U.S. And Israel Launch Major Assault on Iran, Sparking Regional Tensions
Flights across the Middle East were cancelled on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as several countries closed their airspace following a major joint strike on Iran by the United States and Israel. The attacks, described by U.S. President Donald Trump as a “massive and ongoing operation,” have raised concerns about a potential escalation of conflict in the region.
Escalation of Tensions and Joint Strikes
After weeks of increasing regional tensions, Israel and the U.S. Launched a coordinated assault on Iran on Saturday morning. The strikes targeted sites across Iran, continuing throughout the day. According to an Israeli official, targets included Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as other top regime and military commanders The Times of Israel.
The campaign also targeted Iran’s military, symbols of government, and intelligence targets. Several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders and political officials were reportedly killed, including the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, and Iranian defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh The Times of Israel.
President Trump announced the beginning of “major combat operations in Iran,” stating the campaign aimed to prevent the Iranian regime from threatening America and its national security interests The Times of Israel.
Regional Response and Airspace Closures
In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks, hitting capital cities in the Gulf region. At least one fatality has been reported. Several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, announced partial closures of their airspace CBS News.
Major airlines, including Air France, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Air Algerie, and Lufthansa, announced widespread flight cancellations CBS News.
International Reactions
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating conflict. The European Union’s President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called the developments “greatly concerning” and highlighted EU sanctions against Iran’s regime and Revolutionary Guards CBS News.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated the EU is coordinating with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths and emphasized the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law. A European naval mission in the Red Sea is on high alert CBS News.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the military escalation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation, warning of a wider regional conflict with grave consequences CBS News.
Looking Ahead
The situation remains highly volatile. The international community is urging all parties to exercise restraint and return to the negotiating table to prevent further escalation and ensure regional stability. The coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomatic efforts can de-escalate the conflict or if the region is headed towards a wider war.