Lead: On Feb. 28, 2026, following coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Tehran launched widespread retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and at Israel, prompting civilian alerts, embassy shelter-in-place orders and an emergency U.N. Security Council session. Officials in the region reported at least one fatality in Abu Dhabi and damage to infrastructure around several bases; Iran and allied groups said they targeted U.S. military sites. President Trump publicly framed the strikes as necessary to halt Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and urged Iranian forces to stand down while calling for regime change.
Key takeaways
- The joint U.S.-Israeli operation began early Feb. 28, 2026; the U.S. labeled its phase “Operation Epic Fury” while Israel called its action “The Roar of the Lion.”
- Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. bases across the region, with state media reporting strikes in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan and Iraq; the UAE reported one death in Abu Dhabi.
- The IAEA said it was closely monitoring developments and reported no evidence of a radiological impact so far; Rafael Grossi had warned earlier in February about remaining enriched material in Iran from 2025.
- Airspace closures and cancellations affected Israel, Iran and Iraq; several airlines suspended flights and U.S. embassies issued shelter-in-place notices, with the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain declaring a closure for March 1, 2026.
- Diplomatic channels were strained: Omani and E3 (France, Germany, U.K.) officials urged restraint and called for resumed negotiations; an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting was convened for the afternoon of Feb. 28.
- Pre-conflict polling by CBS News showed a divided U.S. public on military action and a shift toward supporting force to prevent nuclear weaponization after President Trump’s Feb. 24 State of the Union address.
- Estimates cited by Israeli officials put Iran’s ballistic missile inventory in the high hundreds to low thousands; U.S. naval deployments included at least two aircraft carriers and multiple escort ships positioned near the region as of Feb. 26, 2026.
Background
Tensions between Tehran and Washington (and Israel) have repeatedly surged over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic-missile activities. In June 2025, U.S. airstrikes hit three Iranian nuclear facilities; international monitors later reported that substantial quantities of enriched uranium remained, complicating nonproliferation assessments. Since then, the U.S. and Iran conducted multiple rounds of indirect talks in Oman and Switzerland in February 2026 aimed at a nuclear-limited agreement, while Israel has pushed for broader curbs on missiles and proxy support.
President Trump linked his administration’s posture to both Iran’s domestic repression and its regional posture. In late 2025 and early 2026 Iran faced large domestic protests; monitoring groups and some reporting described thousands of protest fatalities, and the president amplified competing casualty figures while urging support for anti-regime forces. Parallel to diplomacy, the U.S. repositioned naval and air assets to the region in February, signaling readiness for kinetic options if negotiations stalled.
Main event
In the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out strikes across Iran targeting military and nuclear-related sites, according to officials briefed publicly by both governments. Iranian authorities described the attacks as violations of their sovereignty and said civilian and defense infrastructure were hit. Iran’s armed forces responded with a broad missile and drone campaign; the Israeli military reported intercepting many threats while Iran and its state media claimed strikes on multiple Gulf states and U.S. bases.
Air defenses were seen launching interceptors near Erbil in northern Iraq, and explosions were reported in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. Bahrain announced evacuations near the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters after reports said missiles targeted that facility. Israeli sirens and cellphone alerts sounded across Israel as officials ordered shelters. Commercial flights to affected cities were canceled and a near-total internet blackout was reported in Iran by network monitors.
Within hours, world leaders issued contrasting responses: some, including France, Germany and the U.K., called for negotiations and restraint; others, such as Canada and Australia, expressed support for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The U.N. secretary-general urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and called for de-escalation to avert broader regional consequences.
Analysis & implications
The immediate consequence is a heightened risk of a multi-front regional conflict: strikes that damage Iran’s capabilities could prompt retaliatory measures by Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, multiplying the theaters of confrontation. The claims of targeting U.S. bases raise the prospect of U.S. force responding beyond Iranian territory, which could entangle partner states and complicate coalition unity.
Diplomatically, the strikes undermine ongoing indirect talks that mediators said had achieved measurable progress. Negotiators from Oman and Geneva described incremental concessions that interlocutors hoped would limit enrichment and increase verification; the attacks now make resuming trust-based diplomacy substantially harder in the near term. International actors who sought a negotiated solution will face increased pressure to either back punitive measures or intensify mediation to prevent escalation.
From a proliferation standpoint, the strikes may have mixed effects. A severe kinetic blow could degrade some operational infrastructure but also incentivize Tehran to further disperse or harden sensitive activities, and to accelerate clandestine steps if leaders conclude deterrence is insufficient. The IAEA’s early statement that it has seen no radiological impact is important, but the agency’s February warnings about remaining enriched material underscore the technical risks.
Comparison & data
| Event | Date | Main targets | Reported impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2025 U.S. strikes | June 2025 | Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan nuclear sites | Significant facility damage; IAEA: much enriched material still present |
| Feb. 28, 2026 U.S.-Israel strikes | Feb. 28, 2026 | Military and nuclear-related sites across Iran | Wide Iranian missile/drones retaliation; at least one civilian fatality in Abu Dhabi reported; full casualty tally unconfirmed |
The table contrasts the earlier, narrowly targeted campaign on nuclear facilities with the broader Feb. 28 operation and its region-wide repercussions. Analysts note that while 2025 strikes focused on facilities, the most recent assault appears to include leadership and ballistic-missile-related targets, increasing risks of direct counterstrikes on military installations across the Gulf.
Reactions & quotes
“I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
António Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General (official)
“We are undertaking a massive operation to prevent this regime from threatening America and our national security interests. We will destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry.”
President Donald J. Trump (social media statement)
“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this.”
Badr Albusaidi, Omani Foreign Minister (mediator)
Unconfirmed
- Iranian claims that a U.S. or Israeli strike hit a girls elementary school in Minab killing at least 53 students — CBS News and U.S. Central Command had not verified the report at the time of publication.
- Reports that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were directly targeted in the opening strikes remain unverified by independent sources.
- The exact number of military or civilian casualties in Iran and at regional bases, and the full extent of damage to U.S. or allied installations, has not been independently confirmed.
Bottom line
The Feb. 28, 2026 strikes and Iran’s rapid retaliation mark a dangerous escalation with immediate humanitarian and security consequences across the Middle East. The incident has already disrupted civilian life, closed airspace, and prompted emergency diplomatic activity; it raises the odds of spillover into neighboring states and of further proxy attacks.
Near-term scenarios range from a managed de-escalation negotiated under external mediation to a protracted cycle of strikes and counterstrikes that could absorb regional resources and complicate global nonproliferation efforts. Key items to watch are independent verification of reported civilian casualties, the results of the U.N. Security Council session, any congressional actions or briefings in Washington, and whether mediators can re-open a credible diplomatic path.
Sources
- CBS News live updates — U.S. news outlet (primary live reporting source)
- International Atomic Energy Agency — U.N. nuclear watchdog (official)
- United Nations — U.N. statements and Security Council convening (official)
- Associated Press — global wire service (news)
- Reuters — global wire service (news)