WASHINGTON/TEHRAN — In a dramatic and potentially era-defining escalation of Middle Eastern hostilities, President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States and Israel have launched “major combat operations” against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The announcement, delivered from the White House on Saturday, February 28, 2026, follows a massive daylight aerial assault on downtown Tehran and several strategic military installations across the country.
The joint operation, reportedly code-named “Iron Resolve,” marks the first time the United States has engaged in direct, sustained kinetic action against Iranian sovereign territory. Pentagon officials confirmed that the strikes targeted “command and control centers” and “nuclear-adjacent research facilities” in response to what the administration described as an “imminent and catastrophic threat” to regional stability and American assets.
Trump’s Ultimatum: “Lay Down Your Arms”
In his address, President Trump issued a stark warning to Iranian leadership, telling officials to “lay down your arms” or “face certain death.” He characterized the strikes as a “noble mission” triggered by Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles capable of reaching American soil.
The President also signaled a move toward encouraging internal upheaval, calling on the Iranian people—who have been engaged in nationwide anti-government protests—to “take over your government.” This rhetoric suggests that the current military phase may be a precursor to a broader strategy of regime change.
Tehran Under Fire: A Daylight Assault
Eyewitness reports and social media footage from Tehran depict a city in chaos as thick plumes of black smoke rose from the downtown district. Unlike previous clandestine “shadow war” operations, this strike was carried out in broad daylight, signaling a shift toward overt military confrontation.
- Strategic Targets: Beyond the capital, initial reports indicate strikes on Isfahan and Natanz, areas central to Iran’s nuclear program.
- The Israeli Incursion: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their participation, stating that their Air Force targeted “precision-strike missile production sites” and “UAV warehouses” used to arm regional proxies.
- The Naval Buildup: The assault was supported by the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups, which have been positioned in the North Arabian Sea for several weeks.
“No More Strategic Patience”
In a televised address, President Trump declared an end to the era of “strategic patience,” stating that the combined might of the U.S. and Israel would ensure Iran “never achieves the means to threaten the civilized world.” The President emphasized that while the U.S. does not seek “regime change,” it will no longer tolerate what he termed “nuclear blackmail.”
The Iranian government, through its state-controlled Fars News Agency, has vowed a “crushing response” to the “Zionist-American aggression.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly convened an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council as reports of retaliatory cyberattacks against Western infrastructure began to surface.
Global Market and Diplomatic Shockwaves
The immediate impact of the strikes has been felt globally. Brent Crude oil prices surged by over $12 per barrel within hours of the first explosions, while safe-haven assets like gold reached all-time highs.
- The UN Response: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that the world is “one miscalculation away” from a total regional conflagration.
- The “10-Day” Context: The strikes come exactly 48 hours after a White House-imposed “10-day deadline” for Iran to return to the negotiating table in Geneva expired without a breakthrough.
As air raid sirens continue to wail across Tehran and Jerusalem, the international community remains on high alert. The scale of the “major combat operations” suggests this is not a one-off retaliatory strike, but the opening salvo of a significant military campaign intended to fundamentally reshape the security architecture of the Middle East.
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