Iran ; explosions across Tehran following Israeli and US strikes, 28 February 2026

[Lebowski]

No one wants that, and it would be an absolute political nightmare.

But it makes absolutely no sense militarily, and there clearly no plans for that.

My only concern is that this stops

the lack of any military option that is both realistic and likely to do anything beyond anger them is why taking a belligerent approach has always been idiotic.

they're several times the size of Iraq, both in area and population. and properly occupying Iraq was beyond both our capabilities and political willpower.

 

[Vaderman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2027919092540174500

I'm watching Sky News Live and they just announced Iran State News confirmed his death.

 

[otto]

"The attacks between Israel, the United States, and Iran are impacting the entire Middle East. Travel advisories for Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories have been red-flagged, and foreigners are now stranded at international airports, such as those in Doha and Abu Dhabi.
...

"We hear explosions every now and then. These aren't from impacts, but from interceptions. We first get announcements from the embassies: there are incoming missiles , duck and cover.
...

The street was crowded: a lot of people were praying outside a mosque."

Gestrand in het Midden-Oosten: 'We zagen het spoor van een raket, doodeng'

Er zijn Nederlanders gestrand, onder meer op internationale luchthavens in het Midden-Oosten, zoals in Doha en Abu Dhabi.

nos.nl

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2027921506483753446

 

[missy1974]

Did you read the whole thing?

It says that the Iranian people are afraid they will be left alone.

It's easy to be glad a bad guy is dead.

But American and Israeli attacks appear, at least to the people this twitter contributor quoted, to not really be about the Iranian people.

MOO

CBS News contributor Masih Alinejad, whose parents and siblings live in Iran, says the Iranians she's spoken to are overcome with joy that "their killers have finally been the target of the U.S. government and they see justice; but at the same time, they are worried, they're concerned that if this is not going to lead to regime change... if the American government, the Israeli government only target the military leaders, not the political leaders, then the people of Iran are going to be left alone."

I do believe they have targeted both military and political leaders. News has slowly trickled out today, my point was, you said that the Iranian people are not celebrating today. It doesn't mean they don't fear the future, but implying that they (or the majority) are not happy about what happened today is just not correct.

 

[Lebowski]

we don't have any way of knowing how the Iranian people feel, one way or the other

 

[SouthAussie]

"The fars agency has reported that the government has declared 40 days of public mourning in the wake of Khamenei’s killing.

It also announced seven days of public holidays.

As we announced earlier, Khamenei’s killing was announced on Iran’s state media, but no details surrounding his killing were announced."

Trump says Iran attacks to continue until ‘all objectives’ achieved

Iran declares 40 days of mourning and launches attacks after supreme leader's killing; Israel strikes Tehran.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[otto]

More at link ... what happened to protesters who were detained in Iran during the past month:

"35-year-old protester arrested after January demonstrations in Mashhad died in hospital after weeks in a coma caused by severe torture in Revolutionary Guards intelligence detention, according to information received by Iran International.

Arash Tolou Sheikhzadeh was detained on February 6 when agents from the intelligence arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps raided his home about a week after he shared videos of protests held in Mashhad on January 8 and 9.

After several days without contact and with his phone switched off, his mother went to his apartment and found it ransacked, with broken windows and no sign of her son, a source close to the family said.
...

On February 12, the family learned through a hospital contact that Arash had been transferred to Velayat Hospital in Mashhad with broken arms, legs and severe head injuries, including a damaged skull. He was admitted to intensive care with a level of consciousness of 2.5 and placed on a ventilator."

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602235537

 

[MassGuy]

we don't have any way of knowing how the Iranian people feel, one way or the other

We absolutely do. Reporters talk to them directly, and the celebrations speak for themselves. People in the US talk to their families back home, and tell us what their mindset is.

This isn't some black hole.

 

[SouthAussie]

"Pete Hegseth has declared that the “Iranian navy will be destroyed”, adding that US military forces “are fully unleashed to achieve” the objectives set by Trump.

In a post on X, Hegseth said that Washington “will not tolerate powerful missiles” targeting Americans after Iran launched a counter-strike following the joint US and Israel attacks."

Trump says Iran attacks to continue until ‘all objectives’ achieved

Iran declares 40 days of mourning and launches attacks after supreme leader's killing; Israel strikes Tehran.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Iran’s Fars news agency has more details on the supreme leader’s killing.

It says Khamenei was killed at his office while “performing his assigned duties” in the early hours of Saturday morning.

****************************************

In a short post on X, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s deposed Shah, has thanked Trump for the military operation launched against Iran, saying “their hour of liberation is at hand”.

“The courageous Iranian people have paid a heavy price for freedom,” he added.

Pahlavi, who is seeking to lead Iran, said that he has laid out his plan “for an orderly, transparent transition to a democratic Iran”.

Trump says Iran attacks to continue until ‘all objectives’ achieved

Iran declares 40 days of mourning and launches attacks after supreme leader's killing; Israel strikes Tehran.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[missy1974]

We absolutely do. Reporters talk to them directly, and the celebrations speak for themselves. People in the US talk to their families back home, and tell us what their mindset is.

This isn't some black hole.

I don't have to look hard to find videos of Iranians dancing in the streets and celebrating in Iran.

 

[Snoopster]

Article on White House website from 8 months ago.
Experts Agree: Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated

From nuclear regulators to foreign policy experts to members of the intelligence community, every knowledgeable person is in agreement that President Donald J. Trump obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: “New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do.

Israel Atomic Energy Commission: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.

 

[Lebowski]

We absolutely do. Reporters talk to them directly, and the celebrations speak for themselves. People in the US talk to their families back home, and tell us what their mindset is.

This isn't some black hole.

but nothing like a randomized sample

 

[MassGuy]

Beth Sanner, Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence on CNN: Iran struck the Gulf states in order to force them to pressure the US to stop these attacks. The exact opposite has occurred, forming a coalition against Iran.

Total misread from Iran, as usual.

 

[bestill]

we don't have any way of knowing how the Iranian people feel, one way or the other

It's all over social media. I just hope the Iranian people have a way of choosing their way forward and leadership. That's the scary thing.

 

[Sundog]

So you genuinely want a country that has killed tens of thousands of innocent people (to include countless Americans over the years) to be able to build up its weapons stockpiles, fund its terror proxies, and continue work towards the bomb?

A country that is arming Russia and helping them kill innocent people in Ukraine.

Right now they’re showing who they are, intentionally attacking hotels and airports and other civilian areas.

This was the natural progression of October 7, when Hamas (funded by Iran) launched its attack.

Time to finish the regime.

Well said!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

• SUPREME LEADER DEAD: President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed today after the U.S. and Israel launched a predawn assault on the country. Iranian state media later confirmed his death.
• MAJOR JOINT ATTACK: The U.S. launched "major combat operations" in Iran, joined by Israel, Trump announced earlier in a video message.
• IRAN'S LEADERS TARGETED: Israel targeted Iranian political and military leaders, two U.S. officials told NBC News, while the U.S. aimed to take out Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
• TRUMP URGES REGIME CHANGE: Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government” when the strikes are over. “The hour of your freedom is at hand,” he said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/israel-iran-live-updates-rcna261099

 

[Warwick1991]

Khamenei is gone, but the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are a major force that could put down a rebellion by the people. They may have a force as large as 125,000, although exact numbers are unknown. The IRGC is an elite class, like the Soviet elites, who will probably fight as hard as they can to maintain their grip on Iranian society and its resources. JMO

 

[MassGuy]

Khamenei is gone, but the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are a major force that could put down a rebellion by the people. They may have a force as large as 125,000, although exact numbers are unknown. The IRGC is an elite class, like the Soviet elites, who will probably fight as hard as they can to maintain their grip on Iranian society and its resources. JMO

Yup. They have everything to lose.