On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on various targets in Iran. The operation, codenamed Roaring Lion (Hebrew: מִבְצַע שְׁאָגַת הָאֲרִי, romanized: Mivtsá She'agát Ha'arí) by Israel, and Operation Epic Fury by the United States Department of Defense, began with a series of strikes against locations in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. Explosions were observed as Israeli defense minister Israel Katz confirmed an attack by the Israel Defense Forces.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched strikes on Iran alongside Israel, declaring that the objective was to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ultimately topple the regime. He called on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to lay down their arms in exchange for immunity, warning that refusal would mean "certain death".[26]

The initial attacks targeted key officials, military commanders, and facilities, including the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which satellite images show was heavily damaged or destroyed. Khamenei is reportedly cut off from contact.[28] It was also reported that Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani was killed.

In retaliation, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles throughout the Persian Gulf and beyond, targeting Israel and US military bases in Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the Houthis announced that they would resume attacks in the Red Sea.