Israel

Not long ago, Donald Trump had little patience with the idea of full-scale wars with Iran.

The 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June last year, he said, could have “gone on for years and destroyed the entire Middle East”, had Mr Trump himself not bluntly told Benjamin Netanyahu it had to stop.

Eight months later, Mr Trump has ordered a full-scale bombing campaign aimed at nothing less than the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran itself. This time, he and Netanyahu seem to be working hand-in-hand on the same project.

'The Iranian people in Iran are so happy… nobody likes the war but the Islamic Republic have been killing people for 47 years.'

GB News' Will Godley meets an anti-Iranian regime protester in London as they rally against the Islamic Republic. pic.twitter.com/o8Dlwtf825

— GB News (@GBNEWS) February 28, 2026

So let me get this straight, the United States and Israel bombed Iran today and the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are all mad at Iran because Iran fired missiles at them in retaliation.

Iran fired at them because the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan host American military installations. Also, Israel’s Iron Dome protects the Holy Lands so well that Iran refused to waste ammunition.

The shift in allegiance surprises only people who paid no attention to President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, which enabled today’s attack.

The decision by the United States and Israel to plunge into a new war with Iran creates a highly dangerous moment with unpredictable consequences. Israel used the word “pre-emptive” to justify its attack.

The evidence is that this is not a response to an imminent threat, which the word pre-emption implies. Instead, it is a war of choice.

Israel and the United States have calculated that the Islamic regime in Iran is vulnerable; dealing with a severe economic crisis, the fallout from the brutal crackdown on protesters at the start of the year and with defences still badly damaged by last summer’s war. Their conclusion seems to have been that this was an opportunity that should not be squandered.

As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.

The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow. pic.twitter.com/B0k5gV4YnU

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 28, 2026

Am I hallucinating? Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau & his pro-Iranian-regime brother are crying in their artisanal beers. @fancypants_s https://t.co/KGiExE2ZIQ

— Patti Jo (@TheSupeHero) February 28, 2026

In Iran, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have opted to play regime change roulette.

They are wagering with the lives of civilians in Iran, Israel, and the Gulf countries. They risk embroiling American and Israeli forces into yet another forever war, a military operation with no clear objectives and no way to truly win. And they do so with no clear plan, purpose, or objective.

This bet may yet pay off. These strikes could paralyze the Iranian state enough that the people may seize power from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Trump has called them to do.

The Star’s kind of crowd …

💥 Deputy leader of @TheGreenParty Mothin Ali is at the really extreme pro-Islamic Republic of Iran protest in London RIGHT NOW. What is he doing there? This is shocking even for him.

🎥 @uprising_1 pic.twitter.com/b7q7iXfnPW

— Heidi Bachram (@HeidiBachram) February 28, 2026

Patience with diplomacy has expired, and a major military onslaught against Iran has started. As with any strategy for victory, the military means will need to be matched to achievable ends.

It seems from the outset that President Trump is setting the most ambitious objective: toppling the Islamic regime of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Announcing the strikes on Saturday, he talked about the regime’s “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” against the US and its allies, as well as telling Iranians, “your hour of freedom is at hand”.

Not so fast… https://t.co/H3fLk6jUTR

— Blazingcatfur (@fancypants_s) February 28, 2026

The U.S.-Israel-led strikes on Iran started overnight and are probably going to continue for some time. Both Canada and Australia have issued statements in support of the strikes, but there has been objections from others.

Germany, France, and the U.K. are calling for a restoration of negotiations following the strikes, with French President Macron saying the operation “carries grave consequences for international peace and security.”

I am surprised carney came out in support of the Iran strike.

ICYMI: Victor Davis Hanson: Victor Davis Hanson: Preventive or Preemptive? The Pros and Cons of a Potential US Strike on Iran

As President Donald Trump positions “the largest naval and air forces” off Iran’s coast that the U.S. has “seen since the invasion of Iraq in 2003,” he… pic.twitter.com/BHlMB4UOWQ

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) February 28, 2026

The US and Israel have launched an attack on Iran.

US president Donald Trump has described ongoing “major combat operations” and called for Iranian government forces to lay down their arms.

Earlier, Israel’s Defence Minister said Israel had launched a “pre-emptive attack” against Iran, with explosions heard across the country.

Iran Live

BBC Live Feed – US and Israel launch attack on Iran, as Trump says ‘major combat operations’ under way

Telegraph Live Feed – Trump: ‘Massive and ongoing’ combat operation in Iran

Al Jazeera Live Feed – US, Israel attack Iran live: Trump announces ‘major combat operations’

Jerusalem Post Live Feed – Israel, US target Iranian leaders in strikes as missile barrages trigger sirens

Twitter-X feed Iran

Monitor The Situation – Middle East

Iran launches heavy missile barrage across Israel in retaliation for US-Israel attack

Sirens have sounded across Israel’s north and central regions on Saturday, after a rocket barrage was fired from Iran. A missile impacted in northern Israel, a Magen David Adom source told Walla, with no injuries being reported.

According to a report by Fire and Rescue, a missile’s shrapnel impacted on a 20-story building and penetrated into the 17th floor.

President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026

(more…)

Spooked by President Trump’s praise of “very good talks” with Iran, Binyamin Netanyahu is rushing to Washington on Tuesday to try to impress upon the US that any deal must curb ballistic missiles as well as Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The Israeli prime minister requested that a visit due on February 18 be brought forward after Trump touted an imminent follow-up meeting between his envoys and Tehran. Iran insisted that only nuclear issues were on the table.

Amid the din of global speculation over US military build-up in the Middle East, Israel’s leaders have remained unusually silent.

Aside from some remarks in support of Iran’s anti-government protests this month, Israel’s prime minister has had little to say publicly about his superpower ally taking on his biggest enemy. His government has remained equally silent.

“It shows you the importance Netanyahu puts on this moment,” said Danny Citrinowicz, who served for 25 years in Israel’s Defence Intelligence, and is now senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Related … President Trump, Please Do Not Leave Iran’s Regime in Place!

h/t Guitar Guy for the Vid, described as an independent source of Iran news.