US and Israel Strikes on Iran: A Deepening Crisis
Following a period of escalating tensions, the United States and Israel launched a major joint strike on Iran on February 28, 2026, targeting key infrastructure and figures within the Iranian regime. The attacks have prompted widespread condemnation and raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Reports indicate internet outages across Iran following the strikes, suggesting a deliberate attempt by the government to control information flow.
The Strikes and Their Targets
The coordinated operation, which began shortly after 8 a.m. Israel time, focused on military sites, government symbols, and intelligence targets across Iran. According to an Israeli official, the strikes specifically targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Several senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, and Iranian defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, were similarly reportedly killed [The Times of Israel]. US President Donald Trump announced the beginning of “major combat operations in Iran,” stating the goal was to prevent the development of nuclear weapons and destabilizing actions [The Times of Israel].
International Reactions and Condemnation
The attacks have elicited sharply divided reactions from world leaders. Canada and Australia voiced support for the US action, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization [Fox News]. However, France and Spain have warned of potential escalation and a wider regional war [Fox News]. The United Kingdom stated Iran “must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon” and confirmed it played no role in the strikes [AP News].
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, where Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks, reporting that U.S. And Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei [AP News]. Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, reported hundreds of civilian casualties [AP News].
Information Control and Domestic Sentiment
Following the strikes, Iran closed its airspace and issued air-raid alerts [AP News]. Reports indicate significant restrictions on internet access within the country, a tactic previously employed by the Iranian government during times of crisis [PBS News]. According to Kurdish-Iranian journalist Azin Hosseini, this is a deliberate attempt to prevent public mobilization and conceal the extent of the damage [PBS News].
Hosseini also suggests that a significant portion of Iranian society views the attacks not as an assault on Iran itself, but as a strike against the regime’s repressive apparatus, expressing exhaustion with repression and poverty [PBS News].
Looking Ahead
The situation remains highly volatile. The US and Israel have signaled a commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and destabilizing the region. However, the potential for escalation and a wider conflict remains a significant concern. The international community is urging restraint and a return to negotiations to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed.