Missiles strike near Ayatollah Khamenei’s offices; Iran’s Supreme Leader evacuated; Middle East on the brink of all-out war
TEHRAN/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON ,February 28, 2026 -The Middle East has crossed the threshold from tension to open warfare. Israel launched a daytime preemptive strike on Iran’s capital Tehran on Saturday, with a US official confirming to multiple outlets including AP, CNN, and Al Jazeera that American forces participated in the joint operation.
Several missiles struck University Street and the Jomhouri area in central Tehran, with smoke rising visibly over the city’s skyline. Explosions were also reported in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah. In a chilling proximity, the first Israeli strike landed near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s offices. Khamenei has since been evacuated to a secure, undisclosed location.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared the assault “preemptive,” aimed at removing threats to the State of Israel, and declared an immediate state of emergency across the entire country. Schools were shuttered, airspace closed, and civilians ordered to remain near safe rooms as sirens wailed nationwide.
The strikes follow the collapse of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday. Trump had warned earlier in February that “really bad things” would happen unless Tehran agreed to a deal, and on Friday declared he was “not happy” with negotiations. Oil prices have already climbed to six-month highs amid fears of a supply shock through the Strait of Hormuz.
Retaliation by Iran is considered imminent.
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