War on Iran: how the US-Israeli bid for regime change unfolded
In a coordinated daylight assault, the United States and Israel bombed Tehran, targeting top Iranian officials and government sites. The attack triggered Iranian missile launches across the Gulf, drawing the region into a broader conflict and raising questions about diplomatic alternatives.
In the early morning hours, a joint United States‑Israel operation unleashed a series of missiles over Tehran, striking government buildings, elite residences and a school in the south. The timing—just after the workday began—was intended to maximize the impact on Iran's leadership while catching the country's air defenses off guard.
What the strike targeted
Explosions erupted on Pasteur Street, the hub of Iran's political power, where the offices of the Supreme Leader, the president, the national security headquarters and the Assembly of Experts are located. Satellite imagery later showed the Supreme Leader’s compound reduced to a cloud of dust. Iranian state media initially claimed the Ayatollah was unharmed, but within hours the government confirmed his death. The former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also suffered severe damage to his Tehran residence, though his condition remained unclear.
Simultaneously, a missile hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, killing more than a hundred civilians. Iranian officials said the school was near a Revolutionary Guard base, suggesting the strike may have been aimed at a military target but was timed when children were present.
Political rhetoric and coordination
Shortly after the attacks, Israeli intelligence posted a Farsi message urging Iranians to rise up, while former President Donald Trump broadcast a pre‑dawn video declaring the start of “major combat operations” and calling for an uprising against the regime. The Pentagon later revealed the operation was code‑named “Epic Fury,” and Israel announced its own label, “Operation Roaring Lion.” Both leaders framed the assault as a pre‑emptive move to eliminate an “existential threat.”
U.S. and Israeli officials said the strike was the culmination of months of joint planning. Negotiations in Geneva involving Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had broken down just days before, leaving the military option as the fallback. The arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford in Haifa, accompanied by a full escort fleet, underscored the scale of the U.S. force projected to the region.
Iran’s retaliation and regional fallout
Within hours of the Tehran bombardment, Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel and several Gulf states that host U.S. bases. Explosions were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. In Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, a luxury hotel caught fire after being struck. The UAE said it intercepted most projectiles, though a civilian died in Abu Dhabi from falling debris.
Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Azizi warned that the war had moved beyond anyone’s control. The rapid escalation caught many Western legislators off guard; senior U.S. lawmakers later criticized President Trump for initiating a war without congressional authorization or a clear end‑state.
Diplomatic attempts and the road ahead
Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi, who had mediated the Geneva talks, rushed to Washington on the eve of the strike to plead for more time. His appeals arrived after the missiles had already been launched, and he publicly lamented the collapse of “active and serious negotiations.”
As night fell over Tehran, uncertainty lingered about which members of the Iranian hierarchy survived and how the country would respond to the unprecedented assault. The United States and Israel now face the challenge of containing a conflict that has already spilled into the Gulf, while Iran’s missile campaign threatens to draw additional regional actors into the fight.
What comes next?
Analysts say the next 48‑72 hours will determine whether the confrontation escalates into a protracted war or stalls for diplomatic intervention. International bodies are urging restraint, but the presence of massive U.S. naval assets and the rhetoric from both sides suggest a high risk of further strikes. The world watches as the Middle East stands on the brink of a broader conflict that could reshape regional power dynamics for years to come.
Why it matters
The strike marks a dramatic escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran, threatening to widen a localized confrontation into a full‑scale regional war.
Key points
- Daylight missile strike hit Tehran’s government district, killing the Supreme Leader and other officials
- Civilian casualties surged after a school was hit in Hormozgan province
- U.S. and Israel framed the attack as a decapitation move, naming it Epic Fury and Roaring Lion
- Iran responded with missile launches across the Gulf, striking UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait
- Diplomatic talks in Geneva collapsed days before, and Omani mediation failed to prevent the assault
Frequently asked questions
What was the official name of the U.S. operation against Iran?
The Pentagon identified the strike as "Epic Fury."
Which Iranian leader was confirmed dead after the attack?
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead by Iranian state media.
How did Iran retaliate after the Tehran bombing?
Iran launched a salvo of missiles toward Israel and Gulf states, hitting targets in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
Did any diplomatic efforts occur before the strike?
Negotiations in Geneva involving U.S. envoys and Iran’s foreign minister ended without an agreement, and Omani mediation failed to halt the attack.
What was the civilian death toll from the school strike?
Local authorities reported more than 100 civilians killed when a missile struck a girls’ elementary school in Minab.
