Developing: U.S. and Israel Launch Joint Military Strikes on Iran as Tehran Retaliates Across the Region

The joint U.S.-Israeli military operation began with coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. According to multiple reports, the United States had positioned F-22 stealth fighters in Israel ahead of the operation, putting "almost any target in Iran at risk," according to Fox News reporting on the military deployment.

President Trump confirmed the operation in a formal statement, explicitly calling for regime change in Iran. "They can never have a nuclear weapon," Trump declared, while also urging Iranian citizens to "take over your government." The language marked a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward Tehran, moving beyond the containment approach of previous administrations.

The State Department had signaled preparations for the operation in the days leading up to it, authorizing non-essential U.S. Embassy personnel in Jerusalem to depart. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had traveled to Israel to discuss Iran and related issues, according to reports from multiple outlets. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth separately made headlines by declaring Anthropic, the AI company, a "supply chain risk to national security" — a move that appeared connected to the broader military posture.

Iran's response was rapid and multi-pronged. Tehran confirmed it had struck a U.S. military base in Bahrain and launched strikes across the region, with reports indicating at least four U.S. military bases were targeted in the retaliatory wave. Explosions were heard across the Middle East as both sides exchanged fire in what became the most intense U.S.-Iran military confrontation in history.

The humanitarian and civilian impact began immediately. Airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East as airspace became increasingly dangerous. Multiple countries issued travel warnings for the region. In Israel, civilians sought shelter as Iranian retaliatory strikes threatened population centers, with news outlets publishing images of Israelis taking cover.

The conflict also raised concerns about the broader regional security architecture. Pakistan's defense minister separately declared his country in "open war" with Afghanistan following Taliban retaliatory strikes — a parallel escalation that further complicated an already volatile geopolitical landscape. Aid groups operating in Gaza and the West Bank received a temporary reprieve when an Israeli court paused a threatened ban, though the broader humanitarian situation remained precarious.

International reactions to the strikes reflected deep divisions. Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S.-Israeli operation as an "unprovoked act of armed aggression," according to reports from ABC News and the Washington Times. The strong language from Moscow signaled potential complications for any diplomatic resolution, given Russia's long-standing relationship with Iran.

European leaders were described as "cautious" as they scrambled to assess the situation. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to coordinate Britain's response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes. The European reaction underscored the difficulty Western allies faced in balancing their security partnerships with the United States against concerns about regional escalation.

In Washington, congressional reactions fell largely along partisan lines, though with notable exceptions. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, praised Operation Epic Fury, saying Trump was "willing to do what's right" — a rare break from his party's largely critical stance. Other Democrats expressed outrage at what they viewed as an unauthorized military escalation. Republicans broadly supported the operation, framing it as a necessary step to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump himself indicated some ambivalence, saying he would "love not to" attack Iran "but sometimes you have to," while also suggesting he would give further nuclear negotiations more time.

Financial markets were already under pressure before the strikes began. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had closed more than 500 points lower on Thursday following a hotter-than-expected inflation report, with core wholesale prices rising 0.8% in January — well above expectations. The Iran strikes layered geopolitical risk onto an already anxious market.

CNBC reported that markets were bracing for impact, with analysts warning of "bigger ramifications than Venezuela" — a reference to earlier U.S. sanctions and interventions that roiled energy markets. Oil prices were expected to face significant upward pressure given Iran's role as a major petroleum producer, while safe-haven assets including gold and U.S. Treasury bonds were likely to see increased demand.

The geopolitical uncertainty also intersected with other market-moving developments. UBS had downgraded the U.S. stock market, and private equity stocks were among the most oversold names in the S&P 500. Meanwhile, the technology sector faced its own turbulence as the Trump administration blacklisted AI company Anthropic, with OpenAI subsequently striking a deal with the Pentagon. The convergence of military conflict, hot inflation data, and tech sector disruption created a uniquely challenging environment for investors.

The timing of the strikes appears closely linked to the state of Iran's nuclear program. CBS News reported on the advanced state of Tehran's nuclear capabilities, raising questions about how close Iran was to achieving weapons-grade enrichment. The Trump administration had designated Iran a state sponsor of wrongful detention ahead of the strikes, adding another layer of diplomatic pressure.

BBC's international editor Jeremy Bowen described the moment as "dangerous" but noted that "US and Israel see opportunity not to be missed" — suggesting that intelligence assessments may have indicated a narrowing window to act against Iran's nuclear infrastructure before it became too advanced to neutralize through military means.

Trump's rhetoric about regime change added a dimension that extended beyond the immediate military objectives. By urging Iranians to "take over" their government and telling them "the hour of your freedom is at hand," the president signaled ambitions that go well beyond simply degrading Iran's nuclear capabilities. Analysts at Fox News raised the question of who would fill the power vacuum if Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei fell, warning that strikes could expose the grip of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Iranian politics. The coming days and weeks will determine whether Operation Epic Fury remains a limited strike or marks the beginning of a broader and potentially protracted military engagement.