US and Israel Launch Coordinated Strikes on Iran – Khamenei’s Eliminated

- Israeli and US forces hit hundreds of military, nuclear, and leadership targets across Iran in a synchronized operation on February 28, 2026.

- Israeli sources report strong signs that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was eliminated in strikes on his compound, though Iran’s foreign minister says he is alive “as far as I know.”

- Iran fired back with ballistic missiles and drones, striking US-linked sites and causing explosions and injuries in Dubai and Bahrain.

United States and Israel carried out a meticulously planned joint military campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026. What began as coordinated airstrikes on military infrastructure quickly expanded to include high-value leadership targets, sending shockwaves through Tehran and far beyond. Israeli officials described the effort as a necessary step to dismantle capabilities they view as an existential threat, while US leaders framed it as a decisive move to protect regional stability and prevent nuclear advances.

The operation, dubbed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the Pentagon, involved Israeli Air Force pilots striking roughly 500 targets across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, and Karaj. US forces provided synchronized support through air and naval assets, with no ground troops committed. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed pilots directly before takeoff: “Saturday dawn, Operation Lion’s Roar begins—you are authorized to carry out the mission, strike your targets—you are making history.” In public remarks, he confirmed full coordination with US strikes and emphasized that Israeli air defenses, naval units, and ground forces stood ready for any retaliation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement through official channels, addressing both his own citizens and the Iranian people. To Israelis, he stressed unity and compliance with Home Front Command instructions during what he called “the coming days of Operation Roaring Lion.” To Iranians, he appealed across ethnic lines—Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochis, and Ahwazis—urging them to “rid themselves of the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran.” Netanyahu portrayed the action as aimed squarely at removing what he termed the “existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”

President Donald Trump echoed the call for internal change in Iran during an eight-minute video address. He described the combat operations as “massive and ongoing,” told Iranian citizens that “when we are finished, take over your government—it will be yours to take,” and warned members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps to lay down arms or face consequences. Trump highlighted broader goals, including neutralizing Iran’s missile program, naval forces, and proxy networks that have targeted US interests.

A particularly striking element emerged from Israeli media outlets citing unnamed security sources: growing indications that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, may have been killed or severely wounded when strikes hit his official compound in Tehran. Channel 12 and other Israeli broadcasters reported “excellent” or “very likely” assessments based on field intelligence, noting severed communications and the targeting of nearly the entire senior leadership tier. Reports also suggested the deaths of senior IRGC figures, including commander Mohammad Pakpour. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told international media that Khamenei remains alive “as far as I know,” accusing Israel of psychological warfare. No official confirmation has come from either the Israeli government or the US, leaving the supreme leader’s exact status unverified amid the fog of ongoing operations. CIA assessments conducted prior to the strikes had anticipated that even if Khamenei were removed, hardline IRGC elements would likely step in quickly.

Iran’s retaliation was swift and widespread. Within hours, waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeted Israel, triggering sirens and interceptions across the country with only minor reported injuries. More dramatically, Iranian strikes reached US-allied territory in the Gulf. In Dubai, explosions struck the Fairmont The Palm hotel in the Palm Jumeirah area, injuring four people; authorities urged residents to shelter indoors. Bahrain reported missile impacts near the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters and damage to residential buildings in Manama and Muharraq, with one civilian killed by falling debris in the broader UAE area. Additional strikes hit US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and elsewhere, forcing airspace closures and grounding flights at major hubs including Dubai International Airport. Iranian state media framed the response as a “crushing” defense of sovereignty, while Gulf governments condemned the attacks on their soil.

Right: Iranian attack on Dubai
Left: Iranian suicide drone attack a building in Bahrain.

The operation builds on earlier 2025 exchanges, including a June campaign that damaged Iranian nuclear and missile sites with US support. Officials on both sides indicated planning for this round stretched over months, timed after diplomatic efforts stalled. Damage assessments remain preliminary, but Iranian reports cite over 200 deaths, including civilians at a school hit in the south—an incident the Pentagon acknowledged awareness of but did not confirm responsibility for.

As the day unfolded, the region braced for further exchanges. Israel maintained high alert levels, with air defenses actively engaging incoming threats. The US emphasized that no regime-change forces were on the ground, positioning the strikes as capability degradation paired with a direct invitation for Iranians to shape their own future. Global reactions poured in, with calls for de-escalation from various capitals, though many Gulf states that host US bases voiced strong condemnation of Iranian strikes on their territory.

This coordinated US-Israel action marks one of the most significant direct interventions in Iran in decades, blending precision military strikes with explicit political messaging. While the immediate tactical successes—disruption of defenses and possible decapitation of leadership—appear substantial based on available reporting, the long-term fallout remains uncertain. Iranian proxies, missile stockpiles, and internal dynamics could shape the coming days, as both sides monitor developments in real time. Civilians on all sides face disrupted lives, closed skies, and heightened anxiety, underscoring the human stakes in a conflict that officials from Jerusalem and Washington insist was unavoidable to safeguard broader security.