The 2026 Iran war began on 28 February 2026 with US-Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to research based on two sources. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel, US bases, and allied countries, according to research based on three sources. Mojtaba Khamenei was selected as the new supreme leader after his father's death, research indicates. The current conflict differs from the 12-Day War in June 2025 in that it includes a 'decapitation' strike against Iranian leadership, according to eight sources.
The US and Israel struck over 5,000 targets and decimated Iran's air force and navy, according to Washington and Israel. Iran says US and Israeli forces bombed nearly 10,000 civilian sites and killed over 1,300 civilians since the war began. Iranian state media confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official. Iran's army chief warned of a 'decisive, deterrent, and regretful response' and the Revolutionary Guards reportedly launched missiles at central Israel. An Iranian missile strike on Ramat Gan killed a man and woman in their 70s, according to a Magen David Adom spokesperson. Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least six people were killed and 24 injured in Israeli strikes on central Beirut. The conflict escalated into the 2026 Lebanon war between Hezbollah and Israel, according to eight sources.
The US does not need their help.
Britain, France, and Germany said they are ready to work with the US to defend interests and take defensive action against Iran's missile and drone capabilities, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate end to hostilities and appointed Jean Arnault as his personal envoy. Guterres warned the conflict is 'out of control' and risks a wider global economic shock. US President Donald Trump lashed out at NATO allies, saying 'the US does not need their help.' The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf states, according to eight sources. Pope Leo XIV expressed profound concern and urged both sides to stop the violence. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Khamenei's death is 'a defining moment and an open path to a different Iran.'
The conflict caused surges in global energy prices and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to research based on two sources. LVMH reported a 1% sales growth in Q1 2026, with the Middle East conflict reducing group sales growth by 3 percentage points in March.
Khamenei's death is a defining moment and an open path to a different Iran.
The US struck Iran in 2026 after years of tension over Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and regional influence, according to eight sources. The 12-Day War in June 2025 demonstrated Israel's ability to overwhelm Iran's air defenses, according to eight sources. Israel's operation on June 13, 2025 targeted nuclear facilities, military sites, and regime infrastructure, killing top military leaders and nuclear scientists, according to eight sources. Trump administration officials offered various conflicting explanations for starting the war, including regime change and preventing an imminent threat. The IAEA said there was no evidence of a structured nuclear weapons program in Iran at the time of the strikes. Critics described the US-Israeli attacks as illegal under US law and international law.
An Iranian projectile landed near Australia's Al Minhad base in the UAE, causing minor damage but no Australian casualties, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Iran launched ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands, according to eight sources. A drone strike damaged a hangar at a French naval base in Abu Dhabi, according to France's defense minister. British Defense Minister John Healey said Iranian missile and drone strikes came within a few hundred yards of British personnel in Bahrain. The UK agreed to let Washington use British bases for attacks on Iran's missiles, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.