EditIsrael says it launched pre-emptive attack against Iran
The attack follows repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes
Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, pushing the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West.
The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June, follows repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
“The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media reported.
⭕ LIVE: Israel has launched attacks against Iran, as multiple explosions have been heard in Iran’s capital, Tehran. https://t.co/5zh1RWQ2qo
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 28, 2026
The U.S. and Iran renewed negotiations in February in a bid to resolve the decades-long dispute through diplomacy and avert the threat of a military confrontation that could destabilise the region.
Israel, however, insisted that any U.S. deal with Iran must include the dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure, not just stopping the enrichment process, and lobbied Washington to include restrictions on Iran’s missile programme in the talks.
Iran said it was prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions but ruled out linking the issue to missiles.
Tehran also said it would defend itself against any attack.
It warned neighbouring countries hosting U.S. troops that it would retaliate against American bases if Washington struck Iran.
In June, the U.S. joined an Israeli military campaign against Iranian nuclear installations, in the most direct American military action ever against the Islamic Republic.
Tehran retaliated by launching missiles toward the U.S. Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest in the Middle East.
Western powers have warned that Iran’s ballistic missile project threatens regional stability and could deliver nuclear weapons if developed. Tehran denies seeking atomic bombs.
U.S. buildup around Iran
The U.S. has undertaken its most significant military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, driven by escalating tensions with Iran over its nuclear program, ongoing domestic protests, and stalled diplomatic negotiations. This “armada,” as described by President Donald Trump, includes two aircraft carrier strike groups – led by the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the recently redeployed USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest carrier, accompanied by multiple guided-missile destroyers and additional warships – positioned to project overwhelming naval power in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
The deployment encompasses over 100 fighter jets (including advanced F-22s, F-35s, F-15s, and F-16s), extensive aerial refuelling tankers, cargo aircraft, missile defence systems like THAAD and Patriot batteries, and long-range strike capabilities, representing roughly 40-50% of deployable U.S. airpower. These forces, supported by bases across the region such as in Qatar, the UAE, and now with F-22s in Israel, aim to deter Iranian actions, protect allies, and provide credible options for rapid military strikes if talks in Geneva fail to yield concessions on zero enrichment and dismantling key facilities, amid warnings of potential limited or broader operations to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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With Reuters, with additional content by g.g.
Caption: Israelis look at the Mediterranean Sea from a lookout in Haifa, Israel, 27 February 2026, ahead of the expected arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the Haifa port. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Updated: February 28, 2026 - 09:07
