The United States and Israel carried out a series of coordinated strikes on multiple locations across Iranian cities on Saturday, setting off powerful explosions and sending thick smoke rising over the capital, Tehran.
The operation followed mounting tensions, with US President Donald Trump voicing dissatisfaction over Iran’s position in ongoing talks surrounding its nuclear and missile programmes.
According to Trump, the objective of the mission was to remove what he called “imminent threats” posed by Iran. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, characterised the move as a “preventive strike” aimed at neutralising potential dangers before they escalate.
In a video shared on his social media platform while spending the weekend at his Florida golf resort, Trump confirmed that American forces had begun what he described as major combat operations inside Iran.
He further stated that the United States intends to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities entirely, declaring that its missile infrastructure would be “obliterated” and warning that its naval forces would also face destruction.
A thick cloud of smoke billowed into the sky after a reported explosion struck Tehran on February 28, 2026. AFP journalists in the city said they heard two powerful blasts that morning and saw heavy smoke rising from central and eastern parts of the Iranian capital. Israel’s defence ministry confirmed it had launched what it called a “preemptive strike” on Iran, as warning sirens rang out in Jerusalem and mobile alerts warned citizens nationwide of an “extremely serious” threat.
US President Donald Trump reportedly told Iran’s military it could choose between “immunity” or “certain death,” while urging the Iranian people that their “hour of freedom” had arrived.
Iranian state television later stated that President Pezeshkian was unharmed, while the Fars news agency reported that seven missile strikes hit the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts of Tehran. An office worker who spoke to AFP anonymously claimed to have seen two Tomahawk missiles flying at low altitude toward their targets. “We first heard a dull sound and thought it was a fighter jet,” the witness said.
Journalists on the ground in Tehran described hearing multiple explosions and seeing large smoke columns rising over the city centre. The health ministry confirmed ambulances were deployed, though there was no immediate word on casualties.
As the strikes unfolded, Iran, Iraq and Israel shut their airspaces to civilian flights. US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain advised American citizens to seek shelter. Sirens also echoed through Jerusalem as Israeli authorities issued emergency phone alerts.
The escalation came amid a significant US military build-up in the Middle East, including the deployment of the USS *Gerald R. Ford*, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, toward Israel’s coastline.
Just a day earlier, the United States and Iran had engaged in talks in Geneva. On Friday, Trump said Iran was “not willing to give us what we have to have.” However, Oman, which facilitated the discussions, presented a more optimistic outlook. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, speaking from Washington after meeting US Vice President JD Vance, said Iran had agreed to halt uranium stockpiling entirely and to convert its existing reserves into fuel, potentially easing concerns over enrichment levels.
A large column of smoke drifted above Tehran on February 28, 2026, after a reported explosion shook the city. AFP journalists said they heard two powerful blasts that morning and saw thick smoke rising from central and eastern districts of the capital. Israel’s defence ministry later confirmed it had carried out what it described as a “preemptive strike” on Iran, as sirens wailed in Jerusalem and mobile alerts warned citizens nationwide of an “extremely serious” threat. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
The military action follows weeks after Iranian authorities forcefully suppressed widespread protests, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Tensions have also been shaped by the 2015 nuclear agreement, under which Iran accepted limits on low-level uranium enrichment — a deal that Donald Trump withdrew the United States from during his first term in office.
The US State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel on Monday for discussions focused on Iran. In an unusual move breaking long-standing tradition, Rubio will make the trip without journalists accompanying him on his aircraft.
**‘Very big problem’**
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump claimed Iran was developing missiles capable of reaching the United States. Rubio later warned that it would pose a “very big problem” if Iran refuses to address its missile programme in negotiations. Tehran, however, maintains that current talks should centre strictly on nuclear matters.
Adding to the pressure, Rubio on Friday placed Iran on a newly created blacklist as a state sponsor of wrongful detentions, citing the imprisonment of US citizens.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying progress would require “seriousness and realism” from the opposing side, cautioning against miscalculations or excessive demands.
Meanwhile, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced it will hold technical talks with Iranian officials on Monday. In a confidential report obtained by AFP, the agency urged Iran to engage in constructive cooperation.
