2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran

On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on cities in Iran. The operation, codenamed Roaring Lion in Israel (), Operation Shield of Judah, and Operation Epic Fury by the US Department of Defense, began with a series of strikes against Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah. There were explosions, and Israeli defense minister Israel Katz confirmed an attack by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). During the operation, the joint US–Israel forces successfully killed the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei via airstrikes and coordinated attacks.

US President Donald Trump said that the United States had launched strikes on Iran alongside Israel. He said the goal was to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, preventing it from making nuclear weapons, and remove its government. He called on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to give up their weapons, warning that refusal would mean "certain death". After Khamenei's assassination, Trump warned Iran not to retaliate otherwise they would face consequences.

 Background 

In 2018, the United States left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal). The Donald Trump government put back sanctions on Iran and used a "maximum pressure" plan.

The sanctions hurt Iran’s economy. The Iranian rial lost value, falling from 35,000 to 42,000 per US dollar in 2021.Congressional Research Service. (6 April 2021). "Iran Sanctions". Federation of American Scientists website  Retrieved 10 May 2021.Xe website. Retrieved 10 May 2021. Banks that traded with Iran paid big fines. European companies stopped business with Iran. The sanctions made millions of Iranians poor, raised prices of food and medicine, and caused inflation and unemployment.

Tensions grew after the 7 October attacks in Israel and the Gaza war in 2023. Israel attacked Iran-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. In 2024, Israel and Iran exchanged strikes, and in 2025 they fought a short armed conflict for twelve days. The US joined in alongside Israel and bombed Iran’s nuclear sites on 22 June.

In late 2025, large protests started in Iran because of economic crisis and rising prices. These were the biggest since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The government used violence, killing thousands. Estimates of deaths range from 3,117 to 32,000. AP News said the violence made many Iranians hope for US help.

On 13 January 2026, Trump supported the protesters. On 23 January, he said a US "armada" was going to the Middle East, including aircraft carriers  and .

 Casualties 

 Assassination of Ali Khamenei 

On 28 February 2026, an Israeli official said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in air strikes and that his body was identified. Benjamin Netanyahu also said there were signs Khamenei was dead, but Iran’s foreign ministry denied this. 

Iran International reported that Khamenei was dead, and Israeli officials said his body was found in rubble. Hours earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive "as far as I know". Some Iranian sources said Khamenei was "commanding the field". 

Western and Iranian media, citing Israeli sources, also reported Khamenei was dead. Donald Trump and Netanyahu both said they believed he was dead, but Iran did not confirm. Trump later wrote on Truth Social that "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead […] He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems." CIA reports said that if Khamenei was dead, a hardliner from the IRGC would replace him.

 Military 
Reuters said some commanders in the IRGC may have been killed, but could not confirm. Later, it reported that defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour were likely killed. Araghchi admitted losses but said they were "not such a big problem". Iran International reported that Ali Shamkhani was killed, along with four senior intelligence officials. The IDF later confirmed seven Iranian leaders were killed, including Shamkhani, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour. Other officials reported killed include Salah Asadi, Mohammad Shirazi, Hossein Jabal Amelian, and Reza Mozaffari-Nia.

In Iraq, two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed and three injured in an Israeli attack. A later report from The New York Times said three were dead. United States Central Command said it had no casualties and only light damage, while stopping hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles.

 Civilians 
At 17:30 CET on the first day of strikes, the Red Crescent said 201 civilians were killed and 747 injured in Iran.

Iranian strikes also caused casualties. The first Iranian air strike hit a building in Israel, injuring one civilian. Magen David Adom said 89 people were injured in Iran’s first attacks, three directly and the rest indirectly. Later, a strike in Tel Aviv killed one woman and injured 20 others. In the United Arab Emirates, one man was killed in an Iranian attack. In Syria, four people were killed when an Iranian missile hit a building. In Dubai, four people were injured in strikes on residential areas. In Tehran, two students were killed in a strike.

 Minab school airstrike 
A girls' elementary school in Minab was hit in Israeli and American attacks. Reports said 108 students were killed and 92 wounded. Iran’s foreign ministry called the strike a crime.

 Related pages 
 Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
 Iran–Israel war
 June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran
 United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
2026 United States strikes in Venezuela
 Notes 

 References 

Category:2020s in Iran
Category:February 2026 events
Category:2026 in Asia
Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict