The American and Israeli militaries on Saturday morning launched attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, hitting the supreme leader’s compound that includes the presidential palace, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) senior leadership, ballistic missile launchers, nuclear enrichment sites, and more. In response, Iran has launched missiles at Israel, and at American bases in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Bahrain, as well as sites in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Israelis believe that they may have killed the supreme leader, but Iran denies it. The Iranians have fired missiles at Israel, but so far, no casualties have been reported in the country.
In Bahrain, there was a missile attack by Iran on the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which it hosts. The Bahraini government called it a “treacherous attack” and “a blatant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and security.” In Qatar, the Iranians launched an attack on the Al Udeid airbase, which the U.S. shares with Qatar. The government of Qatar says all missiles were intercepted before entering the country’s air space. In the UAE, one civilian was reported killed from debris falling from an intercepted missile in Dubai, near the Jebel Ali Port used by the American navy. In addition, Iran hit a luxury hotel, the Fairmont, also in Dubai; four people were wounded. The UAE defense ministry said that the country had been the target of “a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles.” Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense said that the Ali al-Salem Air Base, where American servicemen are stationed, came under attack by ballistic missiles, all of which were intercepted by Kuwaiti air defense systems. The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed that Iran had targeted Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern region, but announced that all the attacks were repelled. The Saudis have also threatened to respond in kind. In Jordan, the armed forces said they had shot down two ballistic missiles targeting its territory, while suffering no casualties.
Girls in Tehran are on the rooftops, overjoyed and celebrating, saying (guessing) Khamenei’s house was hit. pic.twitter.com/m2Os6IROrv
— Iranian American 🇺🇸 (@IranLionness) February 28, 2026
Iran has now managed to enrage every Sunni Arab state in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain (the Bahraini ruler is Sunni, though the population is majority Shi’a). They are now cheering on the Americans (and quietly, the Israelis too), hoping for an end to the Shi’a regime that for 47 years has been the source of so much instability in the region.
And what of the people in Iran? There are reports of cheering and dancing in the streets in Tehran, where bombs are still falling. People who witnessed the attack on the supreme leader’s compound reacted with disbelief, and then with laughter. We still don’t know if he survived, possibly by having been moved to another location before the attack on Iran began. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, has announced that “the supreme leader is alive, as far as I know.” “As far as I know” — even the foreign minister isn’t certain about the fate of the supreme leader.
Meanwhile, the Israelis have announced that they have managed to kill in their first strikes about twenty of the senior IRGC commanders, including the head of the IRGC, Mohammed Pakpour, Iran’s defense minister, Amir Nasirzadeh, and the head of Iran’s intelligence. There are no reports as yet of IRGC troops laying down their arms, or even joining the anti-regime protesters. But it’s early in a war that will surely go on for a few weeks, and where, in just the first day, so many devastating blows have been delivered.
Hezbollah, which has for decades received money and weapons from Iran, announced several days ago that it would not be taking part in any U.S.-Iran war as long as American strikes were “limited.” Well, those strikes have not been limited, but Hezbollah hasn’t moved an inch, its leaders likely paralyzed with fear.
Countries around the world are declaring themselves for and against the operation. A welcome surprise: Canada’s far-left prime minister, Mark Carney, often so critical of the Trump administration, has come out foursquare in support. So has Australia’s left-wing prime minister, Anthony Albanese. UN’S Secretary-General António Guterres, however, condemned the attack, claiming it undermined international peace, issuing this statement: “The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security. I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
In Europe, alas, the U.K., Germany and, most emphatically, France, have not been so supportive for the joint U.S.- Israel action. Instead, the three leaders — Merz of German, Starmer of the U.K., and Macron of France — issued a joint statement calling for an end to hostilities and for Iran to “seek a negotiated solution.” That statement further said that the three countries had long urged Iran to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and to end the “appalling violence and repression against its own people…. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”
That’s how things stand, as of February 28, in the afternoon. Events are changing fast. One thing is clear: the Iranian regime led by the Ayatollah Khamenei, with so many of its senior leaders killed, and so much damage inflicted on ballistic missiles, missile launchers, and nuclear sites across Iran, is now hanging by a thread.
Wellington says
Democrats will be upset but I strongly suspect that there is cautious optimism today in places like Riyadh and Dubai.
Westman says
Wellington, It was a surprise to me – Educated Iranians interviewed today by PBS were supportive of the attacks on the Ayatollah’s Regime.
Walter Sieruk says
The strong power of US military might is a useful method for aid liberating the Iranian people in that righteous and just quest for freedom from that horrendously brutal cruel misery and death inflecting Islamic tyrannical regime
For Iranian people are right and justified for hating that brutal cruel oppressive and even murderous Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran and revolting against it
That horrific Islamic regime has arrested and imprisonment many and even execution of people , repeatedly, who had peacefully protested that “mullah tyranny” and demanding their basic human rights .
The horrendous repercussions against the Iranian people who only want human rights by those despots of Iran only further exposes the weak ,fearful and intolerant nature of those in power in the oppressive and brutal “mullah regime “ of Iran.
Therefore, the Iranians people are more than justified in wanting that brutal cruel oppressive Islamic tyranny to be overthrown and replaced with a genuine government.
As a former Muslim revealed an important reality when he wrote “The Islamic republic of Iran exists and operates as what every fundamentalist dreams of, an Islamic state ruled by sharia …” He further exposes that “What followed its establishment was the inevitable consequence and inexorable logic of its Islamic premise; state terrorism, a merciless tyranny.” [1]
[1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 347.
cornelius says
The metric of success for Trump’s first attack on Iran was the following: Did it degrade Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs?
The only metric of success for this second mission is: Will it lead to the overthrow of the regime? Anything short of that will be considered a failure. But accomplishing as much will be a great gift conferred upon mankind by this much-maligned President. Keep your fingers crossed folks. It may take weeks.
Ralph says
The Ayatollah and 40 members of his inner circle have been relegated to worm food. I think there will be no question about Trump’s success in this attack, which was on the murderous regime, not on the nation of Iran itself..
Walter Sieruk says
A Frontpagemag.com article has it right when it informs the reader that “Ninety million impoverished Iranians have had enough…the Resistance Units are actively fighting for Iran’s destiny, to overthrow the tyranny of the mullahs and introduce a secular democratic republic. Placards declaring: “Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the mullahs.”
For that horrifically, cruel oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, denies the Iranian, people their basic natural human rights. As in consequence the people of Iran would and should revolt against that viciously brutal tyrannical “’mullah regime” of Iran.
Accordingly, the Iranian people are right and righteous by engaging in bitter and strong protests against those cruel malicious and murderous tyrants in power of that cruel and oppressive Sharia based dictatorship of that Islamic regime of Iran.
In other words, those vicious despots of that horrendously horrific Islamic regime have provoked the people excessively too far.
In addition, some of the people who trapped in and forced to exist in the Islamic dictatorship of Iran might not know about the intellect philosopher John Locke, but his ideas do apply to them. For Mr. Locke taught that any good government has the duty to ensure the security and safety of its citizens. Yet when a tyranny is the people in the tyrannical government do have every natural and ethical right to overthrow that terrible and oppressive tyrannical government.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Iran International is confirming that Ayatollah Khamenei has been taken out in those airstrikes. If so, this regime is over: unlike Uday or Qusay Hussein next door in Iraq, his sons don’t have the high profile nor tower over the regime in the way they did
It’s now time for Reza Pahlavi and his transition team to start moving in, and getting as many members of the Iranian armed forces behind him, and take over before Iran plunges into chaos. Avoid what happened in Iraq after Saddam fell, and start laying out the establishment of new institutions, and have his team work on all the various issues that ail Iran – its economy, its environment and so on. Be firm that the sovereign integrity of Iran cannot be violated: there can be no independent Kurdistan, Balochistan, Khuzestan nor can Iran’s Azerbaijan be ceded to Baku. Also take down remaining pockets of IRGC/Basij resistance, while declaring Iran both secular and democratic
Then start all the transition activities
Westman says
(Iranian Regime’s), “..appalling violence and repression against its own people…”, isn’t enough justification to erase the Iranian Regime in the minds of the, “Three Blind Mice”, or, is that the, “Three Blind Cowards”? Macron, Merz, and Starmer will be sputtering like this, indecisive, sniveling, until the day Islam has turned their nations into 3 more Islamic, “sh——s”
It is obvious that the citizens of the EU must save themselves without government approval.
Ralph says
Complete agreement, Westman.
OLD GUY says
My prayers for the good people of Iran, that they make good choices to achieve freedom and a country that propers and becomes a country of peace.
gravenimage says
The Iranian Islamic Regime Is Now Hanging by a Thread
…………………………………………….
God, I hope so…