US President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday, February 28, 2026, that the US military has begun “major combat operations” in Iran to destroy Tehran’s missile capabilities.
He said that the objective of these operations is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world,” Trump said in a video speech on Truth Social.
He announced that the US military is “undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.”
“We are going to destroy their missiles and erase their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy,” Trump said.
“We are going to ensure their regional terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or suicide bombs,” he added.
Earlier, a US official told Reuters that the US has begun air and sea strikes against Iran.
Trump also addressed the Iranian people, telling them to “take over your government” once the operation ends. “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it… Now you have a president who is giving you what you want, so let’s see how you respond,” he said.
In recent weeks, the US has amassed a significant military buildup in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, and their strike groups, as well as hundreds of military aircraft and advanced missile defense systems, including Patriot and THAAD batteries.
On Saturday morning, Israel carried out a pre-emptive attack against Iran, hitting several locations in the capital Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Kermanshah and Karaj.
