On Feb. 28, 2026, the United States and Israel worked together to target and bomb Iran’s government, security forces and nuclear and missile sites. President Donald Trump stated in an address later the same day that the United States government’s “objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime” and to ensure Iran does not acquire any nuclear weapons. The Israel Defense Forces claimed they have dropped over 2,000 bombs on Iran since the initial attack during the early hours of the day. The bombings have impacted 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces, military bases, an all-girls elementary school and other government facilities. The death count sits at approximately 1,330 deaths across Iran; anywhere from 40-165 of those deaths are the young girls and staff at the elementary school.
Trump later announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei through a Truth Social post, later confirmed by Iranian state media. His death was a direct result of the U.S.-Israeli attacks. Due to the bombings and threats, Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated and struck 27 U.S. military bases stationed in the Middle East, with at least 52 dead and a few hundred injured. In total, Iran launched 165 missiles at the United Arab Emirates, of which 152 were intercepted by air defenses and 13 fell into the sea; 541 drone attacks were sent out, 506 of which were intercepted, and 35 fell within their own territory. UAE’s Ministry of Defense stated that “some debris fell in scattered areas of the country as a result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles and drones, leading to minor and moderate material damage.” Further damages and deaths are still being assessed due to the ongoing operations still taking place. Trump has warned about larger strikes in the coming weeks, as he believes this could go on for four to five weeks, perhaps longer.
Following Khamenei’s death, a small council of three has stepped forward to handle “state duties” until a new official Supreme Leader is selected. This council is made up of Iranian cleric, politician and Council Member Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, along with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei. On Mar. 8, 2026, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named Iran’s new supreme leader, left to lead the Islamic Republic through its largest crisis in a 47-year span. President Masoud Pezeshkian came forward Sunday to share that Khamenei’s death was an “open declaration of war against Muslims” and that “this tragic event is the greatest trial facing the Islamic world today.” Since the attacks, the capital of Tehran says, they are “not shaken” and have only grown stronger. Press and media have begun covering anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli protests taking place in the streets of Iran.
The Trump administration has no plans to use its petroleum reserve, despite a surge in oil and gas prices following the attacks this weekend. For four consecutive weeks in February, the national average for gasoline was already rising, hitting as high as $3.74 per gallon. However, the attacks have exacerbated the price increase. In California, prices have reached an average of $4.66 per gallon, and in Indiana, $2.79 per gallon, compared to a month ago at $4.35 and $2.72, respectively. The White House says the U.S. Departments of Energy and Treasury will be monitoring the oil markets to maintain prices as much as possible, even though price surges have already taken place. The Trump administration is now receiving backlash about the higher gas prices because affordability and low gas prices were a driving force in the previous presidential elections. 40th governor of California, Gavin Newsom, says, “they’re not doing a damn thing about affordability,” concerning the rising prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli attacks.
