The U.S. Military launched strikes against Iran late Friday, February 27, 2026, following a direct order from President Donald Trump, according to reports. The action, triggered by intelligence confirming the presence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and key advisors at a single location in Tehran, resulted in Khamenei’s death and initiated a full-scale conflict.
The decision to strike followed months of intense deliberation between Washington and Jerusalem. According to an Israeli official cited in reports, Trump initially favored an attack in early January, but was persuaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay, arguing for a more coordinated and prepared operation. The timeline then shifted to late March or early April, intended to allow time to prepare public opinion for potential conflict.
However, the dynamic shifted dramatically on February 23rd when Netanyahu informed Trump of the rare opportunity to eliminate Khamenei and his inner circle. This prompted a renewed urgency from the Israeli side, as both leaders recognized the potential significance of eliminating Iran’s leadership in a single strike.
Simultaneously, a last-ditch diplomatic effort, mediated by Oman, appeared to be nearing a breakthrough. Reports indicated Iran was prepared to commit to maintaining “zero” enrichment of weapons-grade material and to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unrestricted access to all nuclear facilities. Iran also reportedly signaled a willingness to discuss its ballistic missile program. However, U.S. Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff reportedly assessed the proposed agreement as insufficient, stating that Tehran was unwilling to meet the “maximal demands” of both Trump and Netanyahu.
The Axios report suggests the attack was already a decided matter at this point, with Trump avoiding any focus on Iran during his State of the Union address shortly before the strikes, in an effort to prevent Khamenei from going into hiding.
The rapid escalation has raised concerns within the U.S. Congress. Senator Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed frustration following a classified briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting the administration had repeatedly altered its justification for the attack – initially citing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, then ballistic missiles, followed by regime change, and finally, the disruption of the Iranian fleet. Rubio himself initially stated the operation was prompted by an imminent threat to U.S. Forces, but later clarified that the timing was merely a matter of opportunity.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington denied any influence from Netanyahu on the decision. A U.S. Official acknowledged that the arguments for war had not been as thoroughly prepared as necessary.
Early reports indicate significant costs. Six U.S. Soldiers have been killed in Iranian retaliatory attacks on a base in Kuwait. In a separate incident, the Kuwaiti military mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15 fighter jets, though all six crew members survived after ejecting. Iranian drones have also struck a hotel in Bahrain, U.S. Embassies in Kuwait and Riyadh, and other targets in the region, prompting the State Department to issue an urgent call for Americans to leave over a dozen countries.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated the conflict will not be prolonged, but has offered no specific timeline or exit strategy. Trump has estimated the war will last four to five weeks, but has not ruled out the deployment of ground troops. Senator Chris Murphy, after receiving a classified briefing, expressed his belief that a war with no foreseeable end is unfolding. Republican Senator Josh Hawley echoed this sentiment, describing the operation as open-ended with extremely ambitious goals.
