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"OPERATION EPIC FURY":

U.S. and Israel Strike Iran in Largest Joint Operation in Its History

Khamenei's whereabouts unknown — 201 killed in Iran — Missiles over Israel, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait

🗓️ Saturday, February 28, 2026   |   🕐 Last updated: 17.55:50 p.m. (Argentine time)   |   ⏱️ Reading Time: 6 minutes   |   ✍️ International Editorial Team

The Middle East woke up to war. In the early hours of Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched the most devastating coordinated attack in their joint history against Iran: the so-called "Operation Epic Fury" — called "Lion's Roar" by Israeli forces — hit more than 500 military, nuclear, and intelligence targets across six Iranian cities with hundreds of aircraft. Iran responded with an unprecedented counterattack: successive waves of missiles and drones hit Israel and U.S. bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. At press time, the situation remains in a state of maximum escalation and the fate of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the subject of intense international speculation.

⚔️ "Operation Epic Fury" and "Lion's Roar": anatomy of the attack

At dawn on Saturday, Israeli fighter jets — F-35, F-15, F-16 and F-22, accompanied by electronic warfare aircraft and radar planes — crossed the region's airspace and unleashed what Netanyahu himself called "the largest offensive in the history of the State of Israel." According to the Israeli Defense Ministry statement, more than 200 fighter jets were involved in the strikes and approximately 500 targets were hit, including air defense systems, missile launchers, nuclear program facilities and intelligence centers.

The targets hit included Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's residential and working complex in the heart of Tehran, the Supreme National Security Council, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and various Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities. The affected cities were Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Tabriz, Karaj and Kermanshah, according to media from both countries and international news agencies.

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. involvement through a video posted on social media, monitoring the operation from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. He said the campaign is aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, adding that Tehran had continued to develop missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. He also urged the Iranian people to "take control of their government." The Pentagon confirmed that no U.S. combat casualties were recorded during the initial phase of the operation.

🔥 Did Khamenei die? The question that paralyzes the world

The point of greatest tension and uncertainty of the day revolves around the whereabouts and state of health of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the cameras that there are "many indications" that Khamenei is no longer alive, after confirming that the joint forces destroyed "the tyrant's compound in the heart of Tehran". Israeli television channels said that both Trump and Netanyahu had seen a photograph of the ayatollah's body.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi assured in a live interview with NBC News that the supreme leader is alive: "As far as I know, the supreme leader is alive," he said from Tehran. Iranian intelligence sources quoted by France24 indicated that Khamenei was moved to a safe place before the start of the attacks. Among the deceased confirmed by Israeli sources is Ali Shamkhani, Khamenei's key adviser and a central figure in Iran's nuclear programme, although Tehran has not corroborated this either.

Netanyahu, for his part, called on the Iranian people on Saturday to "rise up and overthrow the regime", in what analysts read as confirmation that the political objective of the operation is not only military but also regime change, in line with Trump's statements.

🚀 Iran's retaliation: missiles over Israel and US bases across the region

Hours after the start of the bombings, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the beginning of its counteroffensive: successive waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeted Israel and US military bases in several Gulf countries. By Saturday night, the Israeli army reported the sixth wave of projectiles launched from Iranian territory, with air alert sirens activating in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities in the north and center of the country.

The targets of the Iranian retaliation included the Al Udeid base in Qatar — the largest U.S. base in the region — the Al Salem base in Kuwait, the Al Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates, and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Iran announced that any base in the region that "supports Israel will be targeted." Kuwait and Qatar announced that they reserve the right to respond to Iranian attacks on their territories. Jordan reported shooting down 13 ballistic missiles and 36 drones heading for its territory.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the damage to its bases was slight and did not disrupt operations. The FBI raised the national anti-terrorism alert level, while the Department of Homeland Security urged U.S. citizens around the world to "exercise extreme caution."

💀 Victims: At least 201 killed in Iran, dozens of girls in school

The Iranian Red Crescent confirmed at least 201 dead and 747 wounded as a result of the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian territory, although local officials warn that the real toll could be significantly higher. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced on social networks that one of the missiles directly hit a girls' primary school in the city of Minab, Hormozgan province, in the south of the country. Later reports raised the number of minors killed in that specific attack to 51.

The U.S. CENTCOM confirmed that there were no U.S. casualties in the initial phase. Israel has so far not reported any civilians killed by Iranian missiles on its territory, attributing the results to the effectiveness of the Iron Dome defence system, although it acknowledged that the "defence is not airtight" and called on the population to maintain the instructions of the Home Front Command.

🌍 International reactions: between condemnation and support

The international community reacted quickly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called an emergency meeting of the Security Council and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities. Russia described the attacks as a "planned and unprovoked act of aggression" against a sovereign state and demanded a return to diplomatic channels. Vladimir Putin urgently convened his Security Council. China also condemned the bombings.

Spain and France demanded de-escalation and respect for international humanitarian law. Turkey announced that it will not allow the use of its airspace. Saudi Arabia declared itself ready for "any measure" along with the Gulf countries. The African Union condemned Iran's missile attacks on the territories of Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, calling them a "violation of sovereignty." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Trump's decision to initiate military hostilities "violates the Constitution" without congressional authorization. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine called it a "colossal mistake."

Trump spoke by phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The president said he could withdraw "in two or three days" if the Iranians take control of his government, although his advisers confirmed that the operation will last at least four days.

✈️ The impact on the global economy and air transport

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil exceeded 110 dollars in the reference markets due to fears of a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil circulates. The U.S. government urged commercial vessels to avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Air France, Lufthansa and other European and Asian airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh. Iran announced the closure of all its universities until further notice.

📌 Context: Why now?

The escalation did not come out of nowhere. On February 27 — just one day before the attacks — new U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, mediated by Oman, concluded in Geneva. According to later reconstructions, Washington would have demanded the dismantling of Iran's three main nuclear sites — Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz — and the export of all enriched uranium. The IAEA had confirmed that Iran possessed uranium enriched to 60%, just steps short of the threshold needed to make a nuclear weapon. The breakdown of negotiations without an agreement would have precipitated the decision to attack.

In the history of the confrontation between Trump and Iran, it should be recalled that in January 2020 the then-president ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. In June 2025, during twelve days of open war between Israel and Iran, the US had already bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. "Operation Epic Fury" represents, according to analysts, a qualitative leap of enormous magnitude compared to those previous episodes.

⚠️ DEVELOPING NOTE — Updated with each official confirmation

⏱️ Reading time: 6 minutes • 🗓️ 28/02/2026 — 17:55 hs • International Newsroom

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