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🔴 BREAKING — February 28, 2026, ~2:25 AM PT: The United States and Israel have launched a joint military strike on Iran, codenamed Operation Shield of Judah. Explosions have been reported across Tehran and at least four other Iranian cities. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the attack as a “preemptive strike” to “remove threats to the State of Israel.” Two US officials confirmed to CNN that this was “not a small strike” — dozens of US attack planes from regional bases and one or more aircraft carriers are involved in Operation Shield of Judah. This is a new article. For the full pre-conflict buildup and diplomatic history, see our live Iran coverage here.
🚨 Key Facts — as of ~2:25 AM PT, Feb 28, 2026:
Sometime around 2 AM Pacific time on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the world changed. Israel launched what its Defense Minister Israel Katz called a preemptive attack on Iran — the opening salvo of Operation Shield of Judah — aimed at removing threats to Israel’s existence. Within minutes, two US officials confirmed to the New York Times and multiple other outlets that the United States was also carrying out strikes — and that this was, in the words of one official, “not a small strike.”
Explosions were reported across Tehran almost immediately. Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency confirmed strikes on University Street and the Jomhouri area — the heart of the Iranian government’s command center. Separate explosions followed in Tehran’s northern Seyed Khandan neighborhood. Iranian semi-official Tasnim news also confirmed the blasts. Al Jazeera’s correspondent on the ground in Tehran reported seeing smoke rising across the city.
CNN confirmed the attack as coordinated between Israel and the US, planned for months, with the specific launch date decided weeks ago. Dozens of US strike aircraft — operating from bases across the Middle East and from one or more aircraft carriers — are involved. The Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force and Navy are all participating in Operation Shield of Judah. AP News and Reuters are also confirming US military participation.
Israel simultaneously declared a nationwide state of emergency, closed its airspace, and instructed its population to stay near bomb shelters. Air raid sirens are sounding across Israel in anticipation of Iranian retaliation. Reuters reports the US Embassy in Qatar ordered shelter-in-place for all personnel and issued the same recommendation to American citizens in the region.
This moment has been visible for months — documented in our Iran live coverage since early 2026. Here’s the compressed timeline that led to tonight:
December 2025 – January 2026: Nationwide anti-regime protests erupted across Iran following the collapse of the rial and deepening economic crisis. By Trump’s own count on February 27, at least 32,000 protesters were killed by the Iranian regime — making this the deadliest government crackdown since the 1979 revolution. The protests spread to over 100 cities. The regime responded with internet blackouts and massacre-level violence.
January 13, 2026: Trump told Iranians to “keep protesting” and that “help is on its way.” On January 23, he announced a US “armada” deploying to the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group.
February 13–14, 2026: Trump said regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could ever happen.” Reuters reported exclusively that the US military was preparing for weeks-long sustained operations against Iran — not a limited strike. Targets would include state and security infrastructure, not only nuclear facilities.
February 24–27, 2026: Reuters reported exclusively that Iran offered “zero accumulation, zero stockpiling” of enriched uranium — and American inspectors — in the most significant concession in years. Trump said he was “not happy” and maintained his demand for zero enrichment entirely. Scavino posted a B-2 bomber image on social media. Admiral Cooper was confirmed to have briefed Trump on strike options. F-22s were at Ovda Air Base in Israel. US refueling aircraft repositioned from Qatar to Ben Gurion.
Tonight, the buildup ended and the strikes began.
Based on confirmed reporting as of this article’s publication, strikes have been confirmed across five Iranian cities:
Tehran: The primary target. Missiles struck the area near Supreme Leader Khamenei’s offices, the presidential palace, and Iran’s National Security Council. Additional strikes were reported at University Street, the Jomhouri area, and the northern Seyed Khandan neighborhood. Khamenei is confirmed to have been evacuated from Tehran before the strikes. Communications across the city have been disrupted.
Isfahan: Isfahan hosts Iran’s primary nuclear research facilities and ballistic missile production infrastructure, including the uranium conversion facility monitored by the IAEA. It was the site of repeated Israeli strikes in previous rounds of the Iran-Israel conflict. Its targeting during Operation Shield of Judah indicates a renewed focus on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
Qom: A deeply significant symbolic and strategic target — home to Iran’s underground Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which was built inside a mountain specifically to survive aerial bombardment. Reports of explosions in Qom during Operation Shield of Judah suggest this hardened site may be among the targets.
Kermanshah: A major military base in western Iran, historically used to station IRGC forces and missile batteries closest to Iraq and Israel’s approach vectors.
Karaj: Home to Iranian defense industry facilities and the Alborz Mountains radar and missile defense infrastructure west of Tehran.
The IDF confirmed the strikes focused on “Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities, and key military bases.” Israel has labeled Operation Shield of Judah a 4-day campaign. Al Jazeera’s correspondent on the ground in Tehran reported seeing smoke rising across the city. Casualties are unknown at this time. The situation is rapidly evolving.
For the roughly 340 million Americans who went to sleep Friday night not expecting to wake up to a US war with Iran, here is what this means in practical terms.
Oil prices: Iran sits on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes according to the US Energy Information Administration. Any Iranian retaliation that threatens tanker traffic — or any strike on Iranian oil infrastructure — will send oil prices spiking within hours of markets opening Monday morning. Gas prices, already elevated, will likely rise further. The economic shock is real and immediate.
No congressional authorization: Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) immediately condemned the Operation Shield of Judah strikes as “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.” He is correct as a constitutional matter. The War Powers Act of 1973 requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing US forces to hostilities and gives Congress 60 days to authorize or halt military action. It has not been invoked effectively since the 1970s. This war, like most American wars of the past 40 years, is starting without a declaration of war. The bipartisan war powers push that was building in Congress has not yet produced binding legislation.
Regional escalation risk: Iran’s regional proxies — Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi forces in Yemen, and militia groups in Iraq — have previously retaliated against US and Israeli targets when Iran was struck. The 12 Day War last June gave a preview. Operation Shield of Judah is described as broader and more sustained than that round. Israel’s nationwide state of emergency and closed airspace reflects exactly that expectation.
The cost to working Americans: The US military’s involvement follows a pattern that decades of Boomer-era foreign policy established — wars started by the generation that had the most political power, funded by debt that younger generations will repay, with the human cost borne disproportionately by working-class service members. The opioid epidemic was fueled in part by veterans of the last generation of Middle East wars. The retirement savings crisis was deepened by the economic disruptions and defense spending of those conflicts. History may be repeating.
This article will be updated as the situation develops. Newest updates at top. All times Pacific.
🔴 Feb 28, 2026 — ~2:25 AM PT — US and Israel confirm joint strikes on Iran underway. Explosions reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Israel declares nationwide state of emergency. Khamenei evacuated from Tehran. US officials confirm “not a small strike” — dozens of attack aircraft involved. Operation Shield of Judah confirmed. [Article published — situation ongoing]
