Strikes led by the United States and Israel allegedly target Iran’s nuclear and missile programs as well as many of the country’s elite.
On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Israel had made “major combat operations in Iran,” less than one year after Operation Midnight Hammer began, an operation wherein, on June 22, 2025, Trump claimed that the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program after targeting three of their facilities. The recent attacks are said to be targeting Iran’s ballistic missiles, air defense systems and nuclear program.
They occurred just a few days after Trump’s State of the Union address, where he claims that he will “never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror … to have a nuclear weapon.” This attack also occurs just a couple of days after negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program ended with no deal being made. Trump claimed in his announcement of the attack that Iran has continued “developing the long range missiles” that can eventually threaten Europe or even the U.S., one of the reasons for the attack. Trump has not addressed the public on the events and deaths in the Middle East since his initial announcement of the attacks.
The day of the attacks, the U.S. announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Tehran after the attackers learned of a meeting for top-officials at which the leader would be located. His death has been confirmed, along with the deaths of the Head of National Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, the Commander in Chief of IRCG Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi, as well as Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, grandson and one of his daughters-in-law. Israel has also claimed the deaths of Iran’s Head of the Military Bureau Mohammad Shirazi, Intelligence Chief Salah Asadi and the Head of Iran’s Advanced Weapons Program Hassan Jabal Amelian. An interim leadership council will temporarily lead Iran until a new leader is chosen.
So far, there have been over 200 confirmed deaths in Iran, over 100 being citizens, and over 700 injuries. These come after multiple strikes in Tehran, Chabahar, Tabriz and more, with the most deadly being an attack on the city of Minab where a girl’s elementary school was struck, with at least 153 people being killed from that attack alone. There have also been multiple deaths and injuries in surrounding countries from Iran’s retaliation directed towards Israel and U.S. bases located in Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. So far, there have been three confirmed U.S. service members killed and five injured.
During his announcement on the 28th, Trump urged Iranian citizens to take their chance to overthrow their government, stating “this is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.” Despite the Islamic Republic News Agency and others on social media claiming that the country is in mourning for their fallen leader, videos were soon revealed of Iranian’s celebrating Khamenei’s death. However, it is unknown if any revolution or overthrowing can, or will, actually occur in the near future.
Despite some celebrations in Iran, American citizens have been seen out in the streets with a different reaction. Many anti-war protests have already occurred in large cities across the country, most notably just outside the White House in Washington D.C, with the main argument being that the attacks were an illegal act of war. It goes against the 1973 War Powers Act, a federal law restricting the president’s power to send armed forces abroad without congressional consent, and according to the Arms Control Association, “there was no imminent nuclear threat from Iran.” Other protesting cities include New York City, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago and Minneapolis, with more being organized for the future.
While there have been no talks of a cease fire yet, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that “we are certainly interested in de-escalation.” However, he has also claimed that a regime change is “mission impossible.”
