🔴 BREAKING // OPERATION SHIELD OF JUDAH: US & ISRAEL LAUNCH JOINT STRIKES ON IRAN ◆ TRUMP: "MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS HAVE BEGUN IN IRAN" ◆ 30+ SITES STRUCK ACROSS TEHRAN, ISFAHAN, NATANZ, FORDO, QOM, KARAJ ◆ KHAMENEI MOVED TO SECURE LOCATION ◆ IRAN LAUNCHES "FIRST WAVE" OF RETALIATORY MISSILES TOWARD ISRAEL ◆ AIR RAID SIRENS SOUND ACROSS NORTHERN ISRAEL ◆ IRAN: RESPONSE WILL BE "CRUSHING" ◆ ISRAEL AIRSPACE CLOSED — STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ◆ OIL PRICES SURGE ON GLOBAL MARKETS ◆ FEBRUARY 28, 2026 /// 🔴 BREAKING // OPERATION SHIELD OF JUDAH: US & ISRAEL LAUNCH JOINT STRIKES ON IRAN ◆ TRUMP: "MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS HAVE BEGUN IN IRAN" ◆ 30+ SITES STRUCK ACROSS TEHRAN, ISFAHAN, NATANZ, FORDO, QOM, KARAJ ◆ KHAMENEI MOVED TO SECURE LOCATION ◆ IRAN LAUNCHES "FIRST WAVE" OF RETALIATORY MISSILES TOWARD ISRAEL
⚠ CLASSIFIED — INTEL BRIEF — FEB 28 2026

Epic Fury
/ Roar of
the Lion

US–Israel Joint Strike on Iran

Live situation 28 FEB 2026 · Z+00:00 Joint Military Operation

The United States and Israel launched a coordinated preemptive military operation against Iran, striking 30+ locations including nuclear facilities, missile sites, and command infrastructure across Tehran, Isfahan, Natanz, Fordo, Qom, Karaj, and Tabriz. Iran has declared an emergency and launched a first wave of retaliatory missiles toward Israel.

// Current Status

Sitrep

Strike Phase
ACTIVE
Ongoing
Iranian Response
LAUNCHED
Wave 1 fired
Israel Airspace
CLOSED
Civilian flights halted
Israel Home Front
EMERGENCY
Nationwide declared
Khamenei
RELOCATED
Secure bunker
IR Sirens North
SOUNDING
~08:15 local time
30+
Sites Struck
2
Nuclear Facilities Hit
8
Cities Targeted
1
Retaliation Wave
// Operation Overview

Mission Brief

⚡
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE: Israel and the United States launched what both governments described as a preventive operation to eliminate imminent threats from Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Trump framed the goal as ensuring Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon."
Operation Parameters
US Op Name Operation Epic Fury (Pentagon confirmed) IL Op Name Operation Roar of the Lion (Netanyahu) Date February 28, 2026 Coalition United States Armed Forces + Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Strike Vector Air strikes + Naval sea-launched missiles (joint) US Declared "Major combat operations" — President Trump IL Declared "Preemptive attack to remove threats" — Min. Katz Primary Objective Destroy nuclear infrastructure, missile production, command nodes Strategic Goal Regime pressure + nuclear program elimination

"A short time ago the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."

— President Donald Trump, February 28, 2026 (via Truth Social)

"Israel has attacked Iran in a preemptive strike intended to remove threats to the State of Israel. A special state of emergency has been declared on the home front throughout the entire territory of the country."

— Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz, February 28, 2026
// Confirmed Strike Locations

Target Map

🎯
Tehran — City Center
Near Supreme Leader Khamenei's Office · Capital
Command
☢️
Natanz Nuclear Facility
Underground uranium enrichment centrifuges · Isfahan Province
Nuclear
☢️
Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant
Deep underground enrichment bunker · Qom Province
Nuclear
💥
Isfahan
Nuclear research complex + military infrastructure
Confirmed
🚀
Shahrud
Ballistic missile production & test facility
Missile
💥
Karaj
Defense & military industrial complex
Confirmed
💥
Qom
Strategic religious & military command center
Confirmed
💥
Kermanshah · Lorestan · Tabriz
Military bases & infrastructure across western/northern Iran
Confirmed
⚠ Sources indicate ~30 locations total were targeted. Several senior Iranian military figures were also targeted in the strikes.
// Hour by Hour · Feb 28, 2026 (Israel/Iran Local)

Timeline

PRE-DAWN · CLASSIFIED
Final go-ahead given. US and Israeli intelligence brief confirms Iranian nuclear program is days away from weapons-grade enriched uranium stockpile sufficient for at least one bomb. Final operational authorization issued.
EARLY MORNING · IRAN TIME
First explosions in Tehran. Massive blasts reported near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and in eastern districts of the capital. Smoke rises over the city skyline. Residents wake to shockwaves.
~DAWN
Multi-city strike wave confirmed. Explosions simultaneously reported in Isfahan (nuclear complex), Karaj, Qom, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Tabriz. Iranian media goes dark on several channels.
EARLY MORNING
Israel Defence Minister Katz confirms strikes. Declares "preemptive attack to remove threats to the State of Israel." Simultaneously declares nationwide state of emergency on the home front. All educational activities and public gatherings banned.
MORNING · TRUTH SOCIAL
Trump posts video announcement. "The United States military began major combat operations in Iran." Vows to destroy Iran's missiles and "raze their missile industry to the ground." Frames goal as preventing Iran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. Hints at regime change as strategic objective.
~08:15 ISRAEL TIME
Air raid sirens sound in northern Israel. Iranian missile launches detected. IDF and Home Front Command alert all residents in north to enter bomb shelters immediately. Magen David Adom reports no injuries from first wave.
MORNING · TEHRAN
Khamenei relocated to secure location. Supreme Leader moved to undisclosed bunker as strikes hit areas near his offices. Iranian state television goes to emergency broadcast protocols.
IRAN RESPONSE
IRGC announces retaliatory strike. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declares "the first wave of widespread missile and drone attacks against Israel has begun." Iranian official vows response will be "crushing."
ISRAEL AIRSPACE
Total civilian airspace closure. Israel Airports Authority announces complete suspension of civilian flights. Iron Dome and Arrow systems on full alert across the country.
ONGOING · FEB 28 2026
Situation fluid. US naval and air assets engaged. World leaders issue statements. UN Security Council emergency session called. Oil markets surge globally. Civilian casualties in Iran unknown — media access restricted.
// Strategic Context — Nuclear Threat

The Nuclear Trigger

Iranian Nuclear Program — February 2026 Assessment
Iran's uranium enrichment program had reached a critical threshold by late February 2026. Trump's special envoy stated Iran was approximately one week away from having sufficient enriched uranium to construct at least one nuclear bomb.
NatanzUnderground centrifuge halls — two US strike impact holes confirmed above enrichment halls FordoDeeply buried enrichment plant — access roads & entrance hit; operational status unknown IsfahanMajor nuclear research complex — entrances being sealed per satellite imagery IAEA StatusMonitoring suspended; multiple emergency updates issued Enrichment LevelNear weapons-grade; days from breakout according to US intelligence
Background: Iran on the Brink
Since December 2025, Iran has been wracked by nationwide anti-regime protests — the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution — triggered by economic collapse, the catastrophic devaluation of the rial, and skyrocketing prices. Calls for regime change grew louder. Meanwhile, CSIS satellite imagery and multiple intelligence assessments showed Iran racing to rebuild and protect its nuclear and missile programs, sealing underground facility entrances to prevent future strikes and conducting activity near damaged sites.
// International Response

World Reaction

🇨🇳
China
Critical / Opposed
"China opposes any infringement upon Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes any escalation of tensions." Beijing — facing disruption to discounted Iranian oil supplies and Belt & Road overland routes — called for immediate restraint while instructing citizens to leave the region.
🇷🇺
Russia
Ambiguous / Mediator posture
Moscow issued condemnations while privately calculating a short-term oil revenue windfall from surging prices. Russia is attempting to walk a tightrope: strategic partnership with Tehran vs. mediator positioning between Iran and the US. Analysts note the strikes harm Russia's CRINK axis.
🇺🇳
United Nations
Emergency Session Called
UN Security Council emergency session convened. Secretary-General called for maximum restraint from all parties and expressed grave concern over civilian casualties and regional escalation risk. De-escalation demands issued.
🛢️
Oil Markets
Surging Prices
Global oil prices surged sharply on fears of Strait of Hormuz disruption. Iran controls a key chokepoint for global oil transport. Russia and Iran had already been slashing prices to China as markets anticipated conflict. Analysts warn of sustained disruption if conflict escalates.
🇮🇷
Iran
Retaliating
IRGC declared the "first wave of widespread missile and drone attacks" has begun against Israel. Iranian officials vow the response will be "crushing." State media confirmed strikes on multiple cities while restricting independent reporting. Civilian death toll unknown.
🇮🇱
Israel
Initiator — Defensive posture
Israel frames strikes as preemptive self-defense. Nationwide emergency declared. Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow missile defenses activated. No casualties reported from first Iranian wave. Airspace closed. Schools, workplaces shut. Population ordered to shelter.
// Analysis

What Comes Next

Escalation Scenarios
CRITICAL RISKIranian second and third retaliation waves with Shahab-3 / Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles targeting Israeli cities, US bases in region HIGH RISKHezbollah activation from Lebanon, Houthi missile barrages from Yemen, Shia militia attacks on US forces in Iraq/Syria HIGH RISKStrait of Hormuz closure — blocking ~20% of global oil supply, triggering energy crisis POSSIBLEDiplomatic off-ramp via Oman or Turkey mediation; limited exchange followed by ceasefire talks WILDCARDInternal Iranian regime collapse accelerated by protest movements already shaking the government since Dec 2025
📡
NUCLEAR AMBIGUITY: Despite Trump claiming nuclear sites were "obliterated," early assessments and satellite imagery suggest Iran's program may remain partially operational. IAEA has lost access and cannot confirm destruction extent. Iran was actively sealing underground facilities against future strikes even before this attack.