February 28, 2026 — In the most devastating military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated assault on Iran that has killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, eliminated at least 40 senior Iranian leaders, and triggered an unprecedented Iranian counterstrike across six countries.
As smoke continues to rise over Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom, the scale of what has unfolded in just 24 hours is staggering. More than 200 Iranians are dead and at least 747 are injured, according to Iran’s Red Crescent. Iran’s state media has confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei — a seismic event that has thrown the Islamic Republic into its deepest crisis since the 1979 revolution.
Operation Epic Fury: What Happened
The joint US-Israeli operation — codenamed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon and “Roaring Lion” by Israel — began in the early morning hours of February 28 with a series of precision strikes against military and political targets across Iran.
According to multiple reports from Reuters, the New York Times, and CNN, the strikes hit:
- Tehran — including the Supreme Leader’s residence and IRGC command centers
- Isfahan — home to key nuclear and military infrastructure
- Qom — a major religious and political hub
- Multiple IRGC installations and military sites across the country
President Donald Trump stated the operation was aimed at “laying waste to Iran’s military, obliterating its nuclear program, and potentially toppling the regime.” The strikes represent a dramatic escalation following the collapse of US-Iran nuclear talks on February 26, which ended without a deal.
Khamenei Dead: State Media Confirms
In a development that has sent shockwaves across the globe, Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. The IRGC also confirmed that approximately 40 senior Iranian leaders were eliminated in the precision assault on Tehran.
The death of Khamenei — who had ruled Iran since 1989 — creates an enormous power vacuum in the Islamic Republic. It remains unclear who, if anyone, can consolidate control as the country faces simultaneous military bombardment and internal chaos.
Iran’s ‘No Leniency’ Counterstrike: Six Countries Under Fire
Tehran’s response was swift and sweeping. In what Iran’s foreign ministry called a policy of “no leniency,” the IRGC launched a massive retaliatory barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting US military bases and allied nations across the Middle East.
According to the New York Times and Al Jazeera, Iran targeted:
- Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar — the largest US air base in the Middle East
- Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait — where shrapnel injured three Kuwaiti soldiers
- Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE
- US Navy Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain — with video showing smoke rising from the direction of the base
- Targets in Israel — including residential areas
- Jordan and Saudi Arabia — also struck in the barrage
The scale of Iran’s retaliation was enormous. The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting and destroying 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones — a staggering 346 projectiles aimed at Emirati territory alone. Despite the interceptions, at least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi from falling missile debris, according to Reuters.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called Gulf state counterparts in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, arguing that those nations bore responsibility for failing to prevent the US from using their bases to attack Iran.
Gulf Capitals Shaken: Dubai’s Fairmont Hit
The Iranian counterstrike didn’t just target military installations. According to The Guardian’s live coverage, Iranian missiles also struck civilian areas, including:
- The Fairmont Hotel in Dubai
- A high-rise building in Bahrain
- Near a residential area in Doha, Qatar — where footage showed a missile falling close to homes
- Kuwait’s main airport
Multiple Gulf states — including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar — closed their airspace in response to the attacks.
US Military: ‘No Reported Casualties’
Despite the scale of Iran’s retaliation, the US military reported no American casualties and minimal damage from the retaliatory strikes. This suggests US missile defense systems — including Patriot batteries and THAAD — performed effectively against the incoming barrage.
However, the political fallout from Iranian missiles striking sovereign Gulf nations that host US troops could be severe, potentially straining alliances that were already uneasy about being drawn into a US-Iran conflict.
What Happens Next?
Analysis from The Guardian suggests Iran’s immediate strategic priority is retaining control of its streets. With the Supreme Leader dead and the regime decapitated, the IRGC faces the challenge of maintaining domestic order while simultaneously conducting military operations against a vastly superior force.
Critically, the US and Israel have expressed no intention of mounting a ground invasion — suggesting this is intended as an air campaign aimed at regime change through decapitation strikes rather than occupation. But without boots on the ground, the question remains: who fills the power vacuum?
The UN has condemned the strikes, with the Secretary-General stating that the attacks and retaliatory strikes “undermine international peace and security.” The EU has urged “maximum restraint,” while mediator Oman warned the US “not to get sucked in further” into the conflict.
The Bigger Picture
Today’s events mark the second major US-Israeli military operation against Iran in less than a year. Last June, the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran. While Trump claimed at the time that Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated,” subsequent intelligence revealed the effort had been degraded, not destroyed — a failure that appears to have motivated this far more ambitious operation.
With over 200 dead in Iran, Khamenei eliminated, and missiles flying across six countries, the Middle East has entered uncharted territory. The coming hours and days will determine whether this escalates into a full-scale regional war or whether the decapitation of Iran’s leadership leads to some form of negotiated resolution.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.