Israel has launched a “preemptive strike” against Iran, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz, as a state of emergency was declared across the country. The government declared a state of emergency because of the expectation of Iranian retaliation with drones and ballistic missiles.
The United States participated in the Iran attack and was also carrying out strikes, a U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal. The strikes come amid heightened strain between the United States and Iran over a potential nuclear agreement and growing fears of a wider military confrontation in the Middle East.
#BREAKING | Israel has launched a military operation against Iran. A state of emergency has been declared across the entire country.#Israel | #Iran | #Tehran | #IsraelAttack | #UNI pic.twitter.com/RbGTgxOt6M
— United News of India (@uniindianews) February 28, 2026
Khamenei transferred to a secure location
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a secure location, an official told Reuters. Multiple explosions have been reported in Tehran since today morning. As per media reports, witnesses said the blast struck downtown in Tehran, Iran’s capital, as thick smoke was seen rising in the sky.
Sirens sounded all throughout Israel
The Israel Defence Forces stated that in the last few minutes, sirens were sounded all throughout Israel, with an advance instruction alert directly to cellular devices to stay within proximity to protected spaces. It said that this is a proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the State of Israel. The IDF emphasizes that the public is requested to stay in proximity to protected spaces.
Following a situational assessment, IDF determined that as of today (Saturday), at 08:00, immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command Guidelines. As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Full Activity to Essential Activity. The guidelines include: a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors.
The government said that the public must follow the guidelines published on the official Home Front Command channels. Full guidelines will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.
Watch: Sirens were sounded throughout Israel as the country launched a preemptive strike against Iran pic.twitter.com/XeEI5up4Zz
— IANS (@ians_india) February 28, 2026
IDF attacks underground shafts of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
The IDF also struck a short while ago, the infrastructure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in several areas in southern Lebanon. As part of the strikes, the IDF struck launch positions and underground shafts used by the terrorist organization Hezbollah to advance terror plots against IDF forces and the State of Israel. In recent times, the terrorist organization Hezbollah has been operating in these infrastructures with the aim of rehabilitating the organization. This activity constitutes a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and a threat to the State of Israel. The IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hezbollah to strengthen and rearm and will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel.