US, Israel launch ‘major combat operations’ in Iran

The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.

Some of the first strikes appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , and Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices at the time of the strike.

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said in a video announcing “major combat operations” were underway. “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that sweeping goal. “Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” Netanyahu said.

The strikes opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran and marked the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has used military force against the Islamic Republic . They also came just weeks after Trump ordered a military operation to capture Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and bring him and his wife to New York to face federal drug conspiracy charges.

The operation also comes as tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region, and Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program at a moment when the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

Iran responded as it had been threatening to do for months — first launching a wave of missiles and drones targeting Israel. It followed with strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The United Arab Emirates and Iraq shut down their airspace.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement, saying that the country “will not hesitate” in its response. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.”

Forty people were reported killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran in the Israeli-U.S. strikes, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. At least 45 others were wounded in the attack in Minab in Iran’s Hormozgan province.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on reported strike on the school.

Four people were also killed by an Iranian missile striking a building in Syria’s southern city of Sweida, according to Syrian state television.

Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital of the UAE killed one person, state media said.

The USS Gerald R. Ford departs from Souda Naval Base in Crete, Greece, Feb. 26, 2026. (Giannis Angelakis/AP)

Attack was coordinated between Israel and US

The attacks came after weeks of the U.S. military massing forces in the region even as U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks in Switzerland and Oman aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to head off American military operation.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, a key mediator in the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, said in a post on X that he was dismayed that U.S. and Israel moved forward with the operation.

“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” said al-Busaidi, who traveled to Washington on Friday to meet with Vice President JD Vance for talks. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer. I urge the United States not to get sucked in further.”

Israel said the operation was carried out as a “broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime” that has been planned for months between the Israeli and U.S. militaries.

Trump, in justifying the military action, claimed that Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach the U.S.

He also acknowledged that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.”

It was a notable call on Americans to brace themselves from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an “America First” platform and vowed to keep out of “forever wars” that had bogged down his recent predecessors.

Trump’s statement indicated the U.S. was striking for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East into a fierce foe.

The U.S. president said he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran.

He also called on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down its arms, pledging that members would be given immunity, while warning they would face “certain death” if they didn’t.

“They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump said.

Trump had threatened military action — but held off — following Iran’s recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances and evolved into a nationwide, anti-government push against the ruling clerics.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed more than 7,000 deaths in the crackdown and that it is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed, though it has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest.

Iran has said it hasn’t enriched since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran on Jan. 24, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

Iran currently has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile program, limiting their range to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). That puts all the Mideast and some of Eastern Europe in their range. There is no public evidence of Iran seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticized its space program as potentially allowing it to one day.

Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

The strikes could also have a huge impact on global markets, particularly if Iran is able to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic. More than 14 million barrels per day of oil passed through the strait in 2025, about a third of total worldwide oil exports transported by sea.

Strikes hit targets across Iran

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital.

Khamenei has not made a public appearance in recent days and wasn’t immediately seen after. During the 12-day war in June, he was believed to have been taken to a secure location away from his Tehran compound.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.

More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Hours after the strikes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it was working to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the ongoing attack.

Meanwhile, Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could be also be heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

Iraqi officials also reported a drone strike hit a headquarters of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq, killing two people and wounding three Saturday. The group had earlier threatened to enter the fray should Iran come under attack. An Israeli military official said Israel was not aware of any Israeli strikes on Kataib Hezbollah headquarters in Iraq.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they told staffers to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice.”

周六，美国和以色列对伊朗发动了一次重大袭击，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普呼吁伊朗民众“掌握自己的命运”，起来反抗自 1979 年以来统治该国的伊斯兰领导层。

最初的几起袭击似乎都集中在最高领袖阿亚图拉·阿里·哈梅内伊的办​​公室附近，伊朗媒体报道称全国各地都发生了袭击。首都上空可以看到浓烟升起。目前尚不清楚这位86岁的领袖在袭击发生时是否在办公室。

“等我们完事之后，你们就接管你们的政府。它将归你们所有。这可能是你们几代人唯一的机会，”特朗普在一段宣布“重大作战行动”正在进行的视频中说道。“多年来，你们一直请求美国的帮助，但你们从未得到过。”

以色列总理内塔尼亚胡也表达了同样的宏伟目标。内塔尼亚胡说：“我们的联合行动将为勇敢的伊朗人民创造条件，让他们能够掌握自己的命运。”

此次空袭开启了美国干预伊朗的惊人新篇章，也是特朗普政府八个月内第二次对伊朗动用武力。就在几周前，特朗普下令发动军事行动，抓捕委内瑞拉总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗，并将其及其妻子押送至纽约，面临联邦毒品阴谋指控。

此次行动正值近几周来紧张局势急剧升级之际，美国军舰已进入该地区，而特朗普表示，他希望达成一项限制伊朗核计划的协议，此时伊朗国内正因全国范围内的抗议活动而面临日益增长的异议。

伊朗的回应正如其数月来一直威胁的那样——首先向以色列发射了一波导弹和无人机。随后，伊朗又袭击了位于巴林、科威特和卡塔尔的美国军事设施。阿联酋和伊拉克关闭了领空。

伊朗外交部发表了一份措辞强硬的声明，称该国“绝不犹豫”地予以回应。该部在X网站上发布的声明中表示：“现在是保卫祖国、对抗敌人军事进攻的时候了。”

据伊朗官方通讯社伊通社报道，以色列和美国对伊朗南部一所女子学校发动空袭，造成40人死亡。另有至少45人在霍尔木兹甘省米纳布镇的袭击中受伤。

白宫尚未就有关学校罢工的报道作出回应。

据叙利亚国家电视台报道，一枚伊朗导弹击中叙利亚南部城市苏韦达的一栋建筑物，造成四人死亡。

阿联酋国家媒体称，伊朗导弹袭击阿联酋首都后，弹片造成一人死亡。

2026年2月26日，美国海军“杰拉尔德·R·福特”号航空母舰离开希腊克里特岛苏达海军基地。（Giannis Angelakis/AP）

此次袭击是由以色列和美国协调组织的。

袭击发生前数周，美国军方一直在该地区集结兵力，与此同时，美国和伊朗特使在瑞士和阿曼举行会谈，旨在寻求外交解决方案，以阻止美国的军事行动。

阿曼外交部长巴德尔·布赛迪是美伊核谈判的关键调解人，他在X网站上发帖称，他对美国和以色列推进该行动感到失望。

“积极而严肃的谈判再次遭到破坏，”布赛迪说道。他于周五前往华盛顿与副总统万斯会面商谈。“这既不利于美国的利益，也不利于世界和平事业。我为那些将遭受苦难的无辜者祈祷。我敦促美国不要进一步卷入其中。”

以色列方面表示，此次行动是“针对该政权的广泛、协调和联合行动”，是以色列和美国军方筹划数月的行动。

特朗普在为军事行动辩护时声称，伊朗一直在发展其核计划，并计划研制能够打到美国的导弹。

他还承认可能会有美军伤亡，并表示“战争中经常会发生这种情况”。

这是美国领导人发出的一项引人注目的呼吁，他呼吁美国民众做好准备。这位领导人以“美国优先”的纲领上台，并誓言要避免卷入令其前任们深陷泥潭的“无休止的战争”。

特朗普的声明表明，美国发动打击的原因远远超出了核计划本身，列举了可以追溯到1979年伊朗革命后伊斯兰共和国成立之初的种种不满。这场革命使伊朗从美国在中东最亲密的盟友之一变成了美国最强大的敌人。

美国总统表示，他的目标是“摧毁”伊朗海军，并消灭德黑兰支持的地区代理人。

他还呼吁伊朗革命卫队放下武器，承诺给予成员豁免权，同时警告说，如果他们不这样做，将面临“必死无疑”的命运。

“他们拒绝了每一次放弃核野心的机会，我们不能再容忍下去了，”特朗普说。

在伊朗最近镇压了由经济不满引发的抗议活动，并演变成一场全国性的反政府运动，反对执政的宗教人士之后，特朗普曾威胁要采取军事行动，但最终没有采取行动。

人权活动人士通讯社称，已确认镇压行动造成7000多人死亡，并正在调查另有数千人死亡。政府承认有3000多人死亡，但对以往动乱造成的死亡人数有所低估或未予报告。

伊朗声称自6月以来未进行浓缩铀活动，但却阻止国际核查人员前往当年美军在为期12天的战争中轰炸过的地点。美联社分析的卫星照片显示，其中两个地点出现了新的活动，表明伊朗正试图评估并可能回收那里的铀矿。

这张由Maxar Technologies提供的卫星图像显示了2025年1月24日位于伊朗的福尔多浓缩铀设施。（Maxar Technologies via AP）

伊朗目前对其弹道导弹计划设定了自主限制，将其射程限制在2000公里（1240英里）以内。这使得整个中东地区和部分东欧地区在其射程之内。虽然华盛顿批评伊朗的太空计划可能使其有朝一日拥有洲际弹道导弹，但目前尚无公开证据表明伊朗寻求发展洲际弹道导弹。

伊朗曾希望避免战争，但坚持认为它有权浓缩铀，并且不愿讨论其他问题，例如其远程导弹计划或对哈马斯和真主党等武装团体的支持。

此次袭击也可能对全球市场产生巨大影响，尤其是在伊朗能够使霍尔木兹海峡对商业航运构成威胁的情况下。预计到2025年，每天将有超过1400万桶石油经由该海峡运输，约占全球海运石油出口总量的三分之一。

空袭目标遍布伊朗

伊朗媒体报道称，全国各地都发生了袭击。通往德黑兰市中心哈梅内伊官邸的道路已被当局封锁，首都其他地区也响起了爆炸声。

哈梅内伊近日未公开露面，此后也未立即露面。在6月份为期12天的战争期间，据信他被转移到远离其德黑兰住所的安全地点。

在德黑兰，目击者听到哈梅内伊办公室附近传来第一声爆炸声。伊朗国家电视台随后报道了这起爆炸事件，但没有说明爆炸原因。

以色列宣布对伊朗发动袭击后，伊朗首都发生更多爆炸。当局尚未公布袭击造成的人员伤亡情况。

据一位了解此次行动的官员透露，以色列此次行动的目标包括伊朗军队、政府象征和情报目标。这位官员因需讨论有关此次袭击的非公开信息而要求匿名。

袭击发生数小时后，伊朗准军事部队革命卫队宣布对以色列发动“第一波”无人机和导弹袭击。以色列随即发布全国警告，军方称正在努力拦截来袭的伊朗导弹。目前尚无关于此次袭击造成人员伤亡或财产损失的消息。

与此同时，巴林方面称，一枚导弹袭击了位于该岛国境内的美国海军第五舰队总部。目击者称，美国陆军中央司令部所在地科威特也听到了警报声和爆炸声。卡塔尔方面也听到了爆炸声。

伊拉克和阿拉伯联合酋长国关闭了领空，约旦拉响了警报。

伊拉克官员还报告称，周六一架无人机袭击了伊朗支持的伊拉克真主党旅的总部，造成两人死亡、三人受伤。该组织此前曾威胁，如果伊朗遭到攻击，他们将介入战斗。一名以色列军方官员表示，以色列方面并不知晓以色列对伊拉克真主党旅总部发动的任何袭击。

与此同时，据两名胡塞武装高级官员透露，伊朗支持的也门胡塞武装誓言恢复对红海航运路线和以色列的袭击。由于胡塞武装领导层尚未发表官方声明，这两名官员要求匿名。

美国驻卡塔尔、阿拉伯联合酋长国和以色列的大使馆或领事馆在社交媒体上发布消息称，他们已告知工作人员就地避难，并建议所有美国人“在另行通知之前也这样做”。