US and Israel Attack Iran - Has Trump Launched a New War in the Middle East?
•February 28, 2026
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Why It Matters
The confrontation could trigger a broader regional war, jeopardizing global oil supplies and destabilizing diplomatic efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Key Takeaways
- •US and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran
- •Targets included Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, and a girls' school
- •Iran retaliated, closing Strait of Hormuz and striking Gulf bases
- •Casualty reported in Abu Dhabi from falling debris
- •Conflict risks broader regional war and oil market disruption
Pulse Analysis
The joint US‑Israel operation marks a rare moment of overt military coordination against Iran, reflecting a shift from covert cyber and proxy tactics to direct kinetic action. Historically, Washington has relied on Israeli intelligence and airpower to pressure Tehran, but naming the missions—Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury—signals a public escalation. Analysts note that such strikes, if verified, could undermine the fragile balance achieved through the 2023 nuclear talks, prompting Tehran to reassess its strategic calculus and potentially accelerate its missile development programs.
Beyond the immediate battlefield, the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz carries outsized economic implications. The narrow waterway channels roughly a third of global oil shipments; any disruption instantly inflates crude prices and forces traders to seek alternative routes, raising shipping costs worldwide. Energy markets are already jittery, and a sustained shutdown could trigger a spike in gasoline prices across Europe and Asia, pressuring central banks already grappling with inflation. Moreover, the threat to U.S. installations in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan underscores the vulnerability of forward‑deployed forces and may prompt a reassessment of force posture in the Gulf.
Diplomatically, the episode tests the resilience of regional alliances and the efficacy of multilateral institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while wary of Iranian aggression, are unlikely to endorse a direct confrontation that could spill over into their territories. Meanwhile, European powers, still engaged in diplomatic outreach with Tehran, may push for emergency UN Security Council deliberations to avert a full‑scale war. The United States faces a delicate balancing act: demonstrating resolve without triggering an uncontrolled escalation that could draw in Russia or China, both of whom have vested interests in a stable Middle East energy corridor. The next weeks will likely determine whether this flashpoint becomes a protracted conflict or a catalyst for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Original Description
Israel called it 'Operation Roaring Lion', the United States called it 'Operation Epic Fury'.
Whatever the name, today's attack could forever change the Middle East and risks a forever war of the kind Donald Trump had vowed to end.
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It began with American and Israeli strikes targeting government buildings in Iran's capital, Tehran, including the Supreme Leader's compound as well as sites across western Iran, including Karaj, Qom, Isfahan, Shiraz and Kermanshah.
Donald Trump's threat to take out the Iranian navy was backed by explosions heard in the southern port cities of Bushehr and Chabahar.
Iranian media said a girls school was hit in the southern city of Minab, killing dozens.
Iran hit back quickly at Israel, triggering air defences and sirens across the country.
It also appears to have closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, and says it fired missiles at all the American bases in the Gulf, including in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan.
So far one casualty has been confirmed from falling debris in Abu Dhabi.
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