The U.S. and Israel launched an aerial bombardment of Iran on February 28, 2026. The war has claimed thousands of lives across the Middle East and disrupted one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The first wave of strikes killed several Iranian senior officials, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei’s regime still holds power. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, took over on Mar. 8.
U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 1,443 Iranian civilians, including 217 children, as of Mar. 23. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and surrounding countries with U.S. military bases, killing 13 U.S. soldiers as of Mar. 14.
Both sides have bombed airports, factories, oil refineries, and ports along the Strait of Hormuz, the main conduit for 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas. Iran closed the Strait on Feb. 28, causing surging oil prices and global energy shortages.
U.S. and Iranian leaders are negotiating to reopen the Strait. Economists believe disruptions to the global oil market will continue long after the war is over.
President Trump, who promised to “stop the wars” during his 2024 campaign, has offered many conflicting statements about why the war began, and when it might end.
Here are the facts.
Why did Trump decide to attack Iran right now?
Trump initially announced that his intention was to eliminate “immediate threats” from Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had a “good feeling” Iran was going to strike U.S. assets and personnel.
But in private briefings to Congress, White House officials said U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was planning to attack the U.S. Instead, they were concerned about the general threat Iran posed to U.S. military personnel and allies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the White House knew Israel was planning to strike Iran, so Trump attacked to avoid potential retaliation.
Lawmakers have raised concerns about Trump allowing Israel to bring the U.S. into a new war, especially without permission from Congress. The 1973 War Powers Resolution allows the President to bypass Congress only in self-defense, or in response to a direct, imminent threat.
Trump justified the attack as “collective self-defense” for U.S. allies.
Joe Kent, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned from his position because of Trump’s decision:
“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
What do the U.S. and Israel want from this war?
Trump said the war is a “massive and ongoing” campaign to destroy Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, and that it will continue until he believes Iran can “no longer pose a military threat.”
The Israeli government has the same goals, accusing Iran of investing “enormous resources” to “wipe Israel off the map.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war will “continue as long as necessary” to eliminate the “existential threat” to Israel.
Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Trump previously announced he had “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program in June 2025, when the U.S. and Israel jointly bombed its uranium facilities. He’s now accused Iran of trying to “start all over again,” warning without evidence that Iran will “soon” have missiles capable of reaching the U.S.
A 2025 U.S. intelligence report estimated that Iran is a decade away from developing long-range missiles.
When will the war end?
Trump has been unclear about how long the war will continue. He said the war was “nearing completion” on April 1, but that he would hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next few weeks. The U.S. has deployed thousands more troops to the region.
Iran rejected U.S. demands to shut down its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Apr. 7, Trump said he would “wipe out a whole civilization” if Iran did not reopen the Strait within two weeks.
Trump also threatened to completely obliterate Iran’s power plants, oil wells, and desalination plants. Attacking desalination plants, which convert seawater into drinking water, is considered a war crime under international law.