US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026
Over 30 targets were struck, including government buildings and military facilities
Trump cited Iranian activities endangering US troops as justification
Trump called on Iranian military to surrender and citizens to overthrow their government
The strikes followed weeks of failed negotiations and military buildup
📖 Full Retelling
President Donald Trump and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran early Saturday, February 28, 2026, with explosions reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities, following weeks of failed negotiations and citing Iranian activities that directly endangered the United States and its troops. The Israeli attack began at 08:10 a.m. local time, with over 30 targets reportedly struck across Iran, including the country's intelligence headquarters, defense ministry, nuclear energy department, and even the presidential palace. According to local reports, landlines in Tehran were down with only sporadic mobile phone reception, and videos circulating on social media showed numerous rockets overflying Iranian territory. Cities beyond Tehran, including Isfahan and Qom, were also reportedly under attack. In an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social, Trump characterized the Iranian regime as 'a vicious group of very hard, terrible people' and called for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Armed Forces, and police to lay down their weapons in exchange for 'complete immunity.' The U.S. President also urged Iranian citizens to 'take over your government' once military operations conclude, suggesting this would be 'probably your only chance for generations.' Trump emphasized that previous administrations had refused to provide the assistance he claimed the Iranian people had requested for many years.
🏷️ Themes
Geopolitical conflict, Military intervention, US-Iran relations
Coordinated military actions of a state or non-state actor
A military operation (op) is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operations may be of a combat or non-combat nature and may be r...
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran a...
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. Israel occupies the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories, as well as...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
The US and Israel strikes on Iran represent a significant escalation in the Middle East, potentially impacting regional stability and global oil markets. These actions follow stalled diplomatic efforts and signal a heightened level of confrontation between the two countries.
Context & Background
Ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel have persisted for years.
Recent diplomatic negotiations aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear program had stalled.
The US has increased military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks.
What Happens Next
The immediate aftermath will likely involve monitoring the Iranian response and assessing the extent of damage to Iranian infrastructure. International diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are expected to intensify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the targets of the strikes?
Reports indicate over 30 targets across Iran were struck, including intelligence headquarters, the defense ministry, the nuclear energy department, and the presidential palace.
What was the US President's justification for the strikes?
The US President stated that Iran's activities endanger the United States and its troops, and that he is acting to protect US interests.
What is the potential impact on oil prices?
The strikes could lead to increased volatility in global oil markets due to concerns about supply disruptions.
What is Iran's likely response?
Iran's response is currently unknown, but it could range from diplomatic protests to military retaliation.
Original Source
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Israel moves against Iran, ending diplomatic hopes OpenAI hits $730B valuation as Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank inject $110B Wall Street posts worst month since March amid geopolitics, trade, and AI fears Where Bernstein sees gold prices ending the decade after latest update (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) US, Israel strike Iran — what is known so far By Vlad Schepkov Author Vlad Schepkov World Published 02/28/2026, 03:36 AM Updated 02/28/2026, 03:41 AM US, Israel strike Iran — what is known so far 0 Investing.com - The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran early Saturday, with explosions reported in Tehran and other cities across the country. In an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social early on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the US had begun "major combat operations" in Iran. Israel also confirmed it was conducting attacks on Iranian targets. Follow the story as it unfolds with InvestingPro — today. The Israeli attack on Iran began at 08:10 a.m. local time, the New York Times reported. According to reports from various media outlets, over 30 targets were struck across Iran, including the country’s intelligence headquarters, defense ministry, and nuclear energy department. Iran’s presidential palace is reportedly also under attack. A Tehran resident and local journalist said landlines in the city were down and only mobile phones had sporadic reception, the New York Times reported. The cities of Isfahan and Qom are also reportedly under attack. Videos by Iranians circulating on social media show numerous rockets overflying the country’s territory. The strikes followed weeks of US military buildup in the region. The New York Times said the strikes began after Trump became disappointed with negotiations that had been ongoing for several weeks. In his announcement, Trump called the Iranian regime "a vicious group of very hard, terrible people" and said "its menacing activities d...