On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran, beginning a major conflict in the Middle East. The strikes targeted Iranian missile systems, air defense networks, and military bases across the country, with the goal of weakening and limiting Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. This quickly triggered retaliation from Iran against U.S. and allied targets in the region.
During the first day of the operation, hundreds of aircraft from the United States and Israel carried out large-scale airstrikes across Iran within the first 12 hours, targeting military facilities and buildings, as reported by CNN News. According to reports from multiple sources, including Reuters, nearly 900 strikes were carried out, which hit missile launch sites, defense systems, and military command centers.
The initial attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the nation since 1989. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward U.S. bases and allied targets throughout the region, including military installations and infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.
The attacks in Iran led to strong opposition in the U.S. over the violence. In one case, Mary Clare Jalonick with The Associated Press reported that on March 4th, U.S. Marine veteran and Senate candidate Brian C. McGinnis interrupted a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing in protest of the war in Iran. Clare Jalonick reported that McGinnis shouted opposition to U.S. involvement before being removed by Capitol Police. During this, McGinnis sustained a broken arm after it became caught in a door while resisting removal. He was later arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to the incident.
On March 8th, International Relations Insights & Analysis (IRIA), a research institute that focuses on international peace and security, reported that Iranian officials appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. According to Rebecca Schneid, Kay Armin Serjoie, and Fatemeh Jamalpour of TIME, airstrikes targeted fuel depots and oil infrastructure in Tehran, which caused large fires and heavy smoke across parts of the city. While both sides have maintained active military operations, the conflict has resulted in over 1,444 deaths reported by Aljazeera News.
The conflict remains ongoing as of March 18th, with continued military strikes between both Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance. A Washington Post article by Ellen Nakashima, Warren Strobel, and Susannah George suggests that large-scale initial strikes have slowed, but both sides still continue to exchange targeted attacks. Despite the leadership transition to Mojtaba Khamenei, tensions remain high, and there are concerns that the conflict could expand further if conditions worsen.
