Explosions were heard in Tehran and several Iranian cities early on 28 February as the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on key targets inside Iran. The joint operation marks a major escalation in a region already on edge after weeks of diplomatic standoffs. As the strikes unfolded, both Washington and Tel Aviv framed the operation as a direct response to what they call Iran’s growing “existential” threat, a reference to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, regional proxies, and rapidly expanding missile capabilities. In separate video addresses, US President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attack, with Trump announcing “major combat operations” aimed at destroying Iran’s missile infrastructure, and Netanyahu calling it a joint effort to counter a “terror regime.”