# Iran-Israel-US Crisis & War Documentation

> **Last Updated:** February 28, 2026 (BREAKING — situation is active and evolving)

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## BREAKING: February 28, 2026 — Israel Strikes Tehran

### What Happened
- **Israel launched a daylight military strike on Tehran**, Iran's capital
- Explosions reported near the **offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei** in downtown Tehran
- **Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz** confirmed the attack, stating it was done **"to remove threats"**
- Multiple follow-up explosions struck Tehran after the initial strike
- A **cloud of smoke** rose from Tehran's downtown area
- **Iran shut down its airspace** following the attack
- **Sirens sounded across Israel** — Israeli military issued a **"proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel"**
- Khamenei (age 86) had **not been seen publicly for days** prior to the strike
- **No casualty figures** reported as of time of writing
- **U.S. military declined to immediately comment** on the attack
- Iranian state television acknowledged explosions but did not offer a cause

### Sources
- [Washington Post — Apparent strike near Khamenei offices](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/02/28/iran-us-explosion-tehran/84f9c416-146d-11f1-8e8d-fe91db44677b_story.html)
- [US News — Explosion in Tehran, sirens in Israel](https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-02-28/witnesses-say-they-hear-an-explosion-in-irans-capital-tehran)
- [WSLS — Israel's defense minister confirms attack](https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/02/28/israels-defense-minister-says-his-country-has-attacked-iran-and-declares-a-state-of-emergency/)
- [WTOP — Explosions in Tehran, sirens in Israel](https://wtop.com/world/2026/02/witnesses-say-they-hear-an-explosion-in-irans-capital-tehran-sirens-sound-in-israel/)

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## Timeline of the 2026 US-Iran Crisis

### January 2026 — Protests & Escalation

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| Dec 28, 2025 | Protests erupt in Tehran after Iranian rial plunges to record low (1.42M rials to $1 USD) |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Khamenei says "rioters must be put in their place" — green light for crackdown |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Israeli Security Cabinet holds 5-hour meeting, authorizes additional strikes on Iran |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Mass nationwide protests in Iran; government blocks internet and international calls |
| Jan 13, 2026 | Tensions escalate — Iranian officials warn they are "ready for war" after Trump threatens military action |
| Late Jan | USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group deployed toward the Gulf |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Explosions in Karaj and Parand, Tehran Province |

### February 2026 — Military Buildup & Failed Diplomacy

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| Feb 2 | Large fire in Jannat Abad marketplace, northwest Tehran |
| Feb 6 | Indirect US-Iran nuclear talks held in Muscat, Oman (mediated by Omani FM Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi) |
| Feb 13 | USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group en route to Middle East — **two-carrier deployment** (largest naval deployment since 2003 Iraq invasion) |
| Feb 17 | US-Iran talks in Geneva; Iran says it has **temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz** |
| Feb 18 | CNN reports US military **prepared to strike Iran as early as that weekend**, but Trump hasn't made final call |
| Feb 20 | Al Jazeera tracks rapid US military build-up near Iran |
| Feb 24 | **12 F-22 Raptors deployed to Ovda Airbase, southern Israel** — first-ever US offensive aircraft deployment in Israel; US F-35C shoots down Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching USS Abraham Lincoln in Arabian Sea |
| Feb 26 | US-Iran talks in Geneva conclude with "claims of progress but few details"; Al Jazeera reports no deal |
| Feb 27 | Trump says he's **"not happy"** with Iran nuclear talks; State Department **authorizes non-emergency staff to leave Israel**; Trump says regime change would be "the best thing"; Secretary of State Rubio heads to Israel; CENTCOM commander briefs Trump on possible attacks |
| **Feb 28** | **BREAKING: Israel launches daylight strikes on Tehran near Khamenei's offices (see above)** |

### Sources
- [2026 US-Iran Crisis — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran%E2%80%93United_States_crisis)
- [PBS — Timeline of Iran nuclear tensions](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-timeline-of-tensions-over-irans-nuclear-program-as-talks-with-u-s-approach)
- [Al Jazeera — US-Iran talks](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/26/us-iran-talks-conclude-claims-progress-few-details)
- [Washington Post — Trump moves toward Iran attack](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/27/us-iran-war-israel-embassy-evacuation/)
- [CNN — US military prepared to strike](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/18/politics/military-strike-trump-us-iran)
- [PBS — US on brink of Iran attack](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/with-u-s-on-brink-of-iran-attack-mediator-asks-for-enough-space-to-reach-deal)
- [CBS News — US clears diplomatic staff to leave Israel](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-iran-war-threat-israel-diplomatic-staff-advisory-despite-geneva-talks/)

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## 2026 US Military Buildup in the Middle East

The **largest US military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq**.

### Naval Forces
- **USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)** carrier strike group
- **USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)** carrier strike group
- Two-carrier deployment — largest since Operation Iraqi Freedom

### Air Forces Deployed
| Aircraft | Details |
|----------|---------|
| **F-22 Raptor** | 12 deployed to Ovda Airbase, Israel (first-ever US combat jets in Israel) |
| **F-35** | Multiple deployed across region |
| **F-15E Strike Eagle** | Deployed to Europe and Middle East |
| **F-16** | Multiple deployed |
| **A-10 Thunderbolt** | Ground attack support |
| **Air refueling tankers** | Supporting extended operations |
| **Reconnaissance aircraft** | ISR platforms |

### Key Incidents
- **Feb 24:** US F-35C shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea
- **Feb 27:** Trump requested use of UK air bases for potential Iran attack — **UK reportedly blocked the request**

### Sources
- [2026 US Military Buildup — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_military_buildup_in_the_Middle_East)
- [Al Jazeera — Tracking US military build-up](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/20/tracking-the-rapid-us-military-build-up-near-iran)
- [Washington Post — US moves 100+ planes to Europe and Middle East](https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/24/united-states-iran-buildup/)
- [Military Times — Largest force in decades](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/02/26/us-military-assembles-largest-force-of-warships-aircraft-in-middle-east-in-decades/)
- [Air & Space Forces — F-22s to Israel, F-35s/F-15Es to Europe](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-iran-f-22-israel-f-35-f-15e-europe/)
- [FDD — F-22 deployment analysis](https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/02/27/u-s-deploys-f-22s-to-israel-as-iran-tries-to-intimidate-washingtons-arab-partners/)
- [Fox News — F-22s put any target in Iran at risk](https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-positions-f-22-stealth-fighters-israel-puts-almost-any-target-iran-risk)

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## Background: The June 2025 Iran-Israel War ("Twelve-Day War")

### Overview
- **Dates:** June 13–24, 2025
- **Duration:** 12 days
- **Belligerents:** Israel & United States vs. Iran
- **Ceasefire:** June 24, 2025, at approximately 04:00 GMT

### Day-by-Day Timeline

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **June 13** | Israel launches surprise strikes — **200+ fighter jets**, **330+ munitions** on **~100 targets** across Iran (nuclear facilities, military bases, infrastructure, key commanders) in 5 waves by 06:30 IDT |
| June 13–19 | Iran retaliates with **550+ ballistic missiles** and **1,000+ suicide drones** — hitting civilian areas, one hospital, and 12+ military/energy/government sites in Israel |
| **June 22** | **Operation Midnight Hammer** — US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites (see below) |
| June 23 | Iran fires missiles at US base in Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base) |
| **June 24** | **Ceasefire** takes effect at ~04:00 GMT under US pressure |

### Operation Midnight Hammer (June 22, 2025)

The United States' only offensive action in the war.

**Targets:**
1. **Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant**
2. **Natanz Nuclear Facility**
3. **Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center**

**Assets Used:**
- **7 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers** (509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri)
- **125+ US aircraft** total (including F-35 and F-22 escort fighters)
- **75 precision-guided weapons** including:
  - **14 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)** — 30,000 lb bunker busters
  - **Tomahawk cruise missiles** (fired from submarine)

**Operation Details:**
- B-2s flew **18 hours continuously** eastward from Missouri
- Refueled **mid-air 3 times**
- Minimal communications during transit
- F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters entered Iranian airspace first to draw SAM fire
- Entire strike completed in **25 minutes**

**Assessment:**
- Trump claimed strikes "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment
- July 2025 Pentagon assessment: Iran's nuclear program set back **~2 years**
- Iran has since been **repairing and fortifying** struck sites (satellite imagery, Feb 2026)
- Iran built concrete shield over new facility, buried tunnel entrances, fortified others

### Sources
- [Iran-Israel War — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Israel_war)
- [US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_strikes_on_Iranian_nuclear_sites)
- [Israel-Iran Conflict — Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/event/Israel-Iran-conflict)
- [Al Jazeera — 12 days of conflict visualized](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/26/visualising-12-days-of-the-israel-iran-conflict)
- [CSIS — What Operation Midnight Hammer means](https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-operation-midnight-hammer-means-future-irans-nuclear-ambitions)
- [Breaking Defense — How the US conducted the strikes](https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/operation-midnight-hammer-how-the-us-conducted-surprise-strikes-on-iran/)
- [CBS News — Pentagon reveals B-2 bomber details](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-briefing-us-strikes-iran-nuclear-sites/)
- [Al Jazeera — US re-asserts strikes obliterated Iran nuclear program](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/24/us-re-asserts-2025-strikes-obliterated-irans-nuclear-programme)
- [CFR — Assessing the damage](https://www.cfr.org/articles/us-israel-attack-iranian-nuclear-targets-assessing-damage)

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## Diplomatic Efforts (2025-2026)

### June 2025 Ceasefire
- Brokered under US pressure on June 24, 2025
- No strikes by either side from June 24 through January 2026

### 2026 Nuclear Negotiations

| Round | Date | Location | Mediator | Outcome |
|-------|------|----------|----------|---------|
| 1 | Feb 6, 2026 | Muscat, Oman | Omani FM Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi | Described as "good start" |
| 2 | Feb 17, 2026 | Geneva | — | Iran temporarily closed Strait of Hormuz during talks |
| 3 | Feb 26, 2026 | Geneva | — | "Claims of progress but few details"; no deal announced |

**Key Sticking Points:**
- US demands: **Zero enrichment on Iranian soil**
- Iran position: Would agree to **American verification** of nuclear program (first time)
- Omani mediator said deal "could be reached tomorrow"
- Trump said he was "not happy" with progress

### Sources
- [Iran-Israel War Ceasefire — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Israel_war_ceasefire)
- [2025-2026 Iran-US Negotiations — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iran%E2%80%93United_States_negotiations)
- [PBS — US-Iran nuclear talks wrap with no deal](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-risk-of-war-looms-u-s-iran-nuclear-talks-wrap-with-no-deal-announced)
- [Haaretz — Trump not happy with talks](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-02-27/ty-article-live/report-u-s-central-command-commander-briefs-trump-on-possible-attacks-on-iran/0000019c-9d63-d981-a1be-9ffb0e270000)

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## Key Figures

| Person | Role | Relevant Actions |
|--------|------|-----------------|
| **Donald Trump** | US President | Threatened regime change; ordered military buildup; said he's "not happy" with talks |
| **Marco Rubio** | US Secretary of State | Traveling to Israel Feb 28 to brief Netanyahu |
| **Benjamin Netanyahu** | Israeli PM | Coordinated with Trump on Iran strategy |
| **Israel Katz** | Israeli Defense Minister | Confirmed Feb 28 attack on Iran "to remove threats" |
| **Ayatollah Ali Khamenei** | Iran Supreme Leader | Not seen publicly for days before Feb 28 strike near his offices |
| **Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi** | Omani FM | Mediating US-Iran nuclear talks |

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## Iran's Post-War Rebuilding (Satellite Intelligence)

As of February 2026, satellite imagery shows Iran:
- Built a **concrete shield** over a new facility at a sensitive military site, covered in soil
- **Buried tunnel entrances** at nuclear site bombed by US
- **Fortified tunnel entrances** near other nuclear facilities
- **Repaired missile bases** struck during the June 2025 war
- Racing to rebuild nuclear and missile capabilities

### Sources
- [Jerusalem Post — Satellite images show Iran fortifying](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887125)
- [Iran International — Iran fortifies sites as talks stall](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602195042)
- [Alma Center — Iran rebuilding assessment](https://israel-alma.org/iran-situation-assessment-february-2026-the-race-to-rebuild-the-nuclear-and-missile-array-casual-terror-and-the-crink/)

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## Additional Analysis & References

- [CFR — Global Conflict Tracker: Iran](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/confrontation-between-united-states-and-iran)
- [CSIS — How would Iran respond to a US attack?](https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-would-iran-respond-us-attack)
- [Foreign Affairs — Why Iran will escalate](https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/why-iran-will-escalate)
- [NBC News — New US attack could risk large-scale retaliation](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/new-us-attack-iran-risk-large-scale-retaliation-rcna259964)
- [Stars & Stripes — Iran likely to respond more forcefully](https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-02-23/iran-attacks-greater-strikes-20844844.html)
- [UK Parliament — Impacts of June 2025 strikes](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10292/)
- [RAND — The Israel-Iran detente won't last](https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2026/01/the-israel-iran-detente-wont-last.html)
- [Polymarket — Israel strikes Iran prediction market](https://polymarket.com/event/israel-strikes-iran-by-february-28-2026)
- [Congress.gov — CRS report on US strikes](https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IN/PDF/IN12571/IN12571.1.pdf)

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*This document is a living record. Situation is fluid and rapidly evolving as of February 28, 2026.*