February 28, 2026
Israel said on Saturday it had launched a pre-emptive military strike against Iran, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation was aimed at “removing threats to the State of Israel.” An Israeli defence official described the strike as months in the making and coordinated closely with Washington, with the final decision on timing taken weeks ago.
Explosions were reported in Tehran, according to Iranian media. Around 8:15 a.m. local time, sirens sounded across Israel as the military issued what it called a proactive nationwide alert, warning of possible retaliatory missile fire.
The development comes after Israel and Iran fought a 12-day air war in June, and follows repeated warnings from both Israel and the United States that further action would be taken if Tehran continued advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The The New York Times, citing a U.S. official, reported that American strikes on Iran were also underway. A source told Reuters that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was no longer in Tehran and had been moved to a secure location.
Inside Israel, authorities ordered the closure of schools and most workplaces, with exceptions for essential services. Civilian airspace was shut down, and the airports authority urged the public not to travel to airports as the country braced for potential retaliation.
The renewed fighting threatens to derail fragile diplomatic efforts. The United States and Iran resumed negotiations in February in an attempt to resolve their long-running nuclear dispute and avoid military confrontation. Israel, however, has insisted that any agreement must dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure entirely and include limits on its missile program.
Iran has said it is willing to discuss restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief but has refused to link the issue to its missile capabilities. Tehran has also warned that it would defend itself against any attack and has previously threatened retaliation against U.S. bases in the region.
In June, the United States joined Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in what was the most direct American military action against Iran to date. Iran responded by firing missiles toward the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.
Western governments argue that Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a serious threat to regional stability and could eventually be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Tehran denies seeking to build atomic bombs.
As of Saturday afternoon, the situation remains fluid, with the possibility of further strikes or retaliation looming over the region.
