US and Israel Conduct Six-Month Military Campaign Against Iran

The United States and Israel launched a massive military conflict against Iran on February 28, 2026, beginning with an air campaign of nearly 900 strikes in the first 12 hours. The opening wave killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials. Israel claimed air superiority within one day and destroyed approximately 85% of Iranian air defenses within three weeks, a success attributed to years of economic sanctions that limited Iran's access to modern technology.

Donald Trump authorized the initial assaults and a subsequent naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to isolate the Iranian economy. However, the campaign resulted in significant civilian casualties, including a US-made Tomahawk missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab that killed 156 people, 120 of whom were children. By April, Trump called for a ceasefire due to rising oil prices and declining domestic support, though he continued periodic strikes and economic warfare.

By September 2026, the results of the conflict remain inconclusive. While the US and Israel degraded Iran's conventional military power, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, declared on August 7 that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US lifts sanctions and pays for damages. In Israel, the conflict has strained the government, with a June survey indicating 92% of Israelis believe Iran gained more from the war, complicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position ahead of the October 27 elections.