On the morning of February 28, Israel and the US launched several strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel.
At approximately 9:10 a.m. Moscow time, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran. The strikes were announced by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran, as a result of which a missile and drone strike against the State of Israel is expected in the near future,” the minister said.
The US Air Force also took part in the attack. One of The New York Times’ sources reported that dozens of strikes were being carried out by American attack aircraft from bases across the Middle East, as well as from one or more aircraft carriers.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. Moscow time, US President Donald Trump issued a statement confirming that the US had launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. According to him, the goal is to protect the American people by eliminating threats from Iran.
“I will say it again: they can never have nuclear weapons,” the US president emphasized.
“Iran has rejected all offers of a deal. The US military has launched an attack to destroy this regime, destroy their missile program, and destroy their proxy forces,” the American leader said.
Trump also called on Iranians to overthrow the government: “…this may be your only chance for generations to come.”
According to him, the US will “wipe out Iran’s missile industry.” He also noted his determination to destroy the country’s naval forces and called on the Iranian military to lay down their arms. Trump also called on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to surrender, otherwise they would be destroyed.
As a result of the attack, three explosions were recorded in Tehran, followed by two more a few hours later. Several missiles fell on University Street and in the Jumhuri area, which is the central square in Tehran. Nearby is the residence of Iran’s leaders, the Saadabad Palace. Explosions were also recorded in other Iranian cities: Isfahan, Qom, Kerman, and Kermanshah. An attack was also carried out on the port city of Bushehr, where the Bushehr nuclear power plant is located, according to Reuters.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth writes that the strikes are being carried out selectively against specific targets and individuals, directly calling what is happening “selective elimination.”
Israeli authorities initially called the operation “Defender of Judah,” but then decided to change the name to “Lion’s Roar,” Ynet reports. The US has named the military operation against Iran “Epic Fury,” the US Department of War reported on social media.
The US and Israel expect the attack on Iran to last several days, sources told the Times of Israel, as well as sources familiar with the matter who spoke to the Wall Street Journal. Washington expects this attack to be larger in scale than the US operation in June 2025.
The Israeli Air Force is currently conducting an operation to destroy military targets in western Iran, the IDF said.
The Iranian agency Mehr, citing a source close to the head of state, reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was not injured in the large-scale attack by the US and Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran; he has been moved to a safe location, Reuters reported.
At approximately 11:10 a.m., Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel. At around 12:00 p.m. Moscow time, explosions were heard in Jerusalem, according to The New York Times and Al Jazeera. Iranian media also reported that successful strikes were carried out on Tel Aviv and Haifa.
There are also reports of strikes on a US base in Bahrain. And also of explosions in Abu Dhabi. CNN points out that a US base is located there. Qatari air defense forces intercepted an Iranian missile, the country’s defense ministry press service said. There are reports of explosions in Jordan. In addition, Yemeni Houthi rebels from Ansar Allah have announced the resumption of attacks in the Red Sea.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
