Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 — The United States joined Israel in launching coordinated strikes on Iran early Saturday, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
According to officials, Israeli forces initiated the operation, with Defense Minister Israel Katz announcing the strike and declaring an immediate nationwide state of emergency across Israel. A U.S. official later confirmed that American forces participated in the attack and were also carrying out strikes on Iranian targets.
The military action follows weeks of heightened tension over Iran’s nuclear programme. Washington had repeatedly warned Tehran of possible military consequences if it failed to halt uranium enrichment and scale back nuclear development activities. Negotiations between the two sides had reportedly stalled in recent weeks.
The attack was preceded by a monthlong U.S. military buildup in the region, including the deployment of additional air and naval assets. Iran had earlier warned that even a limited strike would provoke retaliation and could ignite a broader regional war.
Following the strikes, Israeli authorities activated air defence systems and mobilised emergency response teams amid expectations of possible Iranian retaliation involving drones or ballistic missiles.
The situation remains highly fluid, with global markets and governments closely monitoring developments as fears grow of further escalation in one of the world’s most strategically and economically sensitive regions.