On Saturday morning, the news broke that Operation “Roaring Lion” had commenced, featuring coordinated American-Israeli airstrikes targeting military installations within Iran. Shortly thereafter, Israeli media outlets began circulating satellite imagery purportedly showing damage to a site linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, allegedly hit in the operation’s initial phase.
In reaction, Iran launched missile attacks, prompting air raid sirens to sound across various regions. An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the volume of incoming missiles was “more in the dozens” with each volley, although no major damage was reported during the briefing. The Home Front Command advised citizens to heed updated safety guidelines and refrain from posting real-time locations of missile impacts on social media.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Saturday morning, criticizing Tehran for its role in regional turmoil. He stated, “From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has equipped, trained, and financed terrorist militias that have drenched the earth with violence. Iran’s proxy, Hamas, orchestrated the horrific October 7th attacks on Israel, killing over 1,000 innocents, including 46 Americans, and taking 12 hostages. It was an unprecedented act of brutality.”
He emphasized, “Iran stands as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. My administration, as well as the United States, has consistently maintained that this terrorist regime must never obtain a nuclear weapon. They can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, cautioning that “in the coming days, we will need to demonstrate resilience.” His speech underscored the broader narrative from Israeli authorities, portraying the operation as essential and potentially extended.
Smoke billows over Tehran’s skyline following an explosion on Saturday, February 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Israeli officials said the goal of the campaign is “to thoroughly degrade the Iranian regime’s capabilities and remove existential threats to the State of Israel.” The military cited renewed Iranian efforts to advance ballistic missile production and conceal elements of its nuclear program as justification for the timing of the strike.
Israeli assessments, according to local reports, indicate that Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Khamenei and a key figure linked to Iran’s nuclear program, was likely killed in the operation. The military has not formally confirmed specific individuals targeted, saying assessments are ongoing.
Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv transfers patients to underground fortified facilities after the launch of the campaign against Iran. (Gideon Markowicz/TPS-IL)
The Israeli National Security Council issued a warning to Israelis abroad, urging them to take heightened precautions in all destinations and remain alert to potential threats against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas.
Inside Israel, the reaction combined tension with discipline. Schools in some areas shifted to remote learning, reservists received draft orders, and families checked that protected rooms were stocked. The military said approximately 70,000 reservists were being called up, largely for aerial defense, Home Front Command duties and border reinforcement.
An interception is visible in the sky over Haifa during the latest barrage. (Anthony Hershko/TPS-IL)
Officials said forces are deployed across all borders in preparation for possible escalation involving Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and others. While leaders stressed that the targets are military and not civilian, they acknowledged that the coming days could test the country’s endurance.
For now, Israelis are watching closely as developments unfold, bracing for further retaliation while leaders signal that the campaign will continue “as long as necessary.”
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