikipedia). The offensive included air and missile attacks on sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities, and was reported to involve coordination or participation by United States military forces (Reuters). The strikes hit Iranian military, government infrastructure, and leadership facilities, and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed along with several senior Iranian officials in the attacks (The Guardian).
Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases and Israeli territory in the region. The conflict has caused significant casualties, with Iranian authorities reporting at least hundreds of deaths and many more injured as strikes continued across multiple provinces; reports also note civilian casualties from some targeted locations such as a school in Minab (Council on Foreign Relations). In addition, U.S. military personnel have been killed or wounded in related engagements. The situation prompted an emergency U.N. Security Council session, with global debate over the legality and consequences of the actions by the U.S. and Israel (AP News).
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Date of event: February 28, 2026
Impact:
- Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials (The Guardian, CFR).
- Iran launched a massive counter-offensive targeting U.S. military bases and civilian infrastructure in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, leading to casualties in several of these nations (House of Commons Library, Just Security).
- Spike in global oil prices and the suspension of production at major facilities like QatarEnergy (The Guardian, CSIS).
- Over 2,000 strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure and ballistic missile production sites; Pentagon claims substantial destruction of launch capabilities (Air & Space Forces Magazine, House of Commons Library).
- Over 500 confirmed deaths in Iran, including significant civilian casualties from strikes on schools and residential areas. (The Guardian, PBS NewsHour).
- Near-total internet blackout to suppress renewed domestic protests (The Guardian, PBS NewsHour).
Related Resources:
- Protests in Iran: Possible U.S. Responses and Issues for Congress [Updated January 21, 2026]
- Executive Order 14375: Designating the Board of Peace as a Public International Organization Entitled to Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities
- Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program After the 12-Day War: A Diagram of the Destruction
- U.S. Strikes on Nuclear Sites in Iran [June 23, 2025]
- Guns by Drone: The Rise of Drone-Assisted Firearm Smuggling on Israel’s Southern Border
- Israel-Iran Conflict, U.S. Strikes, and Ceasefire [Updated June 26, 2025]
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