Quick Summary
- On February 28, 2026, Israel executed a coordinated “pre-emptive strike” against Iran alongside US forces
- President Trump announced “major combat operations” were active in Iranian territory
- Iranian authorities shut down national airspace and vowed “crushing” retaliation
- Supreme Leader Khamenei was evacuated from Tehran to an undisclosed secure facility
- Washington simultaneously added Iran to its “state sponsor of wrongful detention” list
On February 28, 2026, Israel executed a coordinated pre-emptive military operation against Iranian targets. A senior Israeli defence official speaking to Reuters confirmed the attack was synchronized with United States forces.
President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged American involvement, stating the United States had initiated “major combat operations” on Iranian soil. CNN’s reporting indicated the strikes concentrated on Iranian military installations.
According to the Israeli defence official, operational planning extended across several months. The specific execution date was finalized weeks before the actual strikes commenced.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made the official strike announcement while simultaneously implementing emergency protocols throughout Israel. Officials cited expectations of Iranian counter-strikes as justification for the emergency measures.
Around 08:15 local time, warning sirens activated throughout Israeli territory. Citizens received emergency mobile notifications characterizing the situation as an “extremely serious” security threat.
Journalists from AFP stationed in Tehran documented two powerful explosions. Dense smoke columns rose from central and eastern sections of Iran’s capital city.
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the “type of explosions suggests a missile attack.” Iranian officials have not yet released comprehensive damage assessments.
Following the explosions, Iranian aviation authorities ordered a complete national airspace shutdown. The Civil Aviation Organisation issued the closure directive “until further notice.”
Tehran’s Reaction and Command Structure
A senior Iranian official informed Reuters that Tehran is organizing a “crushing” counter-offensive. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was transported from Tehran to a protected location outside the capital.
These military actions occurred approximately eight months after a 12-day aerial conflict between Israeli and Iranian forces in June 2025. Both Washington and Jerusalem had issued multiple warnings about potential strikes should Iran persist with its nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile development.
Washington’s Detention Designation
Coinciding with the military strikes, the United States formally classified Iran as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention.” Iran became the inaugural nation added to this sanctions list, established through a Trump executive order issued in September 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly demanded Iran release all detained American citizens. He indicated future possibilities include invalidating US passport travel authorization to Iran.
Trump additionally declared his objective of eliminating all uranium enrichment activities in Iran, including civilian nuclear programs. This statement followed indirect diplomatic discussions between US and Iranian representatives in Geneva, where both delegations reported constructive progress.
Oman’s Foreign Minister revealed that Iranian negotiators committed during Geneva talks to permanently cease enriched uranium stockpiling. He characterized this commitment as a significant diplomatic achievement with potential to avert broader conflict.
On Friday, Trump stated he hadn’t reached a “final decision” regarding military action. By Saturday morning, operations had commenced.
The post Tehran Under Fire: Breaking Down the Joint Israel-US Military Operation appeared first on Blockonomi.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/tehran-under-fire-breaking-down-the-joint-israel-us-military-operation/