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

[Lebowski]

Coming from Iran International which is generally reliable but not without its biases:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028932783511372039

sounds defiant. which is the attitude pretty much anyone in their position would take. it's more or less how we would respond.

now, one might say "but their position is as a state sponsor of terror. ... it's wrong to compare us to them... .... they've killed a lot of americans... they're the bad guys .... their behavior and the trajectory they're on can't be tolerated", and i'd generally agree with that. but everyone is the hero of their own story. right? they're not going to say "we're sorry, we've been bad. you are right, we are wrong. we'll be nice and do what you want now." ... any more than americans like to admit we helped overthrow iran's democracy in the 50s and funded iraq's war against them in the 80s... and the leadership is certainly not going to do it in response to being personally attacked.

my point is this: the capitulation everyone wants is not going to happen without pressuring and cornering whoever takes over in iranian leadership to a degree that can't be achieved through air power alone, nor with any number of ground troops we're willing and able to field. most likely they're just going to work harder on hiding and finding moles.

all IMO of course

 

[PrairieWind]

Why would we, Europeans, have your back, when you do not have ours in the face of the Russian threat? Why would we have your back when you were recently threating one of our countries with invasion?

MOO

I really hate this disagreement between NATO members. But lets remember that the US had Europe's "back for 60 years mostly at our cost, while many European nations enjoyed the Marshal plan rebuild and the protection of the US. They funneled funds from defense to social programs paid for on the backs of US taxpayers. I'm fine with the past as the past, we must move forward with a NATO that is strong and cooperative. Equal partners.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Mourners attend the funeral of children killed in a reported strike on a primary school in Iran's Hormozgan province

Between 1,500 and 2,000 Irish people stranded in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar due to related flight cancellations have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs as they seek a route home.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee on Tuesday night said the Government was working to finalise a first charter flight that would depart from Oman in the coming days if the security situation permits.

As the conflict threatens to deepen into a protracted crisis, the strategy of the US administration remains opaque.

“I might have forced Israel’s hand,” Trump said on Tuesday, which was a stark correction of the assertion on Monday by secretary of state Marco Rubio that the US had taken pre-emptive defensive action in joining an Israeli-led assault.

Iran sends drones and missiles across the Gulf as up to 2,000 Irish seek route home

Government working to finalise charter flight from Oman while confusion over Trump’s strategy continues

www.irishtimes.com

 

[Charlot123]

Trump administration has still not settled on reasons for going to war with Iran​

Andrew Roth in Washington

The rationale keeps changing – from Iran planning a preemptive strike to lobbying by Israel

Trump administration has still not settled on reasons for going to war with Iran

The rationale keeps changing – from Iran planning a preemptive strike to lobbying by Israel

www.theguardian.com

I'd bet on "lobbying by Israel". And don't get me wrong, I consider Israel our great ally. But we can't afford losing all our other allies, either.

 

[Rush4087]

I find this belief being promoted by Hegseth extremely offensive. This is NOT a religious war!

Military Leaders Say Iran War Is So Trump Can Bring About “Armageddon”

Troops have logged more than 110 complaints about such comments with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

www.yahoo.com

Without any clear message coming from the White House with regard to the purpose of the Iran war, U.S. military commanders have turned to Jesus, apparently telling American troops that the war is “biblically sanctioned.”

Can you please provide link that Hegseth or Trump or US Government (at the top) has stated that this current "war" with Iran is "biblically sanctioned"?

Also, please provide link supporting claim that all "US military commanders have turned to Jesus"

Tia

Jmo

 

[JennieM]

Smoke and fire seen in Lebanon after reported Israeli strikes​

By Richard Irvine-Brown

BBC Verify has been looking into the situation in Lebanon, where a new verified video shows a large plume of smoke engulfing a major road in the southern coastal city of Sidon, following a reported Israeli strike.

Israel has been attacking Lebanon in response to rockets and drones that were fired by the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Features in the video were checked against satellite and street-view mapping, which confirm it was filmed at a commercial area in the north of the city on the Beirut-Saida Highway.

Meanwhile, video from Beirut posted on SnapChat earlier today shows a shop on fire toward the south of the capital, around 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the airport.

We do not know the cause of the fire, but there is what appears to be a hole in the facade of one shop and scattered debris, which is consistent with the aftermath of an explosion.

X

Israel launches new strikes on Iran as US identifies first American soldiers killed in conflict

The four US Army reserve soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait on Sunday, one day after the US and Israel began the operation.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Sundog]

Can you please provide link that Hegseth or Trump or US Government (at the top) has stated that this current "war" with Iran is "biblically sanctioned"?

Also, please provide link supporting claim that all "US military commanders have turned to Jesus"

Tia

Jmo

Just my suggestion, but don't waste your time on looking for credible links. These are mainly opinion pieces with so-called "independent journalists" and not MSM that are approved sources here on WS.

 

[justtrish]

That is absolutely not true. Preparations were many weeks in advance, as our allies were fully aware that a strike was possible, based on the US military's posture. They were likely not told of the exact timing of such an attack, as you risk exposing operational security. This is precisely why they were able to take out so many top leaders in broad daylight.

Everyone paying even a slight bit of attention knew this was likely coming. British intelligence is among the best in the world, if someone like me knew this was coming, they sure as hell did.

Exactly! We have surged forces in the region since December, with things really ramping up in early January. Also, there were advisories issued for Iran and Israel from many countries in Europe. What Iran did after is on Iran. We didn't strike anyone but Iran and then Iran decided to hit civilian targets throughout the middle east. Maybe Iran should be the one to give a warning before they strike civilian targets.

Roundup: European countries urge citizens to leave Mideast as U.S.-Iran tensions rise

Roundup: European countries urge citizens to leave Mideast as U.S.-Iran tensions rise-

english.news.cn

 

[ab01]

DBM

 

[Donswife48]

Well, according to the newspapers, only 16-21% of Americans support war with Iran.

For comparison: "When major U.S. combat involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1965, approximately 60% to 64% of Americans supported the military intervention."

The problem I have with polls is that the people are voicing their thoughts without knowledge of the facts. If I was asked, do I support a war with Iran, I would say no, because I don't like wars. But I am uniformed, if I knew what our leaders knew, I would answer yes. JMO

 

[Hexe]

I don't know what you mean by we don't have your back because US soldiers are not just spending time away from their families for nearly a year at a time for funsies.

First, having military bases around the world provides immense power to the US itself, so indeed the US soldiers are not there for funsies, they are there to protect American interests.

Second, Trump administration have been opposing the UN resolutions, that condemn Russian invasion and support the terriorial integrity of Ukraine, while supporting the resolutions proposed by Russia. Trump's proposed peace plan he has been trying to force Zelensky to accept, is so pro-Russian it could be written at the Kremlin. That's not having our back.

MOO

 

[leehull]

Can you please provide link that Hegseth or Trump or US Government (at the top) has stated that this current "war" with Iran is "biblically sanctioned"?

Also, please provide link supporting claim that all "US military commanders have turned to Jesus"

Tia

Jmo

OP did not say ‘all’ US military commanders have turned to jesus

IMO

 

[nao]

combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer. From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations, the MRFF told me Monday

 

[nao]

The Iran War Is God’s Plan, Say U.S. Military Leaders (Who Believe Trump Was Anointed by Jesus)

Didn’t the Bible tell us to beware false prophets?

www.esquire.com

. Above quote taken from this article

 

[nao]

Dbm

 

[Hexe]

I really hate this disagreement between NATO members. But lets remember that the US had Europe's "back for 60 years mostly at our cost,

After selling half of Europe to Soviets in Jalta.

while many European nations enjoyed the Marshal plan rebuild and the protection of the US.

The Marshall plan helped, sure, but not as much as you think. And, as far as remember it all was repaid.

They funneled funds from defense to social programs paid for on the backs of US taxpayers.

That's nonsense. Funds for European social programs come from European economies.

I'm fine with the past as the past, we must move forward with a NATO that is strong and cooperative. Equal partners.

Then maybe the US should start with treating their NATO allies like equals.

MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Starmer added that the UK would also deploy the HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The prime minister’s announcement comes a day after a suspected Iranian drone attacked the British airbase in Cyprus, but the ministry of defence said the damage was “minimal”.

Monday’s attack happened after Starmer said the UK would help Washington in the war against Iran. The UK had initially denied access over fears that it would violate international law.

“The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there,” Starmer said on Tuesday

UK, France to send warships, air defence assets to Cyprus after ‘Iran’ drone attack on British base

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the United Kingdom is sending helicopters with counter drone capabilities to Cyprus after a...

www.thecable.ng

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Iran has made a "big mistake" by not just attacking US bases and assets in the Gulf states, but also targeting civilians in the region, the former director of the CIA has told Sky News.

General David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA, told lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim that Iran has widened the war by hitting airports, seaports, gas and oil loading stations in Gulf states.https://news.sky.com/story/iran-latest-trump-tehran-israel-strikes-us-drone-live-sky-news-13509565

"It also went after a UK base. I think this was a drone launched by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon against the base in Cyprus," he said.

"What this is doing is bringing those countries, which sought to be neutral in a way, to stay out of it, to not allow the US to use their bases, [to now] be part of it."

Iran made a mistake targeting civilians in Middle East, says former CIA director

General David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA, told lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim that Iran has widened the war by hitting airports, seaports, gas and oil loading stations in Gulf states.

news.sky.com

 

[MassGuy]

4:08 PM

What B-2 bombers are targeting in Iran​

Two U.S. officials say B-2 stealth bombers have been targeting command and control nodes of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as weapon depots and an assembly facility for Iran's rocket program. Operations are ongoing now.
By James LaPorta

Live Updates: Trump defends war with Iran as conflict widens

Israel sent troops into Lebanon as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran widened, and some of Iran's Gulf neighbors warned that Iran's retaliatory fire could draw them into the spreading conflict.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Charlot123]

The problem I have with polls is that the people are voicing their thoughts without knowledge of the facts. If I was asked, do I support a war with Iran, I would say no, because I don't like wars. But I am uniformed, if I knew what our leaders knew, I would answer yes. JMO

I, too, don't know what our leaders know, but I also live with different realities.

1) it can not predict what might happen if this war extends. I can only guess.

2) How people vote: thinking of themselves. My thoughts were, about the stock market and about the cost of gas. It didn't look good. So, not in my interests.

3) now, in whose interests is it? Israel's? It probably answers the interests of Netanyahu, but is Netanyahu Israel? Of the sabras I know here, most oppose Netanyahu. 52% of Israeli were against him in the end of 2025.
So: should I support Bibi's war? I supported Israel on October 7th. I never supported Netanyahu.

So: the lives of people of two countries, Iran and Israel, are already at risk. There will be collateral damages in the lot of neighboring countries in the Middle East.

For the US: stock market down, oil prices, up, US dollar, down. War has already claimed the lives of US citizens.

For Europe: this war is a tremendous headache, if not worse.

So in general, I understand people who don't support this war.