Iran Retaliates, Israel Under Fire
Iran has launched a major retaliatory attack, firing missiles and drones at Israeli cities and sending millions of civilians into bomb shelters. The assault follows the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader and marks a dangerous new phase in the conflict, with Israeli and U.S. forces launching intense counter-strikes on Iranian military assets.
The assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, 2026, was the result of a coordinated operation between Israel and the United States. The CIA had tracked Khamenei for months, allowing for a surprise daytime airstrike on his Tehran compound. The attack also killed several of Khamenei's family members and senior officials. Iran's retaliation involves a diverse arsenal of drones and missiles. Tehran has developed a significant drone program to compensate for its aging air force, featuring "kamikaze" drones like the Shahed-136 which are designed to explode on impact. The country's missile capabilities include systems with ranges up to 3,000 kilometers, potentially putting some European capitals within reach. The joint U.S.-Israeli counter-offensive, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the U.S., aims to dismantle Iran's ability to wage war. The strategy involves suppressing Iranian air defenses, degrading their retaliatory capabilities by striking missile and drone launch sites, and disrupting their command and control structures. To date, over 2,000 targets in Iran have been struck. This direct military exchange marks a significant escalation in a long-running proxy war. Since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the two nations have been ideological foes, with Iran supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. While the conflict has seen targeted assassinations and cyberattacks, this is a rare instance of direct, large-scale military confrontation. The current hostilities follow a period of heightened tensions, including a 12-day war in June 2025. That conflict also saw direct strikes between the two nations, with Iran launching over 550 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones at Israel. The international response has been swift, with the UK, France, and Germany vowing to take defensive action to protect their interests and allies in the region. The United States has been granted use of British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile facilities. Meanwhile, commercial air traffic has been severely disrupted, with several countries closing their airspace.
