ICE SpottedUS and Israel Launch Strikes on Iran: Full Timeline, Targets, and What Comes Next
Summary: On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launch strikes on Iran in a coordinated military operation codenamed Operation Shield of Judah, targeting Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Kermanshah, and Karaj with strikes by air and sea. President Trump confirmed US "major combat operations" aimed at eliminating Iran's nuclear threat and called for regime change, while Israel declared a 48-hour state of emergency and Iran vowed a "crushing" retaliation.
On the morning of February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launch strikes on Iran in what has become the most significant military escalation in the Middle East in decades. The joint operation, codenamed Operation Shield of Judah, involves coordinated air and sea strikes across multiple Iranian cities and represents the first time the United States has openly engaged in direct military combat operations against Iran. This article compiles everything known so far from major news outlets, official statements, and public discussion, with all sources cited inline.
What Happened — Operation Shield of Judah
In the early morning hours of February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States launched a joint military operation against Iran. Israel designated its component of the operation "Lion's Roar" — a name reportedly chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The broader joint operation was codenamed "Operation Shield of Judah" (Jerusalem Post).
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was the first senior official to publicly confirm the strikes, describing them as a "preemptive attack" intended to "remove threats to the State of Israel." He stated that intelligence indicated "a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," justifying the preemptive nature of the operation (NPR).
Two US officials, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed American participation in the strikes and characterized the operations as "significant and are not small strikes" (NBC News). An unnamed security source told Israel's Channel 12 that the operation was "jointly planned for months" with timing finalized "several weeks ago," and that Israel was going "all out" with the US "on the same page" (Times of Israel).
Timeline of Events
The following timeline is compiled from multiple live blogs and wire service reporting. All times are approximate and based on the earliest confirmed reports.
- ~2:30 AM ET (9:30 AM local Tehran time): First explosions reported in central Tehran. Iranian state media reports blasts in the capital. Smoke seen rising from multiple locations (Al Jazeera).
- ~2:40 AM ET: Additional explosions reported in Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj. Fars News Agency confirms strikes nationwide (CNN).
- ~3:00 AM ET: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly confirms the operation, calling it a preemptive strike. Israel declares a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency (NPR).
- ~3:15 AM ET (~8:15 AM Israel time): Air raid sirens sound across Israel. Israeli airspace closed to all passenger flights. Civil defense protocols activated nationwide (NPR).
- ~3:30 AM ET: Iran's airspace is closed. Cell phone signals disrupted across Tehran (NBC News).
- ~4:00 AM ET: Two US officials confirm American participation in the strikes to NBC News, describing them as "significant" (NBC News).
- ~9:39 AM ET: President Trump posts a video statement to Truth Social confirming the US began "major combat operations in Iran" (Times of Israel).
Developing story: This article reflects information available as of February 28, 2026. The situation is rapidly evolving. Casualty figures, additional targets, and diplomatic developments are expected to emerge in the hours and days ahead. We will update this article as confirmed information becomes available.
Targets and Military Operations
The strikes targeted a wide range of Iranian military and government infrastructure across multiple cities. Based on confirmed reporting from multiple outlets, the following targets have been identified:
Tehran
- Khamenei's offices and residence: Seven missiles confirmed to have struck the district in Tehran where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei normally resides. This area also houses the presidential palace and the National Security Council (Wikipedia).
- IRGC Intelligence Directorate: Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence division (Jerusalem Post).
- Defense and Intelligence Ministry installations (Times of Israel).
- Homes of senior ministers and military chiefs (Times of Israel).
- Presidential facility (Times of Israel).
Other Cities
- Isfahan: Home to Iran's nuclear research facilities and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, previously targeted during the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer (NBC News).
- Qom: Located near the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, a deeply buried underground nuclear facility (CNN).
- Kermanshah: A major military base region near the Iraqi border, home to missile launchers and drone facilities (Al Jazeera).
- Karaj: Site of centrifuge manufacturing and nuclear component production (Al Jazeera).
Israeli security officials described the target set as including missile launchers, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) bases, and other "military targets posing immediate threats" (Jerusalem Post). The strikes were conducted "by air and sea," with the US Navy's two carrier strike groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford — positioned in the region to support the operations (NBC News).
The initial phase of the operation was reportedly planned to last four days, with security sources indicating the strikes were "likely to continue as the day progresses" (Jerusalem Post).
Trump Confirms US Military Operations in Iran
President Donald Trump confirmed American involvement in a video statement posted to Truth Social at approximately 9:39 AM ET on February 28. His exact words carried extraordinary weight:
"A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people."
Trump went further, explicitly stating that the operation's goal extended to regime change. He addressed the Iranian people directly:
"The hour of your freedom is at hand. When we are finished, take over your government."
He offered military immunity to Iranian forces willing to surrender: "You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death" (Times of Israel).
Trump outlined four specific military objectives (NBC News):
- Destroy Iran's missiles and "raze their missile industry to the ground"
- "Annihilate their navy"
- Eliminate regional terrorist proxies
- Ensure "this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon"
He also referenced the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, framing the current strikes as a continuation of that campaign (NBC News).
Israel Declares State of Emergency
Immediately following the announcement of strikes, Israel took extraordinary domestic security measures:
- 48-hour state of emergency declared nationwide (NPR)
- Airspace closed to all passenger flights (NPR)
- Air raid sirens activated across the country at approximately 8:15 AM local time (NPR)
- Civil defense protocols activated; civilians directed to bomb shelters
- Hospitals ordered to transfer inpatients to underground protected facilities, cancel elective procedures, and discharge non-critical patients (Jerusalem Post)
- Military forces placed on highest alert
Defense Minister Katz stated that the emergency measures were necessary because "a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future" — acknowledging that Iranian retaliation was anticipated as a direct consequence of the strikes (NPR).
US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain also issued shelter-in-place orders for American personnel and citizens in the region (Jerusalem Post).
Iran's Response and Retaliation Threats
Iran's response has been defiant. An unnamed Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is "preparing for retaliation" and promised a "crushing" response (Jerusalem Post).
An Iranian parliament member responded to the strikes with a stark warning: "Now you've started down a path whose end is no longer in your hands" (NBC News).
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly transferred to a secure location shortly after the strikes began. The status of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remained unclear, with unconfirmed reports suggesting he may have been targeted. Iranian state media subsequently claimed he was in "full health," though independent verification was not immediately possible (Times of Israel).
Security analysts have warned that Iran's retaliation could involve medium-range ballistic missiles, drones, and proxy forces including Hezbollah. Iran had previously stated that if attacked, it would retaliate against American and Israeli bases across the region, threatening a "devastating war" (Fortune).
Context: Iran's military capabilities include an extensive ballistic missile arsenal, a network of regional proxy forces (Hezbollah in Lebanon, various militia groups in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis in Yemen), and cyber warfare capabilities. Any retaliation could involve multiple dimensions of conflict across the entire Middle East region.
Cyberattacks and Communications Disruptions
The kinetic military strikes were accompanied by a coordinated wave of cyberattacks against Iranian infrastructure. Several major Iranian news agencies were targeted and experienced "severe disruptions in their operations" during the initial hours of the operation. Widely used Iranian mobile applications also experienced outages and disruptions (Times of Israel).
Cell phone signals were disrupted across Tehran, complicating both civilian communication and the Iranian government's ability to coordinate an organized response. Iran's airspace was closed, effectively grounding all civilian aircraft and isolating the country from normal international aviation (NBC News).
The simultaneous cyber and kinetic operations suggest a high degree of operational planning and coordination between US and Israeli intelligence and military agencies.
International and Congressional Reactions
Congressional Opposition
The strikes immediately drew criticism from some members of Congress. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the operation "Acts of war unauthorized by Congress." His objection centers on the constitutional requirement that only Congress has the power to declare war, a provision that has been increasingly tested by executive military actions over the past several decades (Fortune).
Military Readiness Concerns
Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper warned that the United States lacks adequate munitions stockpiles for an extended conflict with Iran. According to Esper, the nation's weapons reserves have been significantly depleted by ongoing support for Ukraine and Israel, raising questions about the US military's capacity to sustain prolonged combat operations (Fortune).
Expert Analysis
Former IDF Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin offered a measured assessment, noting that the operation aims to "dramatically weaken the regime and its military capabilities" while cautioning that "regimes cannot be toppled purely through air strikes" (Times of Israel). This analysis underscores the gap between the stated political objective of regime change and what military force alone can achieve.
Background — From Nuclear Talks to Operation Midnight Hammer
The February 28 strikes did not emerge from a vacuum. They represent the culmination of months of escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with several key milestones:
The 12 Day War (June 2025)
In June 2025, the US joined Israel in Operation Midnight Hammer (also known by Israel as "Rising Lion"), a targeted campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This operation, later called the "12 Day War," marked the first direct US military strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. While the operation successfully damaged key enrichment facilities, it did not permanently eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities (NBC News; Fortune).
Military Buildup (January–February 2026)
Since early January 2026, the United States moved significant military assets to the region, including:
- Two aircraft carrier strike groups (USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford)
- Destroyers equipped with guided missiles
- Fighter aircraft and strategic bombers
- Air-defense systems
This buildup was described by the Fortune as an "enormous military build-up" that preceded the strikes. The Washington Post reported in the days before the operation that Israelis were bracing for another war as Trump mulled strikes on Iran.
Failed Diplomacy
The military action came amid what The Hill described as "tensions high over nuclear talks." The collapse of diplomatic channels between Tehran and Washington set the stage for the military option that both the US and Israeli governments had been preparing for months.
Oil Markets and Economic Impact
The strikes against Iran — one of the world's major oil-producing nations and a critical player in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil supply transits — immediately raised concerns about global energy markets. CNBC reported on the oil market implications of the strikes, noting the potential for significant price volatility.
If Iran retaliates by targeting oil infrastructure in the Gulf or disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the economic consequences could extend far beyond the region, affecting fuel prices, global supply chains, and financial markets worldwide.
What Reddit and Social Media Are Saying
The strikes have generated massive discussion across social media platforms. On Reddit, the communities r/worldnews and r/geopolitics have been flooded with megathreads and discussion posts tracking developments in real time. Key themes emerging from these discussions include (Reddit discussion summary):
- Constitutional concerns: Many users echoed Rep. Massie's criticism, questioning whether the strikes constitute an unauthorized act of war and debating the War Powers Act
- Humanitarian worries: Widespread concern about civilian casualties in Tehran and other population centers, particularly given the strikes on residential-adjacent government compounds
- Military analysis: Detailed discussion of the operational scope, with users tracking open-source intelligence (OSINT) including flight radar data, satellite imagery, and social media posts from Iran
- Escalation fears: Significant anxiety about the potential for a wider regional war involving Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and Houthi forces in Yemen
- Historical comparisons: Users drawing parallels to previous US military operations in the Middle East, including the 2003 Iraq invasion and the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani
- Economic impact: Discussion of oil price spikes, potential disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, and the downstream effects on already-strained household budgets
On X (Twitter), the hashtags #IranStrikes, #OperationShieldOfJudah, and #IranWar rapidly trended globally. Verified journalists, former military officials, and regional analysts have been providing real-time updates and analysis. The Websleuths forum also opened a dedicated thread: "Israel declares war on Iran; explosions across Tehran following Israeli and US strikes".
What Happens Next
The immediate hours and days following the initial strikes will be critical in determining whether this conflict remains a targeted military operation or expands into a broader regional war. Several key developments to watch:
- Iran's retaliation: The nature, timing, and scale of Iran's response will be the single most important factor in determining the trajectory of this conflict. Iran has promised a "crushing" response, and its missile, drone, and proxy capabilities give it multiple avenues for retaliation.
- Proxy activation: Whether Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, or the Houthis in Yemen open additional fronts against Israeli or US targets.
- Diplomatic response: The UN Security Council, European allies, Russia, and China will all respond to the strikes. The diplomatic fallout could reshape alliances and international relations for years to come.
- Casualty reports: Confirmed casualty figures from Iran — both military and civilian — will significantly influence international opinion and the scale of any retaliation.
- Oil markets: Any disruption to Iranian oil exports or shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global energy crisis.
- Continuation of strikes: Israeli security sources indicated the initial phase is planned to last four days. The scope and intensity of subsequent phases will reveal whether this is a limited operation or the beginning of a sustained campaign.
Stay informed: This is a rapidly developing situation. We will continue to update this article as new information is confirmed. Follow reliable news sources and be cautious of unverified claims circulating on social media.
Sources and Further Reading
This article draws on reporting and analysis from the following sources:
- NBC News — Live updates: Israel says it has launched preemptive strike on Iran
- BBC News — Live coverage: Israel and US strikes on Iran
- CNN — Israel attack on Iran: live updates
- NPR — Israel and the U.S. launch strikes against Iran
- Al Jazeera — US, Israel launch attack on Iran, explosions in Tehran
- Fortune — U.S. and Israel launch airstrikes against Iran after enormous military build-up
- Jerusalem Post — Operation Shield of Judah: Israel, US launch strikes against Iran
- Times of Israel — Trump indicates goal of Iran strikes is to topple regime
- CNBC — Israel says it has attacked Iran, declares state of emergency
- Wikipedia — 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran
- The Hill — US and Israel launch an attack on Iran with tensions high over nuclear talks
- Euronews — Israel launches attack on Iran, US confirms participation in strikes
- Washington Post — Strikes in Iran: Live updates as U.S. and Israel launch joint operation
- Foreign Affairs — Why Iran Will Escalate: U.S. Military Strikes and the Risk of a Quagmire