Iran conflict in brief
On Saturday 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran, dubbed ‘Operation Epic Fury’ by President Donald Trump, targeting air defence systems, naval capabilities and, according to US officials, Iran’s nuclear programme.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed as part of the Israeli missile strikes on Tehran targeting high-ranking Iranian officials. His death was confirmed by the Iranian government on 1 March.
Along with Khamenei, Israel’s strikes also killed the IRGC commander, Iran’s defence minister, the chief of staff of the armed forces, and the secretary of Iran’s Security Council. A three-person interim council, comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary and senior cleric Alireza Arafi has assumed power while the Assembly of Experts selects a new supreme leader.
Iran has retaliated swiftly and, by most accounts, more aggressively than markets anticipated.
Missile and drone strikes from Iran have hit UAE territory, including Jebel Ali port, Abu Dhabi port infrastructure and several hotels, as well as targets in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Iran had pre-positioned warheads near regional borders in anticipation of this scenario, suggesting the broader escalation was planned, not improvised.
President Trump stated the ‘overwhelming military offensive’ would continue until the US’s objectives were achieved. Israel launched fresh strikes against both Iran and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon late on Sunday. As of today, there appears to be no real signs of de-escalation.
The military buildup had been visible for weeks. Two US carrier strike groups were deployed to the region — the USS Abraham Lincoln already operating near Iranian waters, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, currently the world’s largest warship, having arrived in theatre after more than 150 US military cargo flights delivered weapons systems and ammunition to the region.
Significantly, the Pentagon had also begun moving some personnel out of the Middle East ahead of the strikes. This is perhaps an operational signal, in retrospect, that strike planning had moved well beyond the theoretical.
