TEL AVIV, February 28, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced Saturday morning that Israel had launched a military attack on Iran as part of joint strikes with the United States.

Katz stated that "Israel has begun a preemptive strike against Iran, aimed at removing threats to the State of Israel."

According to a U.S official, American air forces are reportedly participating in the operation, carrying out dozens of strikes from bases around the Middle East and from an aircraft carrier.

Following the announcement, an immediate state of emergency was declared throughout Israel, coinciding with the start of the attacks targeting the Iranian capital, Tehran. Israeli airspace was completely closed. Sirens sounded in various parts of Israel this morning amid fears of a possible Iranian response.

For its part, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that missiles targeted University Street and the Jomhouri area, and that two explosions occurred in the Seyed Khandan district north of Tehran.

Explosions were heard in several Iranian cities, including Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj, several ministries in southern Tehran were targeted, amid heightened regional alert.

Iran closed its airspace, coinciding with the closure of Iraqi airspace.

Y.S