Trump launches major military operation against Iran from Mar-a-Lago, breaking his 'no new wars' campaign promise
The operation aims to eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities, destroy its Navy, neutralize proxies, and achieve regime change
Trump acknowledges potential US casualties but frames the intervention as necessary for America's future security
The attack marks a significant shift in Trump's foreign policy and carries domestic political risks including potential oil price increases
📖 Full Retelling
US President Donald Trump launched America's new military operation against Iran from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in a dramatic shift from his 'no new wars' campaign promise. The 'massive and ongoing operation,' as Trump described it in an eight-minute video, aims to eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities, destroy its Navy, neutralize regional proxies, and ultimately achieve regime change in Tehran. The 79-year-old president, who built his political brand on ending American involvement in 'endless wars,' acknowledged potential US casualties but framed the intervention as necessary to prevent a 'very wicked, radical dictatorship' from threatening America. This represents Trump's most high-stakes military gambit yet, coming after years of skepticism toward nation-building and foreign interventions. The White House hopes to unseat the Tehran regime without triggering deeper regional destabilization or requiring ground troops in Iran, though Iran has already responded by firing missiles at US bases across the Middle East. The operation reflects Trump's growing willingness to launch military actions worldwide, from Yemen to Venezuela, and follows his controversial decision to withdraw from Iran's nuclear pact during his first term.
🏷️ Themes
Foreign Policy, Military Intervention, Middle East
# Iran
**Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...
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...
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb types release large quantities ...
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...
Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on x (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on facebook (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on linkedin (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on x (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on facebook (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on linkedin (opens in a new window) Trump shifts from ‘no new wars’ to Iran regime change on whatsapp (opens in a new window) Save James Politi and Steff Chávez in Washington Published February 28 2026 Jump to comments section Print this page Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Donald Trump launched America’s new war against Iran from his Mar-a-Lago resort in the middle of the Florida night, casting it as a decisive bid to tackle Tehran in a way no US president had done in almost half a century. The “massive and ongoing operation”, Trump said in an eight-minute video on social media, was aimed at stopping “this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America”. He claimed the primary goal was to eliminate Iran’s capacity to develop a nuclear weapon and develop long-range missiles. But Trump piled on other aims as well: the annihilation of Iran’s Navy, the neutralisation of its regional proxies, and ultimately regime change. With the US flag and presidential seal behind him, and the shadow of his white cap partially obscuring his face, Trump called on Iranians to topple their rulers — and acknowledged that some US troops might die in this effort. “We may have casualties, that often happens in war, but we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future,” Trump said. For the 79-y...
