- February 28, 2026
- 8:44 pm
- Middle East
The situation around Iran has rapidly transitioned into a phase of open military confrontation. According to an official statement by a representative of the Israel Defense Forces, in the morning, the Israeli Air Force conducted a large-scale operation against military targets of the Iranian regime — the largest in the history of Israeli aviation.
This is a coordinated strike that simultaneously altered the balance of power in the region and became one of the most discussed military events in recent years in the Middle East.
Scale of the operation: hundreds of aircraft and hundreds of targets
According to IDF data, about 200 fighter jets, operating under the coordination of the intelligence directorate and the air force command, attacked approximately 500 targets in western and central Iran.
The main targets were:
missile complexes,
launchers,
air and missile defense systems,
elements of military infrastructure related to Tehran’s offensive capabilities.
The Israeli military statement emphasizes that the operation was prepared over a long period and was based on high-precision intelligence information. The aircraft operated synchronously in several areas of Iran, dropping hundreds of munitions almost simultaneously.
According to Israeli military assessments, the destruction of air defense systems significantly expanded air superiority and weakened the key missile potential of the Iranian regime, especially in the western direction of the country.
Strikes continued in the evening
After the official statement, the attacks did not cease. Around 19:00 Israeli time, reports came in about continued strikes on Iranian territory.
Military sources indicate that the operation may have several phases aimed at the sequential suppression of the enemy’s defensive capabilities.
Amidst the ongoing events, the region has effectively been drawn into a chain reaction of mutual attacks.
Retaliatory strikes and expansion of the conflict in the region
According to preliminary data, between 100 to 150 rockets were launched at Israel during the day. The Israeli air defense system intercepted several targets, as well as about ten drones.
Some rockets were destroyed outside of Israel:
13 rockets intercepted in Jordan,
44 rockets and about 10 drones launched at Qatar,
reports of strikes also came from the areas of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Thus, the conflict has effectively moved beyond a bilateral confrontation and acquired a regional character.
In Israel, only a few minor injuries are reported, while foreign sources report a fatality in Abu Dhabi.
In analytical reviews, including materials from the platform NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, the events are already being considered as the largest military escalation between Israel and Iran in the entire modern history of their confrontation.
Reports of possible elimination of Iranian leadership
Israeli sources suggest that the strikes may have eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.
Simultaneously, unofficial reports from Iran suggest the death of members of Khamenei’s family. At the time of publication, there is no confirmed official data on these claims.
Casualties, international reaction, and emergency UN meeting
The Iranian Red Crescent reported on Saturday evening that at least 201 people were killed and another 747 injured as a result of a series of Israeli and American strikes.
According to the organization, 24 out of 31 provinces in the country were attacked, and all regional services have been put on high alert. This is the first official assessment of the consequences of the morning strikes.
The international community has already begun a diplomatic response.
The IAEA has called for immediate restraint from the parties, warning of the risks of further escalation around facilities related to nuclear infrastructure.
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is scheduled for around 23:00 Israeli time.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that diplomatic mechanisms must once again take center stage in resolving the crisis.
Events are developing rapidly, and the coming hours may determine whether the conflict remains a limited military operation or escalates into a broader regional crisis, the consequences of which will affect the security of the entire Middle East and the global system of international relations.
