Joint U.S.-Israeli Military Offensive Against Iran — February 2026

What date did the joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive against Iran begin?

28 February 2026.

What names did Israel and the United States respectively give their operations against Iran?

Israel: Operation Lion's Roar; United States: Operation Epic Fury.

What was Israel's Operation Lion's Roar aimed at?

It targeted Iranian nuclear and military-strategic infrastructure, including missile, command and other strategic facilities.

What was the U.S. operation against Iran called?

Operation Epic Fury.

What did the U.S. describe Operation Epic Fury as?

A major combat operation against Iran and its most direct U.S. military confrontation with Iran in decades.

What was Iran's immediate retaliation to the U.S.-Israeli offensive?

Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel, U.S. bases and regional targets.

What major regional development occurred on 2 March 2026?

Hezbollah entered the conflict, opening a Lebanon front after Israeli strikes and escalating the regional war.

What was the broader significance of the February 2026 conflict?

It evolved from a limited strike campaign into a wider regional war involving Iran, Israel, the U.S., Hezbollah and Iran-aligned networks.

What major maritime chokepoint became central to the conflict?

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and energy chokepoint.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?

About 20% of global oil and a major share of LNG supplies pass through it.

What happened to the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict?

Disruption and threats to shipping sharply increased global energy and transport risks.

How did the conflict affect global oil prices?

Brent crude rose above $100 per barrel amid fears of prolonged supply disruption.

What happened to the U.S. energy policy during the crisis?

The U.S. considered emergency energy measures, including releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

When did the United States first recognize Israel?

The U.S. recognized Israel shortly after its creation in 1948.

What was the U.S. position on the 1948 partition of Palestine?

The U.S. supported Israel's recognition but did not initially adopt a fully hostile position toward Arab countries.

What changed in U.S.-Israel-Iran relations during the 1953-1979 period?

The U.S. and Iran became close under the Shah, while Israel and Iran also developed strategic cooperation.

Why did Israel and Iran cooperate before the 1979 Revolution?

They shared concerns over Arab nationalism, Soviet influence and hostile regional regimes.

What was the Iranian Revolution of 1979's impact on Iran-U.S. relations?

It transformed Iran into an ideological opponent of the U.S. and ended the previous strategic partnership.

How did Iran view the United States after the 1979 Revolution?

Iran's revolutionary leadership portrayed the U.S. as the “Great Satan.”

How did Iran view Israel after the 1979 Revolution?

Israel was portrayed as a hostile state and an enemy of the Islamic Republic.

What major crisis damaged U.S.-Iran relations during the early revolutionary period?

The 1979-81 Iran hostage crisis, following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

What was Iran's “Axis of Resistance”?

A network of Iran-aligned armed groups and partners used to project regional influence and deter Israel/U.S. pressure.

Name major groups associated with Iran's Axis of Resistance.

Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and Iraq-based Popular Mobilization Forces.

What happened to Iran-Israel relations during the 1990s-2015 period?

They became increasingly direct strategic rivals, especially over Iran's nuclear programme and regional influence.

What was Israel's main concern regarding Iran's nuclear programme?

That Iran could acquire a nuclear weapon and fundamentally alter the regional strategic balance.

What major nuclear agreement was reached with Iran in 2015?

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

What did the JCPOA seek to do?

Limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and international economic benefits.

What did the United States do regarding the JCPOA in 2018?

The Trump administration withdrew from the JCPOA and restored maximum-pressure sanctions on Iran.

What was Iran's response after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA?

Iran gradually expanded uranium enrichment and reduced compliance with nuclear restrictions.

What was the significance of the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani?

It sharply escalated U.S.-Iran tensions and intensified fears of a wider regional conflict.

What was the June 2025 U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran called?

Operation Midnight Hammer.

What major shift occurred in April 2024?

Iran launched its first direct large-scale attack on Israel, moving the conflict beyond mainly indirect warfare.

How did Israel respond to Iran's April 2024 attack?

Israel carried out a limited retaliatory strike, demonstrating the transition toward direct confrontation.

What happened in October 2024 between Iran and Israel?

Iran launched another major missile barrage, followed by an Israeli retaliatory strike against Iranian military sites.

What happened on 28 February 2026 that marked a major escalation?

Israel and the U.S. launched coordinated large-scale strikes against Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.

Why did the war expand beyond the initial nuclear campaign?

Retaliation spread across missile sites, proxy networks, maritime routes, energy infrastructure and regional bases.

What were the main Iranian military weapons used during the conflict?

Shahеd-136/131 drones, Shahab-3, Fattah, Khorramshahr, Paveh and Emad missiles.

What is the Shahеd-136?

A loitering munition/kamikaze drone used in large swarms to overwhelm enemy air defences.

What is the Shahеd-131?

A smaller Iranian loitering munition similar in concept to the Shahed-136.

What is the Shahab-3?

A medium-range ballistic missile with an approximate range of 2,000 km.

What is the Fattah missile?

An Iranian missile claimed to be hypersonic, designed for high speed and manoeuvrability against missile defences.

What is the Khorramshahr missile?

A heavy ballistic missile used by Iran in attacks against military targets.

What is the Paveh missile?

A long-range Iranian land-attack cruise missile with a range of about 1,650 km.

What is the Emad missile?

Iran's precision-guided, long-range ballistic missile equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle.

Which major Iranian air-defence systems were highlighted?

Bavar-373, Sevom-Khordad and Tor-M1.

What was the Bavar-373?

An Iranian long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to counter aircraft and other aerial threats.

What was the Sevom-Khordad system?

A mobile Iranian air-defence system capable of targeting aircraft and cruise missiles.

What major U.S. stealth bomber was deployed?

The B-2 Spirit, a low-observable flying-wing bomber capable of deep-penetration strikes.

What bunker-buster weapon was associated with the U.S. B-2?

The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to attack deeply buried hardened facilities.

Which Iranian nuclear facilities were highlighted as targets of the U.S. bunker-buster strikes?

Deeply buried facilities including Fordow and Natanz.

Which major U.S. missile was used for precision strikes?

The Tomahawk cruise missile, a long-range low-altitude precision-strike weapon.

Which U.S. systems provided air and missile defence during the conflict?

THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, Aegis/SM-3 and SM-6 systems.

What was the role of THAAD?

It provided high-altitude ballistic-missile interception using hit-to-kill technology.

What was the role of the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper?

It provided long-endurance surveillance and precision-strike capabilities.

What major Israeli aircraft was highlighted?

The F-35I “Adir,” Israel's fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of penetrating defended airspace.

What is Israel's Arrow-3 system?

An exo-atmospheric ballistic-missile interceptor designed to destroy missiles outside the atmosphere.

What are David's Sling and Arrow-2 used for?

David's Sling counters medium-to-long-range threats, while Arrow-2 intercepts ballistic missiles at lower altitudes.

What is Iron Dome designed to intercept?

Short-range rockets, artillery shells and drones, including threats to populated areas.

What is Israel's naval version of Iron Dome called?

C-Dome, deployed on Sa'ar 6-class corvettes for maritime air and missile defence.

What happened to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the opening phase of the war?

He was killed on 28 February 2026 during the opening phase of the U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Who succeeded Ali Khamenei as Iran's Supreme Leader?

Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts in early March 2026.

What was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's position before his death?

He was Iran's Supreme Leader and the country's highest political and religious authority.

When was Ali Khamenei born?

17 July 1939 in Mashhad, Iran.

What office did Khamenei hold from 1981 to 1989?

President of Iran.

What happened to Khamenei in an assassination attempt in 1981?

He survived, but his right arm was permanently paralysed.

When did Khamenei become Supreme Leader?

June 1989, after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

What is the Supreme Leader's formal title in Iran?

Rahbar, commonly translated as “Supreme Leader.”

What is Iran's Assembly of Experts?

The body constitutionally responsible for selecting Iran's Supreme Leader.

What was the historical significance of the 1953 Iranian coup?

The CIA and MI6-backed coup removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and strengthened Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

What was the 1979 Iranian Revolution?

A revolution that overthrew the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.

Why was Iran's 1979 Revolution important to regional geopolitics?

It transformed Iran into an Islamic revolutionary state hostile to the U.S. and Israel.

What is the historical importance of Iran's nuclear programme?

It developed from the Shah-era nuclear cooperation into a major international security issue centred on enrichment and proliferation concerns.

What is the Fordow nuclear facility?

A deeply buried Iranian uranium-enrichment facility that became a major focus of U.S.-Israeli military targeting.

What is the Natanz facility?

A major Iranian nuclear enrichment complex and one of the central sites in the nuclear dispute.

What is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant?

Iran's first commercial nuclear power reactor, developed with Russian assistance and connected to the Iranian electricity system.

What is Iran's Natanz enrichment programme based around?

Uranium enrichment using centrifuges, including increasingly advanced centrifuge technology.

What was the significance of the Abraham Accords?

They normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, beginning with agreements in 2020.

Which countries were initial participants in the Abraham Accords?

Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, with Morocco and Sudan subsequently joining the normalization process.

What was the strategic significance of the Abraham Accords for Iran?

They strengthened Israel's regional partnerships and contributed to Iran's perception of an expanding strategic alignment against it.

What is the India-specific economic impact of the Iran war?

Higher crude prices, a weaker rupee, larger import bills and pressure on India's external balance.

Why is India particularly vulnerable to a prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption?

India is a major energy importer and depends significantly on Gulf-region supplies and maritime routes.

What did India do diplomatically during the crisis?

It emphasised diplomacy, energy security and safe navigation rather than military escalation.

What happened to the Indian rupee during the crisis?

It weakened sharply, with the slide reporting a record low near ₹92.4750 per U.S. dollar.

What happened to LPG supplies from Qatar during the crisis?

India reported efforts to maintain LPG supplies as ships faced navigation challenges around Hormuz.

What broader lesson did the conflict highlight for India?

The need for energy diversification, shipping resilience, strategic reserves and stronger diplomatic engagement with Gulf states.

What is the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for India?

It is a key chokepoint for India's oil and LNG imports, making disruption a major energy-security risk.

What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz globally?

It is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

What is the narrowest width of the Strait of Hormuz mentioned in the chapter?

Approximately 33 km at its narrowest point.

What percentage of global oil consumption is linked to the Strait of Hormuz?

The chapter estimates roughly 20–25% of global oil flows/consumption pass through the chokepoint.

What alternative maritime chokepoints were relevant to the conflict?

Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea routes were important alternative/connected maritime pathways.

What happened to Hezbollah on 2 March 2026?

It entered the conflict after Khamenei's death, opening a Lebanon front against Israel.

What did the conflict do to Lebanon?

It triggered large-scale displacement, repeated attacks and major public-health risks from damaged infrastructure and toxic air.

What happened to healthcare infrastructure during the war?

Healthcare facilities faced repeated attacks and severe operational and humanitarian pressures.

What was the humanitarian impact of the wider regional conflict?

Displacement, infrastructure damage, risks to civilians and growing pressure on healthcare systems.

What was the main reason given for the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran?

Preventing Iran's nuclear capability and degrading its nuclear, missile and proxy infrastructure.

What other strategic objective did Israel pursue?

Weakening Iran's regional proxy network and reducing the military threat posed by the Axis of Resistance.

Why was the conflict described as a shift from proxy war to direct war?

Iran, Israel and the U.S. increasingly attacked each other's territory and military assets directly.