Joint Attack on Iran Launched by U.S. and Israel

Latest Developments

• Daytime Opening Strikes: The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, after negotiations over the regime’s nuclear program failed to yield progress. President Donald Trump announced the operation — dubbed “Epic Fury” — by stating that U.S. objectives are to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” Key targets were reportedly hit, among them the office compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Ministries of Intelligence and Defense, and the Parchin military complex, all in or near Tehran, along with strikes on regime targets around the country. Trump added that despite U.S. warnings following the 12-Day War in June 2025, Iran had “attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world,” Trump said. 
• Israel Says Operation to ‘Remove Existential Threat’ Posed by the ‘Terrorist Regime’: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a statement at the onset of operations, stating that the joint objectives of the mission — which Israel has called “Lion’s Roar” —  included removing the “existential threat” posed by the Islamic Republic, and creating “the conditions” for regime change by the Iranian people. “Help has arrived,” Netanyahu proclaimed, adding, “the time has come for all parts of the Iranian people — the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baloch, and the Ahwazi — to cast off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran.”
• Iran Retaliates: In response to the initial waves of U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles at countries across the region. Iranian missiles reportedly targeted several U.S. bases and allied countries across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. A ballistic missile struck a facility affiliated with the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet in al-Juffair, Bahrain. One person was killed in Abu Dhabi by falling missile debris.

FDD Expert Response

“Trump didn’t give a regime change speech. But he did set the right standard: elimination of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. No freeze. No cap. Zero enrichment. Full dismantlement. The nuclear and missile programs didn’t end in 2025. They are being rebuilt. Degradation isn’t enough. They must be eliminated. And by supporting Israeli strikes against the regime’s repression apparatus, the president opened a window for the Iranian people. Maximum pressure on the regime. Maximum support for its people. This may be the most consequential opening in 47 years.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“Resumed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran became inevitable last month when the Islamic Republic ignored Trump’s red lines and massacred Iranian protesters. Talks since then have seen the two sides far apart, despite disingenuous claims of progress by the Omani foreign minister who served as a mediator. The key questions now are: how meaningfully Iran can retaliate against US assets and allies in the region? And will the Iranian people heed Trump’s call, seize the moment, and bring down the regime?” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“U.S. Deploys F-22s to Israel as Iran Tries To Intimidate Washington’s Arab Partners,” by Bradley Bowman and Justin Leopold-Cohen

“What It Will Take to Change the Regime in Iran,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu

“Iran FAQ: What You Should Know,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu and Janatan Sayeh

“Negotiations Between U.S. and Iran Fail To Yield Conclusive Result Amid Growing Crisis,” FDD Flash Brief