For years, Israeli military and intelligence officials warned that the day would come. The threat of a nuclear-armed Iran had dominated Israeli strategic thinking for more than two decades. Diplomatic efforts, covert operations, cyber campaigns, and targeted strikes had all been used to slow what Israel considered an existential danger. But on February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States moved beyond containment entirely.
This is what Israel has done, why it did it, and what the consequences have been.The groundwork for the February 28 operation had been laid months in advance. Following the twelve-day war of June 2025, in which Israeli and American strikes significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli intelligence continued to monitor Iranian efforts to rebuild missile capabilities and expand enriched uranium stockpiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly contacted President Trump on February 23, informing him of the upcoming location of a high-level meeting of Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The intelligence was specific and actionable. Within days, the decision to proceed with a coordinated strike had been made at the highest levels of both governments.
On the night of February 28, Israel launched what military observers described as one of the most complex coordinated air operations in modern military history. Working alongside American forces conducting their own simultaneous strikes under the operation name Epic Fury, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of targets across Iran in the opening hours, focusing heavily on the northern regions of the country.