The United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran early on Saturday, 28 February, following days of military build-up in the region and warnings urging civilians to leave the country.
Explosions were reported across Tehran and other Iranian cities, with initial strikes targeting military and government-linked sites, including areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to social media reports, senior officials were eliminated during the strikes, including Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei and Minister of Defence Amir Hatami.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces were directly involved, announcing that the United States had begun ‘major combat operations’ in Iran. In a video statement, Trump said the objective was to eliminate threats posed by the Iranian regime, declaring: ‘A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran…to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats.’
He also warned Iranian forces to stand down, telling them to lay down their arms or face ‘certain death’, while simultaneously calling on the Iranian population to rise against the government.
The strikes came as nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran collapsed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as a necessary step to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, calling Tehran an existential threat to Israel’s security.
The joint offensive follows a significant US military build-up in the region, including the deployment of aircraft carriers and advanced air assets. According to US officials, the strikes are part of a broader effort to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and curb its nuclear ambitions.
Iran has vowed a ‘crushing retaliation’, with early reports indicating that missiles and drones have already been launched toward Israel, triggering air defence responses across the country. Both Iran and Israel have closed their airspace, while Israel has declared a state of emergency and urged civilians to remain near shelters.
In a post on his social media, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó urged Hungarian citizens to postpone any planned travel to the region due to the ‘unpredictability of potential retaliatory strikes and further military operations’, while asking those currently in Israel and Iran to register for consular protection. He added that he had spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who provided an update on developments over the past hours.
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