Saturday February 28, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Idorenyin UMOREN
Private Investigator/Security Evaluator, agency reports
The United States, US, and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran on Saturday, dramatically escalating tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and raising fears of a wider regional war.
The first apparent strike was reported near the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in downtown Tehran. Iranian media said multiple locations across the country were hit, with thick smoke seen rising from parts of the capital, according to a report by AFP news agency.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a video posted on social media that American forces had commenced what he described as “major combat operations in Iran.” He accused Tehran of continuing to advance its nuclear program and pursuing long-range missile capabilities that could threaten the United States.
It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at his office during the strike. He has not appeared publicly in recent days as tensions between Tehran and Washington intensified.
The operation follows weeks of mounting pressure, with Washington deploying a large contingent of fighter jets and warships to the region in a bid to force Iran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear activities.
According to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Israeli targets included Iranian military installations, intelligence facilities, and key government symbols. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the assault as necessary “to remove threats,” without providing further details.
Explosions reverberated across Tehran, and roads leading to Khamenei’s compound were sealed off by security forces. Iranian state television acknowledged the blasts but offered no immediate explanation or casualty figures.
In a sign of the rapidly widening crisis, neighboring Iraq closed its airspace, while Iran also suspended flights and cut mobile phone services nationwide.
Simultaneously, air raid sirens wailed across Israel as authorities shut down the country’s airspace. The Israeli military said it had issued a “proactive alert” warning citizens of the possibility of missile launches toward the state. Several hospitals activated emergency protocols, moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
Iran had previously warned that any attack would trigger retaliation against American military personnel and bases scattered across the region. It remained unclear late Saturday whether Tehran would respond immediately.
Simultaneously, air raid sirens wailed across Israel as authorities shut down the country’s airspace. The Israeli military said it had issued a “proactive alert” warning citizens of the possibility of missile launches toward the state. Several hospitals activated emergency protocols, moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
Iran had previously warned that any attack would trigger retaliation against American military personnel and bases scattered across the region. It remained unclear late Saturday whether Tehran would respond immediately.