The US and Israel jointly conducted airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to research based on four sources. The CIA shared intelligence on Khamenei's location with Israel, enabling the strike, The New York Times and CBS reported, citing anonymous sources. However, the US position on the strike remains disputed: two sources said the US opposed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied those reports, calling them 'FAKE' on social media. This contradiction affects the understanding of US involvement in the decapitation strike and the level of coordination between the US and Israel.
The 2026 war began with a 'decapitation' strike against Iranian leadership, unlike the 12-Day War in June 2025, which was the first significant military test between Israel and Iran and demonstrated Israel's ability to overwhelm Iran's air defenses, according to research based on eight sources. The shift to a decapitation strategy in 2026, based on two sources, marked a significant escalation in the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu denied reports that the US rejected an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei, calling them 'FAKE'.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel, US bases, and US-allied countries, according to research based on eight sources. Iran says US and Israeli forces have bombed nearly 10,000 civilian sites and killed more than 1,300 civilians since the war began. As of Monday after the strikes, 787 people had been confirmed killed across Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. The accurate civilian death toll remains unknown, as Iran's figures cannot be independently verified.
The US and Israel struck more than 5,000 targets and decimated Iran's air force and navy, according to Washington and Israel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no evidence of a structured nuclear weapons program in Iran at the time of the strikes.
Trump said in a social media post that the conflict 'should end' and he continues to hope for a negotiated agreement.
An internal Pentagon email reportedly outlines options to penalise NATO allies perceived as unsupportive of US operations in the war with Iran. Proposed measures include suspending Spain from the alliance and reassessing the US stance on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, according to the email. The confidential memo expresses significant frustration over certain allies' reluctance to grant essential Access, Basing, and Overflight (ABO) rights for the Iran conflict, major media reported. Spain's refusal to allow its bases or airspace for attacks on Iran and Britain's initial hesitation to grant US access to its bases are cited as examples of allied reluctance, according to major media. These policy considerations emerge amid Donald Trump's past criticisms of NATO allies for not contributing sufficiently and his questioning of the alliance's value, major media reported. However, a US official said the Pentagon email does not suggest US withdrawal from NATO or closing bases in Europe. It is unclear whether the email was authentic and officially considered, or just a draft proposal.
President Donald Trump opposed the Israeli plan to kill Khamenei and prefers de-escalation, according to a senior US official. Trump said in a social media post that the conflict 'should end' and he continues to hope for a negotiated agreement. The exact US position on the strike that killed Khamenei remains unclear: did the US approve, oppose, or was it unaware? The current status and objectives of the Iran war, and whether there is any ongoing diplomatic effort, are also unknown.