The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday morning, with explosions reported in Tehran and other cities as both countries said the operation was underway. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in an eight‑minute video that Washington had begun “major combat operations,” and Israeli officials described the action as a pre‑emptive move to remove immediate threats. (apnews.com)
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally … obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces,” Trump said in the video.
(apnews.com)
In the address, posted to Truth Social, Trump said the campaign’s objective was to neutralize what he called “imminent threats” from Iran, prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and protect U.S. forces and allies. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he told Iranians, adding: “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it … So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force.” (apnews.com)
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation was a “pre‑emptive” strike to “remove threats to the State of Israel,” and the government declared a nationwide state of emergency while shifting the country to essential activity only. Air‑raid sirens sounded as the military issued a proactive alert “to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the State of Israel.” (yahoo.com)
Skies closed, blasts reported
Iran and Israel both closed their airspace to civilian traffic as the operation began, with flights diverting around the region and carriers halting service. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization confirmed a six‑hour closure following multiple reported explosions in the capital, while Israel’s Airports Authority paused all takeoffs and landings in line with Home Front Command instructions. Iraq also announced an airspace shutdown as overflights exited or held outside its borders. (en.apa.az)
Explosions and smoke were reported across parts of Tehran, including areas near key government and security sites. Initial reports also pointed to strikes close to the compound associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as air defenses and emergency services mobilized. (apnews.com)
Iran’s response and regional risk
Israeli officials said missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel, and U.S. and Israeli accounts reported waves of drones and missiles targeting Israeli territory as air defenses engaged. Iranian officials vowed a “crushing retaliation,” and state media announced emergency measures as the government closed airspace and communications in parts of the country. (apnews.com)
The escalation reprises patterns seen in earlier rounds of confrontation: Tehran’s network of allied groups across the region, including in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, has previously threatened strikes on U.S. bases and commercial shipping. Analysts warn that sustained conflict would heighten risks to energy infrastructure and maritime routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of globally traded oil passes. Major banks have modeled scenarios in which disruptions could send crude prices sharply higher. (uk.finance.yahoo.com)
Legal, treaty and war‑powers dimensions
Under the UN Charter, cross‑border force is generally prohibited except with Security Council authorization or in self‑defence under Article 51; governments invoking self‑defence typically notify the Council and set out the factual basis for their claim. In practice, such notifications have become a key tool for states to frame their actions as lawful while diplomatic bargaining continues in New York.
In the United States, the War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing forces into hostilities and limits the use of force without specific authorization to 60 days, plus a possible 30‑day withdrawal period. Lawmakers often seek classified briefings and may introduce measures to authorize, narrow or terminate operations during that window, including through appropriations or stand‑alone authorizations for the use of military force. The administration’s legal rationale will be judged against the framework set out in the UN Charter and existing U.S. authorizations that have been used to justify past operations in the region.
From 2025 strikes to stalled diplomacy
Saturday’s attack follows a sharp deterioration in U.S.-Iran and Israel-Iran relations after June 2025, when U.S. forces struck Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in an operation widely reported as “Midnight Hammer.” Washington has said those strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years, though subsequent assessments and IAEA reporting underscored uncertainties stemming from restricted inspector access and the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile. Efforts to revive negotiations have faltered amid disputes over missile limits and regional activity. (theguardian.com)
- June 2025: U.S. strikes hit Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan; debate persists over the extent and durability of damage. (theguardian.com)
- Mid‑2025: A short ceasefire period follows wider exchanges; the IAEA later reports it cannot verify key aspects of Iran’s program due to curtailed access. (apnews.com)
- Early 2026: A major U.S. military buildup in the region precedes today’s action as talks stall. (en.wikipedia.org)
Airlines reroute and civilians brace
With skies closed over Iran, Israel and parts of Iraq, international carriers warned of route changes and delays. Israel’s Home Front Command directed the public to stay close to protected spaces as emergency regulations took effect, and some foreign governments issued updated travel advisories for the wider region. (flightradar24.com)
As of Saturday, February 28, 2026, both Iranian and Israeli airspace remained closed to civilian flights, and authorities in both countries had not released confirmed casualty figures from the initial strikes. en.apa.az
