Trump Confirms Joint US-Israel Combat Operations Targeting Iranian Regime

2026-02-28 global

Tehran, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
President Trump has announced “Operation Epic Fury,” a joint US-Israeli offensive striking Iran’s nuclear capabilities and leadership. Amidst regional missile exchanges and a near-total internet blackout in Tehran, the President explicitly urged Iranian citizens to seize control of their government.

Operation Epic Fury and Lion’s Roar

Following earlier reports of initial strikes and the relocation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to a secure facility [1], the situation in the Middle East has escalated into full-scale conflict as of Saturday, February 28, 2026. President Donald Trump officially confirmed the commencement of “Operation Epic Fury,” a major US military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities [2][4]. Simultaneously, Israeli forces launched “Operation Lion’s Roar,” a preemptive strike explicitly targeting the Iranian leadership structure [6]. The coordinated offensive marks a pivotal shift from containment to active engagement, with US officials indicating the operations could span several days [4]. Israeli sources have claimed “very high success” in strikes targeting senior commanders and locations near the offices of the Supreme Leader and President Masoud Pezeshkian [6].

Regional Retaliation and Defense

The conflict has immediately widened beyond Iranian borders. In response to the joint US-Israeli offensive, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated a counter-attack, targeting US and allied military infrastructure across the Persian Gulf [2]. Iranian state media reported missile strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the Al Salem base in Kuwait, the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain [2]. While defense systems intercepted multiple projectiles over Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, debris from an interception over Abu Dhabi resulted in one fatality on February 27 [2]. The UAE has since closed its airspace, and Qatar’s defense ministry confirmed it successfully neutralized threats targeting its territory [2][6].

Calls for Regime Change

A defining characteristic of this escalation is the explicit rhetoric regarding governance in Tehran. In a statement released via Truth Social, President Trump framed the military action not merely as a defensive measure but as an opportunity for political transformation, telling the Iranian people, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take” [4][5]. This sentiment was echoed by exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, who urged Iranians to “return to the streets” and called on the nation’s security forces to defect and defend the populace rather than the regime [2]. Administration officials suggest the US is backing an unspecified group with “overwhelming strength” to facilitate this transition [4].

Civilian Impact and Infrastructure Blackouts

As major combat operations continue through Saturday, the humanitarian and infrastructural toll is becoming evident. NetBlocks has confirmed a near-total internet blackout across Iran, with national connectivity plummeting to just 4% of ordinary levels, severely restricting the flow of information from within the country [2][6]. Inside Iran, the government has closed schools and universities indefinitely, though banks remain open [2]. Tehran claims that US-Israeli airstrikes in the southern province of Hormozgan struck a girls’ school, killing five students, a report that adds to the volatility of the information war accompanying the kinetic strikes [6].

Israel Declares State of Emergency

Domestically, Israel has moved to a war footing. The government has declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency, closing airspace to civilian flights and activating civil defense protocols [3]. Hospitals in central Israel have transferred operations to underground fortified compounds as sirens sound across the country in anticipation of further Iranian missile barrages [3][6]. With commercial carriers like Air India suspending operations in the sector for a week [6], the region faces a period of profound isolation and instability as both sides prepare for a prolonged exchange.

Sources

Geopolitics Defense