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

[browneyes]

President Trump is certainly letting the military experts carry out their carefully laid plans He put them in place because of their expertise and ability. They are there to carry out the mission, which he approved. He's not calling the shots moment by moment, he has his team in place to do that.

An ex-Fox News reporter. IMO

 

[MassGuy]

Well, the Constitution has completely disappeared in this administration. IMVHO

Respectfully, that has nothing to do with what we’re talking about, which is military effectiveness.

 

[Skigh]

I think this is going way better than expected. Iran's Navy is completely gone, their missile and done stockpiles are being demolished, their leadership and military heads are now dead, and the Iranian response has not been anywhere near as deadly as feared. Missiles launched at Israel have declined day over day, and Iran's plan to turn the Gulf against this operation has backfired in spectacular fashion.

If this stopped in two days, it was because the US wasn't committed to its objectives. I can't fathom the going 4 weeks though, not with Israel doing a lot of heavy lifting itself.

Destroy air defenses, stockpiles, leadership, the security apparatus, and set the conditions for government collapse.

I don't think they'll achieve the latter, but this has already been wildly successful.

I really would love for a government collapse and for the people to be able to return their country to the happy place it used to be. I especially want to see the women being able to be free from all the restrictions which they have ,under the threat of severe punishment or death,been forced to follow by the tyrannical regime.

 

[browneyes]

I’ve served in the Marines and I assure you, that’s not how it works at all. He is not making the operational decisions you think he is.

I have relatives currently serving in the Marines. They would disagree. Let’s pray this ends soon. IMO

 

[browneyes]

Respectfully, that has nothing to do with what we’re talking about, which is military effectiveness.

I disagree. This military action did not go through Congress. IMO

 

[HmmMysterious]

He's not calling the shots moment by moment, he has his team in place to do that.

Who's the Commander-in-Chief of the military?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Exchange of missiles batters Iran and the wider region​

Since the US and Israel began a joint attack on Iran, Iran has attacked US military bases and cities across the Middle East. The circumstances behind some strikes – such as the attack on Tohid Girls' Elementary School – are disputed.

Note: Reported strikes include air/drone attacks, shelling/artillery/missile attacks and intercepted attacks. Data includes attacks recorded by ACLED up to March 1, 10:00 CET and is subject to revision.

Source: Armed Conflict Location & Event Data; American Security Project.
In his first public briefing since the attacks, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended America’s decision to strike Iran, despite spending years blasting U.S. intervention in the Middle East. He said that Iranian officials spent weeks stalling during the recent rounds of U.S. negotiations as part of their plans to attack. He added that the strikes are designed to reduce Iran’s navy and end its nuclear and missile ambitions.

Live updates: Oil tankers and refineries under attack as US and Israel exchange strikes with Iran and war widens

Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states and Israel and the United States pounded targets in Iran as the war expanded Monday.

apnews.com

 

[Friday Fan]

Iran’s Regime May Survive, but the Middle East Will Be Changed​

A badly weakened Iran will no longer intimidate or threaten its neighbors in the same way. The regional impact could be comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

-
Iran’s supreme leader may be dead, but there will be another. Its slain military commanders will be replaced. A governing system created over 47 years will not easily disintegrate under air power alone. Iran retains the capacity to strike back against American and Israeli airstrikes, and the war’s trajectory is unclear.

But the Islamic Republic, already weakened and unpopular, is now further diminished, its power at home and in the region at one of its lowest ebbs since its leaders took power during the revolution that overthrew Iran’s American-backed shah in 1978-79.

Even if the regime does not fall, which remains the stated aim of President Trump, this massive attack is likely to have strategic consequences in the Middle East comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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Iran built up its missile program and enriched uranium to nearly bomb grade, even as it denied ever wanting a bomb. It became a regional power so strong that Sunni leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Gulf sought to keep good ties with a Shia Islamic regime that also threatened them.

Iran’s decline began two years ago, with Israel’s tough and sustained response to an invasion by Hamas from Gaza. It accelerated when Israel eroded Iran’s air defenses, defeated Hezbollah and profited from the Syrian revolution that overthrew Bashar al-Assad, another ally of Tehran.

But now, with the ayatollah’s death and intense destruction from the air, Iran’s regional sway has ebbed further, with uncertain consequences that will play out over months and even years.

Iran’s Regime May Survive, but the Middle East Will Be Changed

A badly weakened Iran will no longer intimidate or threaten its neighbors in the same way. The regional impact could be comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

www.nytimes.com

I read something similar in Politico, but I didn't post it because it also had a lot of spin. It was a good article. In a nutshell it said: Netanyahu is OK with a weakened regime because it poses less of a threat to Israel.

___________________

I honestly think that's about the best they are going to get...JMO.....
A full revolution is extremely difficult in Iran right now because they do not have a functional opposition within the country. (None of the potential opposition is armed.)

Maybe it will happen later...

All MOO

 

[Vern]

The Military is not in charge; Trump is calling the shots, imo.


The Constitution makes the president the head of our armed forces. Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 reads, “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”


IMO, the Senate is sensitive to criticism and don’t have it in them to contest the President so as a result, imo, the led role in war powers appears to have moved from Congress to the President.


all imo

Being in charge and doing the actual mission planning are realms apart from each other.

The planners have been working their butts off for over a month; I can assure you (from direct experience) that those pros who do this for an actual living know exactly what they are doing. That's their jobs and they do that job regardless of who happens to be at the helm as the figurehead at the time.

 

[Jade]

Do you genuinely believe the military suddenly becomes ineffective depending on who the defense secretary is?

Hegseth says Iran won’t be a ‘politically correct’ war as he lays out US objectives

Hegseth criticized the media, allies and former President Joe Biden during the 40-minute press conference

www.independent.co.uk

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth championed President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran in a press conference Monday morning, refuting concerns from the “fake news” media and “political left” that the conflict would lead to an “endless war.”

“To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars,’ stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said. “Our generation knows better and so does this president.”

The defense secretary insisted the strikes, which have led to a deadly exchange of fire in the region, would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and harming more Americans, even as the operation has already killed four service members.

I’ve served in the Marines and I assure you, that’s not how it works at all. He is not making the operational decisions you think he is.

Served under Trump and Hegseth?

If not past irrelevant with current presidency and defense secretary, imo.

That is how Hegseth addressed Americans in the front of the rest of the world.

Sanctimoniously moaning over the “fake” news media and the “radical left” presenting to the world the administration doesn’t even like their own citizens or value a free press.



all imo

 

[bestill]

Sen Fetterman gets it. I wish others would ask themselves the same question. We can't have it both ways -

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028482183065653587

 

[MassGuy]

Being in charge and doing the actual mission planning are realms apart from each other.

The planners have been working their butts off for over a month; I can assure you (from direct experience) that those pros who do this for an actual living know exactly what they are doing. That's their jobs and they do that job regardless of who happens to be at the helm as the figurehead at the time.

There’s just a complete lack of understanding as to how the US military operates.

 

[missy1974]

On Saturday, Trump said the conflict would last a few days, now he's says 4-5 weeks. That's already a big difference in 2 days, which tells us that it's already a plan that is not coming together as expected.

Ali Hosseini Khamenei was Iran's politician and Shia cleric for decades. More than 150 million people disagree with the US-Israel decision to murder him, and some of his family, in their home. Is the plan to kill them all?

View attachment 649569

Shia Population by Country 2026

Discover population, economy, health, and more with the most comprehensive global statistics at your fingertips.

worldpopulationreview.com

When did he say it would last for days?

I know you are great with links, and I couldn't find anything from Trump saying that.

I thought it was only in the last 24 hours or so that he has said 4 weeks.

TIA

 

[PrairieWind]

On Saturday, Trump said the conflict would last a few days, now he's says 4-5 weeks. That's already a big difference in 2 days, which tells us that it's already a plan that is not coming together as expected.

Ali Hosseini Khamenei was Iran's politician and Shia cleric for decades. More than 150 million people disagree with the US-Israel decision to murder him, and some of his family, in their home. Is the plan to kill them all?

View attachment 649569

Shia Population by Country 2026

Discover population, economy, health, and more with the most comprehensive global statistics at your fingertips.

worldpopulationreview.com

Why would they all need to be killed. Most don't support the Regime. Most Shia are moderates. And many Iranians are celebrating this action.

Iranians 'do the Trump dance' to thank president for killing Khamenei

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that the US had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[HmmMysterious]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028528652745310536

 

[otto]

Eugh so Trump started this war for nothing? He's just as bad as Putin in my opinion.hopefully this doesn't effect us in canada. Jmvho

Canada, as a NATO country, has an obligation under Article 5 to consider an armed attack against one member state to be an armed attack against them all. There is no armed attack against the US and Iran is not a NATO country.

The US seems to be looking for the "weapon of mass destruction" in Iran, In My Opinion. In 2003, the US was looking for the "weapon of mass destruction" in Iraq. Canada's role in Iraq was peacekeeping/policing/training. Carney has said that Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.

Again, in my opinion, until there is evidence that Israel and the US are taking specific actions to prevent development of nuclear weapons, Canada will stay out of it. Even if and when there is evidence of actions to prevent development of nuclear weapons, I don't see any role for Canadians in peacekeepers and training roles.

In my opinion, Canada is safe, and removed, from aggression by the US and Israel against Iran and Shia Muslims.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Or maybe he knows a lot more than the general public, including those of us here, do.

Ah, that 4D chess we've been hearing about

 

[Andovermum]

The military sure as hell does.

The Military is not in charge; Trump is calling the shots, imo.


The Constitution makes the president the head of our armed forces. Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 reads, “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”


IMO, the Senate is sensitive to criticism and don’t have it in them to contest the President so as a result, imo, the led role in war powers appears to have moved from Congress to the President.


all imo

I believed that, even 3-5 years ago. Now seeing the state of the military, with all of the firings of Generals and appointments of people with very little military experience and who is leading it, I honestly do not think they do anymore. All MOO.

Edit: I’m saying this as someone whose father served in the Air Force for over 20 years and pretty much my entire childhood. I grew up on bases and have full respect for our troops. But I have seen a huge shift in our military leadership in the last 12ish months and not in a positive way.

100% agree with you

 

[PrairieWind]

Canada, as a NATO country, has an obligation under Article 5 to consider an armed attack against one member state to be an armed attack against them all. There is no armed attack against the US and Iran is not a NATO country.

The US seems to be looking for the "weapon of mass destruction" in Iran, In My Opinion. In 2003, the US was looking for the "weapon of mass destruction" in Iraq. Canada's role in Iraq was peacekeeping/policing/training. Carney has said that Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.

Again, in my opinion, until there is evidence that Israel and the US are taking specific actions to prevent development of nuclear weapons, Canada will stay out of it. Even if and when there is evidence of actions to prevent development of nuclear weapons, I don't see any role for Canadians in peacekeepers and training roles.

In my opinion, Canada is safe, and removed, from aggression by the US and Israel against Iran and Shia Muslims.

The action is against the Iranian Regime, not Shia Muslims in general. Many Shia are supporting the overthrow of the regime.

 

[Mandi3020]

Who's the Commander-in-Chief of the military?

President Trump is. Do you honestly believe he is not listening to his advisors?