“The hour of your freedom is at hand.” — US President Donald Trump, addressing the Iranian people after the strike, February 28, 2026
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a co-ordinated military assault on Iran — Operation Epic Fury (US) and Operation Roaring Lion (Israel) — in the most significant military action in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War. Approximately 200 Israeli jets struck targets across Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah simultaneously, alongside US Tomahawk cruise missiles, HIMARS, and the first-ever combat use of Task Force Scorpion Strike attack drones. Supreme Leader Khamenei was confirmed killed in the opening strike. Iran retaliated with missiles at Israel (Tel Aviv hit) and strikes on 27 US military bases across the Gulf. Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed — threatening 20% of global oil supply — as Houthi forces announced a resumption of Red Sea attacks. India’s MEA expressed being “deeply concerned” and urged restraint, while Air India suspended all Middle East flights.
📜 Geopolitical Backdrop: How Did We Get Here?
The nuclear flashpoint. Iran’s nuclear programme has been the central point of conflict between Tehran and the West for over two decades. The 2015 JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) — negotiated under Obama — attempted to limit Iran’s nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew from it in his first term (2018), and Iran gradually resumed enrichment. A 12-day Israel-US-Iran conflict in 2025 saw American airstrikes aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump claimed the programme was “totally obliterated” — but by early 2026, US intelligence assessed Iran was rebuilding.
The diplomacy that collapsed. From February 6, 2026, Iran and the US had been in indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman. A second round was scheduled in Geneva. Just the day before the strikes, Oman’s Foreign Minister — who had met US Vice President Vance in Washington — told CBS that Iran had agreed to “zero stockpiling of nuclear enrichment.” Yet the strikes went ahead. This suggests the decision to strike had already been made — the diplomatic channel was either a stalling tactic or overtaken by events on the ground.
The intelligence opportunity. A senior US defence official told reporters the timeline was “deliberately accelerated” when intelligence tracked senior Iranian officials gathering simultaneously at three separate locations on the morning of February 28. Months of target-building by US and Israeli intelligence found their window.
Think of the Iran nuclear standoff as a building that’s been on fire for 20 years — successive fire brigades (diplomats) kept patching it. The JCPOA in 2015 was the best patch job. Trump ripped it off in 2018. Iran relit the fire. The 2026 attack is what happens when the building’s owners (US and Israel) decide the only solution is to demolish it — and they find the owners and architect inside on the same morning.
📌 The Attack: Timeline and Mechanics
Airstrikes began simultaneously across multiple Iranian cities at 9:45 AM Tehran time (Saturday is a working day in Iran). Targets in the first wave included: Beit Rahbari (Khamenei’s compound — reduced to rubble), the Presidential Palace, the Supreme National Security Council building, air defence systems across Tehran (to establish aerial dominance), and ballistic missile arrays and launch sites.
Beyond Tehran, explosions struck: Isfahan (nuclear and missile research), Qom (uranium enrichment sites), Karaj (missile production and drone manufacturing), and Kermanshah (western military infrastructure).
The operational scale was unprecedented for Israel — approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the IDF’s largest air force operation in its history. The US contributed Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles fired from US Navy warships in the region, HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), and Task Force Scorpion Strike low-cost one-way attack drones — deployed in combat for the first time ever.
Iran’s internet was simultaneously hit by a near-total blackout — consistent with Israeli doctrine of hitting communications infrastructure to disrupt command-and-control and prevent organised response.
| Weapon / Platform | Origin | Target Type | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-35 / Fighter jets (~200) | Israel (IDF) | Leadership compounds, military bases, nuclear sites | Largest IDF air operation in history |
| Tomahawk cruise missiles | US Navy warships | High-value fixed targets, hardened bunkers | Long-range precision strike; fired from sea |
| HIMARS rockets | US ground assets | Missile arrays, launch infrastructure | Pre-positioned US military assets in region |
| Task Force Scorpion Strike drones | US / Israel | Communications, air defence, dispersed targets | First-ever combat use — military milestone |
⚔️ Iran’s Retaliation: A Multi-Wave Response
Wave 1 — Israel targeted. Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel. Air raid sirens sounded across the country; Iron Dome and David’s Sling intercepted most incoming projectiles. A direct hit in Tel Aviv’s Gush Dan area destroyed an apartment building — 1 person killed, at least 20 injured.
Waves 2–6 — The Gulf assault. The IRGC declared it had targeted 27 US military bases across Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, and Iraq. Confirmed impacts included: Kuwait’s Abdullah Mubarak US naval base (struck by 4 ballistic missiles and 12 drones; “extensive damage”); UAE (intercepted 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones — Dubai International Airport’s concourse damaged; one civilian killed in Abu Dhabi); Bahrain and Jordan (both intercepted multiple strikes). The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai was struck — a deliberate symbol of economic targeting.
Strait of Hormuz declared closed. Iran’s Navy broadcast: “no vessel is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz.” EU naval officials confirmed ships were receiving these warnings. Oil tankers began diverting; multiple oil companies paused crude shipments through the waterway.
Houthi re-entry. Yemen-based Houthis — Iran’s proxy — announced resumption of Red Sea shipping attacks (paused for months). This simultaneously threatened both the Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf exit) and the Red Sea corridor (Suez access) — the two key maritime chokepoints for global trade.
Two Chokepoints Threatened Simultaneously: Strait of Hormuz (Iran declared closed) + Red Sea / Bab el-Mandeb (Houthis resumed attacks). These are the two critical maritime routes for global energy trade. If both are disrupted at once, global oil supply is under maximum stress. India is especially vulnerable — it imports ~85% of its crude, much of it via these routes.
🌍 The Strait of Hormuz: World’s Most Critical Waterway
The Strait of Hormuz sits between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It is the only maritime exit from the Gulf — meaning every barrel of oil produced in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar must pass through it to reach global markets.
The key numbers: approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil transit daily — nearly 20% of global liquid petroleum consumption. About 20% of global LNG exports (primarily from Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter) also pass through it. In a worst-case disruption, oil prices could exceed $100/barrel. Brent crude was at $72.48/barrel before the attack; analysts projected an immediate $5–$20 spike.
India’s specific vulnerability: India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil needs. A significant portion — from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iraq — transits through or near the Strait of Hormuz. A prolonged closure would cause fuel price spikes, inflation, and supply chain disruptions across the Indian economy. India does not have the strategic petroleum reserves to withstand an extended supply disruption. This makes the Strait of Hormuz closure potentially the single most consequential economic event for India from this conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is 33 km wide at its narrowest point. Iran has threatened to close it multiple times over the past decades — but never actually done so. If sustained, a closure would be an act of economic warfare against the entire global economy, hurting Iran’s neighbours and allies as much as the West. Why would Iran close it — and would it be able to sustain the closure against a US Navy presence in the Gulf? This is the central strategic question of the next weeks.
🌍 International Reactions
United States. Trump posted an 8-minute Truth Social video declaring three objectives: destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, prevent nuclear weapons acquisition, and topple the regime. He addressed the Iranian people: “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”
Israel. PM Netanyahu called this “the most powerful strike in Israel’s history.” Defence Minister Katz declared: “Whoever acted to destroy Israel — was destroyed.”
India (MEA). Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal: “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region. We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians. Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected.” Air India suspended all Middle East flights. Indian nationals in the Gulf were placed on high alert. Protests erupted in Srinagar and Budgam, Kashmir.
China. “Deeply concerned.” Demanded an immediate halt to military operations.
United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned both the US-Israeli strikes and Iran’s retaliatory strikes, saying they “undermine international peace and security.”
Oman. Foreign Minister — who had just mediated nuclear talks and met Vance the day before — posted on X that he was “dismayed,” writing: “This is not your war. Don’t get sucked in further.”
Iraq. Declared 3 days of national mourning; called the strikes “blatant aggression.”
🌍 India-Iran Relations: The Full Context
Energy: Iran was once India’s second-largest crude oil supplier. US sanctions since 2018 drastically curtailed India-Iran oil trade, but India has maintained diplomatic and economic engagement within sanction limits. India has significant investments in Iran’s Chabahar Port — a critical entry point to bypass Pakistan and access Afghanistan and Central Asia. Any destabilisation of Iran directly threatens this strategic asset and the broader International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking India to Russia and Europe via Iran.
Diaspora: Over 100,000 Indian nationals work in Gulf countries — UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman — all now under Iranian missile fire. Their safety is India’s most immediate concern. Air India’s flight suspension reflects this priority.
Strategic autonomy in action: India’s “deeply concerned, urge restraint” language is a textbook example of its multi-alignment doctrine — refusing to take sides in great-power conflicts while protecting its own economic and strategic interests. Compare with India’s near-identical formulation during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has relationships with Iran (Chabahar, oil), Israel (defence, IMEC), and the US (trade, technology) — it cannot afford to alienate any of them.
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The US operation was named Epic Fury and the Israeli operation was named Roaring Lion. Remember: US = Epic Fury (larger power, bigger word); Israel = Roaring Lion (the lion is Israel’s national symbol). These names will appear in MCQ questions — never swap them.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman — NOT Iran and Saudi Arabia or Qatar. It is the only maritime exit from the Persian Gulf, through which ~20 million barrels of oil (20% of global supply) and 20% of global LNG transit daily.
Task Force Scorpion Strike low-cost one-way attack drones were used in combat for the first time ever in Operation Epic Fury — a significant milestone in drone warfare technology. Tomahawks, HIMARS, and F-35s are all established systems with prior combat use.
India’s MEA spokesperson issued a statement saying India is “deeply concerned,” urging restraint, civilian safety, and dialogue. Air India suspended all Middle East flights. This is India’s multi-alignment doctrine in action — not condemning any side, protecting its diaspora and economic interests.
The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was signed in 2015. Trump withdrew the US from it in 2018 (his first term) — after which Iran gradually resumed nuclear enrichment, setting off the chain of events that led to the 2026 strikes. Timeline to remember: 2015 (signed) → 2018 (US exit) → 2026 (war).
