{"id":2574603,"date":"2026-02-28T02:26:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T07:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-and-israel-launch-preemptive-attack-against-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T02:28:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T07:28:30","slug":"us-and-israel-launch-preemptive-attack-against-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-and-israel-launch-preemptive-attack-against-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"US and Israel launch &#8216;preemptive&#8217; attack against Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-and-israel-launch-preemptive-attack-against-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2574603&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Israel launched an opening wave of strikes against Iran, with Tehran reportedly targeted in the first wave and some outlets saying the United States was involved, tho there has been no official U.S. confirmation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz framed the operation as a preemptive strike to remove threats to Israel, and sirens were heard in Israel while officials described the daylight attacks and a drill in planning for possible retaliation. Mossad also issued a Persian-language Telegram message urging Iranians to help in the coming operations, promising to \u201creturn Iran to its glorious days.\u201d In parallel, the U.S. ordered shelter-in-place for its citizens in Qatar as its main base there was noted in relation to past tensions, and the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the region to provide options for defending assets, building on prior U.S. strikes against Iranian facilities. The article situates these actions within a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >broader regional context shaped<\/a> by Iran\u2019s proxies and the Israel-Hamas conflict since Oct. 7, 2023, noting Iranian retaliation fears and uncertainty over Iran\u2019s leadership, with mentions of Trump-era actions and warnings about the potential for wider escalation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US and Israel launch &lsquo;preemptive&rsquo; attack against Iran<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2518426\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"219\">Israel<\/a> has launched an opening wave of strikes against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a>, with the first wave targeting Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple outlets, citing U.S. officials, reported that the U.S. was also taking part in the strikes. There has been no official confirmation from the U.S. as of yet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4474790\/rubio-memo-warns-middle-east-officials-not-inflame-tensions\/\">Rubio memo warns Middle East officials not to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rubio-memo-warns-middle-east-officials-not-to-inflame-rising-tensions-in-the-region\/\" title=\"Rubio memo warns ... ... not to inflame &#039;rising tensions in the ...&#039;\">inflame &#8216;rising tensions<\/a> in the region&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4474413\/keir-starmer-green-party-election-defeat\/\">Starmer blasts &#8216;extreme&#8217; and &#8216;sectarian&#8217; Green Party after brutal election defeat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4474598\/trump-us-friendly-takeover-cuba\/\">Trump says US could &#8216;very well&#8217; see a &#8216;friendly takeover of Cuba&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the attacks on Saturday, saying it was a &ldquo;preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel.&rdquo; He warned of an &ldquo;immediate state of emergency throughout the entire country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Videos posted on social media showed plumes of smoke rising across Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the 12 Day War, which began with a predawn series of strikes, Saturday&rsquo;s strikes occurred in broad daylight.<\/p>\n<p>Sirens sounded across Israel, but a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAFsite\/status\/2027628803405615355?s=20\">statement<\/a> from the Israeli Air Force clarified that there was no immediate danger yet, and the sirens were a drill to prepare for expected retaliation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo\/Vahid Salemi) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Concurrent with the opening strikes, Israel&rsquo;s Mossad also went to work. Its Persian-language Telegram channel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/manniefabian\/status\/2027637491847631297?s=20\">called<\/a> on Iranians to help in the coming operations, urging citizens to &ldquo;share photos and videos of your just struggle against the regime with us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our Iranian brothers and sisters, you are not alone! We have launched a highly secure and dedicated Telegram channel especially for you. Together we will return Iran to its glorious days,&rdquo; the message read.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. embassy in Qatar implemented a shelter-in-place order for all citizens. The main U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hispanic-caucus-takes-aim-at-african-american-veterans-service-on-key-panel\/\" title=\"Hispanic Caucus Takes Aim at African-American Veteran\u2019s Service on Key Panel\">military base<\/a> in Qatar was attacked by Iran during June&rsquo;s 12 Day War.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-help-on-the-way\">Help on the way?<\/h2>\n<p>The mission was the culmination of weeks of speculation, fueled mostly by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> himself, as to whether he would approve a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\">military<\/a> operation <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4436598\/trump-threatens-attack-iran-worse-than-midnight-hammer-military-buildup-in-region\/\">targeting Iranian senior leaders<\/a> after they <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4428893\/iran-officials-say-protests-over-after-4000-killed\/\">killed thousands of protesters<\/a> who took to the streets in December and January in opposition of the regime. In January, Trump said, &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4447330\/us-iran-negotiations-what-to-know\/\">Help is on the way<\/a>&rdquo; in a message directed to the protesters.<\/p>\n<p>There is now the chance for an Iranian retaliatory response, which <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4427224\/iran-no-restraint-if-trump-intervenes-protest\/\">officials in Tehran have threatened<\/a> if they were attacked by America. Israel has begun taking extensive precautions, including the closing of its airspace and restrictions on civilian movement.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&rsquo;s regime, which has been in place since the 1979 revolution, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/28\/us-news\/rubio-declares-iran-probably-weaker-than-it-has-ever-been\/\">is likely at its weakest point<\/a> amid the protests, which have gone on intermittently for nearly a decade, according to U.S. intelligence reports provided to the president and confirmed by Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The president ordered the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to sail from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East in order to give the president more options for how to carry out the operation and for how to defend possible U.S. assets that Iran could target in retaliation. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4433614\/abraham-lincoln-carrier-strike-group-middle-east-possible-iran-attack\/\">carrier group arrived<\/a> in the region in late January.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s the second time since Trump returned to the White House that the president has green lit operations against Iran, the first time being when the Air Force bombed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3450751\/iran-nuclear-sites-targeted-us-strikes-what-to-know\/\">three of Tehran&rsquo;s most hardened nuclear facilities<\/a>. The long-range bombers that carried out that mission left from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew from there to Iran, carried out the operation, and came back to the base.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s unclear what will happen now when it comes to Iranian leadership, though the U.S. likely does not want to see the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to fill the void left by the deaths of senior leaders across the countries.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The regime had spent decades building up and training proxy groups in other countries with the goal of carrying out operations against their shared targets &mdash; primarily Israel and the United States &mdash; without Tehran facing blowback themselves.<\/p>\n<p>The region has been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3840381\/october-7-anniversary-israel-hamas-war-antisemitism\/\">dramatically reshaped<\/a> since Hamas launched its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/october-7\/\">Oct. 7, 2023 attack<\/a> in southern Israel. That operation, in which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (another Gaza-based terrorist group) killed roughly 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250 individuals was the spark that instigated several connected wars as other Iranian proxies attacked Israel as well.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4474502\/trump-threatening-destroy-iran-nuclear-facilities-obliterated\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4474502\/trump-threatening-destroy-iran-nuclear-facilities-obliterated\/\"><strong>TRUMP IS THREATENING TO DESTROY THE SAME IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES HE SAID WERE &lsquo;OBLITERATED&rsquo; MONTHS AGO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What&rsquo;s left of Iran&rsquo;s proxy groups are militias in Iraq and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/houthis\/\">Houthis<\/a> in Yemen, both of whom are still standingbut were left battered after various U.S. strikes that occurred after they started carrying out attacks in the region, claiming they were doing so in support of the Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza war.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Israel launched an initial wave of air strikes against Iran, with Tehran as the first target, and reports from multiple outlets\u2014citing U.S. officials\u2014suggest that the United States was also involved, though there\u2019s been no U.S. confirmation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a preemptive strike to remove threats to Israel and warned of a nationwide emergency. Videos circulated showing smoke over Tehran, and unlike the previous large-scale clash, these attacks happened in daylight. The Israeli Air Force said the warnings were a drill to prepare for anticipated retaliation. Concurrently, Mossad began its own outreach in Persian, inviting Iranians to support the effort and share footage of the regime\u2019s suppression through a secure Telegram channel.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. embassy in Qatar ordered shelter-in-place for citizens, and the main U.S. base there had been targeted during the earlier conflict. The mission reflected weeks of speculation, driven largely by President Trump, about striking Iranian leaders after protests in December and January. Trump had previously suggested help was on the way to protesters. Tehran warned of retaliation if attacked, and Israel tightened security measures, including closing its airspace and restricting civilian movement. Iran\u2019s regime\u2014in power since 1979\u2014appears at a fragile point amid ongoing protests, according to intelligence reportedly shared with the president and cited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The president sent the carrier strike group Abraham Lincoln from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East to broaden options for the operation and to defend U.S. assets from possible retaliation; the group arrived in the region in late January. This marks at least the second time since Trump\u2019s return that he has authorized actions against Iran, the first being an airstrike on three of Tehran\u2019s hardened nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n<p>It remains unclear how Iranian leadership will be affected, though the U.S. likely does not want the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to fill any leadership void. The regime has long built proxy networks in other countries to carry out operations against Israel and the United States without direct Tehran blame. The region\u2019s dynamics have shifted since Hamas\u2019s Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250, triggering broader clashes as Iranian proxies attacked Israel as well. What remains of Iran\u2019s proxies are militias in Iraq and Yemen\u2019s Houthis, battered by U.S. strikes after joining regional hostilities in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza war<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4187,"featured_media":2574604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26059241787342.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32404,3823,73547],"class_list":["post-2574603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-geopolitics","tag-iran","tag-us-israel"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26059241787342.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2574603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4187"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2574603"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2574603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2574607,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2574603\/revisions\/2574607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2574604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2574603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2574603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2574603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}