U.S.-Israeli Iran Campaign Ends in Fragile Ceasefire

A U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched on February 28, 2026, has culminated in a fragile two-week ceasefire after six weeks of intense airstrikes and retaliatory attacks, leaving the Iranian regime battered but resilient amid ongoing negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional security.

The conflict erupted with coordinated airstrikes by U.S. and Israeli forces targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile sites, and leadership in Tehran and other cities. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial barrage, along with several senior officials, according to U.S. and Israeli statements. Over 13,000 to 17,000 strikes followed, employing B-2 bombers, F-35 jets, and Tomahawk missiles to hit air defense systems, naval assets, weapons factories, and underground complexes. U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine reported that about 80 percent of Iran's air defenses and more than 90 percent of its regular navy fleet were destroyed, while roughly 90 percent of weapons factories sustained attacks. Iran's nuclear program, including sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, faced repeated bombardment with bunker-buster munitions.