US & Israel Launch Major Operations in Iran
The US and Israel launched coordinated military operations in Iran on February 28, targeting the country's infrastructure. The action has caused significant regional disruption, leading to airspace closures and suspended flights that are impacting global commerce.
The joint military campaign has been named "Operation Epic Fury" by the Pentagon and "Operation Roaring Lion" by Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump stated the goal is to eliminate threats from the Iranian regime, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the action aims to "remove the existential threat" posed by Iran. Initial strikes reportedly targeted senior leadership, including a compound in Tehran belonging to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as military and nuclear infrastructure in cities like Isfahan, Qom, and Karaj. An Israeli military official said the operation was prompted by intelligence indicating an acceleration of Iran's ballistic missile program. Iran has launched retaliatory missile attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military facilities across the Middle East. Explosions have been reported in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, as well as in the UAE, Kuwait, and at U.S. bases in Iraq. The conflict follows a breakdown in high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Geneva, which were mediated by Oman. This escalation also builds on a brief but intense war in June 2025, during which the U.S. and Israel also struck Iranian nuclear facilities before a ceasefire was brokered. At least eight countries, including Iran, Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, have closed their airspace, causing massive disruption to one of the world's most critical air travel corridors. Major carriers like Emirates, Lufthansa, and British Airways have suspended flights, rerouting planes and canceling hundreds of services. International reaction has been divided, with Russia condemning the operation as an "unprovoked act of armed aggression." The European Union has called for "maximum restraint," while the UK, France, and Germany condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes.
