The situation in Tehran is currently critical as a massive joint military operation by the United States and Israel—codenamed “Operation Epic Fury” by the U.S. and “Operation Lion’s Roar” by Israel—has struck targets across the Iranian capital today, February 28, 2026.
The strikes began shortly after sunrise on the first day of the Iranian work week, catching many residents in schools and offices. The following details the current state of affairs:
The Scale of the Attack
- Targeted Locations: Reports indicate strikes on high-profile government sites, including the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the presidential palace, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency.
- Casualties: The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 201 people killed and nearly 750 injured nationwide. A particularly devastating strike hit a girls’ elementary school in the southern city of Minab, with state media reporting at least 85 children killed.
- Status of Leadership: Conflicting reports surround the fate of Ayatollah Khamenei. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the Supreme Leader may have been killed, other sources claim he was moved to a secure location before the strikes began.
Chaos in the Streets
- Infrastructure Collapse: Communications have been severely throttled, with internet connectivity dropping to roughly 4%. Mobile phone services are down in major parts of Tehran.
- Public Panic: Witnesses describe scenes of terror as children fled classrooms and residents rushed to find shelter. Long queues have formed at gas stations, and many are attempting to flee the city despite the closure of Iranian airspace.
- Internal Sentiment: While many are in mourning or fury, some residents have reportedly expressed a cautious hope that the strikes might lead to the fall of the current regime following a period of intense domestic unrest and currency collapse earlier this year.
Regional Retaliation
Iran has already launched a “crushing response,” firing ballistic missiles and drones at:
- Israel: Air raid sirens have been active across the country; several injuries from shrapnel and falling debris have been reported.
- U.S. Bases: Strikes have targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet HQ in Bahrain, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and Al Dhafra in the UAE.
- Gulf Neighbors: Explosions have been recorded in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with at least one civilian fatality reported in Abu Dhabi due to intercepted missile debris.
Note: This is a rapidly developing military conflict. International leaders have called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, as the strikes occurred while diplomatic negotiations were reportedly nearing a “breakthrough” in Oman.
The scale of Operation Epic Fury (U.S.) and Operation Lion’s Roar (Israel) represents the most significant concentration of Western air and naval power in the Middle East since 2003.
The following military assets have been confirmed or reported as participating in the strikes and the subsequent regional defense:
1. United States Naval & Air Assets
The U.S. has deployed a “double-carrier” presence to provide sustained strike capability and regional “top cover.”
- Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs): * USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78): Operating off the coast of Israel. Its air wing ($F-35C$ Lightning II and $F/A-18E/F$ Super Hornets) is being supported by 14 aerial refueling tankers based at Ben Gurion Airport to extend their range into Iran.
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): Positioned in the Arabian Sea. An $F-35C$ from this carrier reportedly shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone earlier today.
- Electronic Warfare: EA-18G Growlers are being used extensively to jam Iranian radar and integrated air defense systems (IADS), creating “corridors” for strike aircraft.
- Land-Based Fighters: F-15E Strike Eagles (relocated from RAF Lakenheath to Jordan) and F-22 Raptors (deployed to Ovda Airbase in Israel) are providing air superiority and precision strike capabilities.
- Drones: MQ-9 Reapers are providing real-time Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) over Tehran and other strike zones.
2. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Assets
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is leading the “decapitation strikes” and the degradation of missile sites.
- Stealth Fighters: The F-35I “Adir” is the primary tool for penetrating Iran’s Russian-made $S-300$ and domestic $Bavar-373$ air defense batteries.
- Strike Force: Approximately 200 fighter jets (including $F-15I$ “Ra’am” and $F-16I$ “Sufa”) targeted nearly 500 sites in western and central Iran in the initial waves.
- Missile Defense: A “layered shield” is active to intercept Iranian retaliation:
- Iron Dome: For short-range threats and shrapnel.
- David’s Sling: For medium-range tactical ballistic missiles.
- Arrow-2 & Arrow-3: For long-range, exo-atmospheric interception of Iranian ballistic missiles.
3. Iranian Assets (Retaliation & Defense)
Iran is utilizing asymmetric tools and its massive missile stockpile to strike back at U.S. bases.
- Ballistic Missiles: Iran has fired waves of missiles (estimated at 35+ in the first few hours alone) at Israel and U.S. bases in Bahrain (5th Fleet HQ), Qatar, and the UAE.
- Drones: High volumes of Shahed-series loitering munitions (suicide drones) are being used to oversaturate regional air defenses.
- Air Defense: Iran is utilizing the S-300 and the Khordad-15 systems. Reports indicate they are also employing the Chinese YLC-8B anti-stealth radar in an attempt to track U.S. and Israeli $F-35s$.