“Operation Roaring Lion” Joint Strike On Iran [Update]

The United States and Israel launched a joint strike on Tehran after sunrise this morning. Targets for the attack included the office of Iran’s supreme leader and the presidential office in Tehran, as well as military sites across the country.

[Update] 

Trump says Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint strike on Iran. Trump said the death is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

Iran states the joint strike from the U.S. and Israel is an “egregious act of aggression without any reason,” according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.

Baghaei said the Trump administration has been “dragged” into a conflict in which “the only beneficiary” is Israel. Adding, “The American people should be reminded that we were again in the middle of the diplomatic process that was progressing.”

In talking about retaliation, Baghaei said, “This is in accordance with our inherent, legitimate right of self-defense. This is our responsibility, our duty as a state to defend our territory and our sovereignty against this unlawful act.

“Every country in the region recognizes the threat that is coming from Israel’s attack against Iran.”

When asked if the conflict could widen throughout the region, he stated “anything is possible,” before reminding listeners Iran “didn’t welcome this war — it was imposed on us.”

The number of students killed in the joint strikes that hit an elementary school has been raised from 24 to 53.

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media: “It is only fair to give the Iranian people a chance to get rid of the terrorist regime, to get rid of it and guarantee the safety of all nations that have suffered from terror originating in Iran. It is important that the United States is determined. And whenever America is determined, global criminals weaken.”

The Ukraine has repeatedly accused Iran of providing Russia with weapons since the war with Ukraine.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada supports the joint strike on Iran by the U.S. and Israel “to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.

“Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worse human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons.”

The U.K. government has also stated, “Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” in response to the joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel, and added, “We stand ready to protect our interests.”

The New York Police Department announced the enhancement of boots on the ground presence at sensitive locations as they are monitoring events in the Middle East closely.

“As is our protocol and out of an abundance of caution, we will be enhancing patrols to sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites,” reports the NYPD.

The Interior Ministry of Bahrain started evacuating people in the Juffair area where a US naval base is located. Smoke has been seen rising over the area, according to Al Jazeera.

Sources told CNN the U.S. is planning for several days of attacks. President Donald Trump described the joint strikes as “massive and ongoing,” warned the possible loss of American lives, and told Iranians to “take over your government.”

Iran has retaliated with an unprecedented wave of strikes on Israel and U.S. targets across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in several countries including Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar. Additionally, all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended.

The Iranian strikes disrupted air travel and oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian drone struck a high-end, densely populated area of Dubai, according to CNN.

An elementary school was hit by an Israeli strike in the city of Minab located in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran. The attack killed 24 students.

The morning of Saturday, Feb. 27, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. band Israel began “major combat operations” in Iran, citing the Middle Eastern nation’s refusal to halt nuclear weapons production.

Shortly after 9 a.m., the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran calling the strike “Operation Roaring Lion,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The joint strikes began because Trump claims Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and continue developing long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach our American homeland.”

Trump Video After Joint Strike

In video comments posted on Truth Social, the president stated the joint strikes were part of a “massive and ongoing operation” against the Tehran regime.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. We are going to annihilate their navy, we are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region and the world.”

The eight-minute video continues, including a plea for the Iranian people to remain indoors and “take over your government” when the strikes halt.

This is an ongoing story. Guardian Liberty Voice will provide updates as they become available.

Sources:

CNN: Live updates: Israel launches ‘pre-emptive’ strike against Iran
Politico: Trump says US conducted ‘major combat operations’ in Iran
Fox News: Israel, US launch attack on Iran amid escalating protests

Featured Image Courtesy of Jabiz Raisdana’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License