JERUSALEM, Feb. 28, 2026 — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday that Israel and the United States had initiated a coordinated military operation against Iran, declaring that the campaign was aimed at eliminating what he described as an “existential threat” to Israel’s security.
In a recorded address released to the public, Mr. Netanyahu said the operation had begun only moments earlier and was undertaken in close partnership with Washington. He characterized the move as a defensive necessity in the face of what he called persistent and growing dangers posed by Tehran.
“A short while ago, Israel and the United States launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the regime in Iran,” Mr. Netanyahu said, speaking directly to Israeli citizens. He did not provide operational details, citing security considerations.
The announcement came amid heightened alert levels across northern Israel. In Haifa, sirens sounded and residents were seen closing businesses and heading to protected areas, according to local media footage. Israeli authorities did not immediately confirm whether the sirens were directly linked to retaliatory fire or precautionary measures.
Mr. Netanyahu coupled his remarks with a message directed at the Iranian public, urging them to challenge their leadership. “Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” he said. “The time has come to cast off tyranny and build a free and peaceful Iran.”
Officials in Washington had not yet released a detailed statement outlining the scale of U.S. involvement, though the prime minister’s language suggested significant coordination between the two allies.
For years, Mr. Netanyahu has warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for armed proxies across the region constitute a direct and potentially irreversible danger to Israel. The two countries have engaged in a prolonged shadow conflict, marked by cyberattacks, covert operations and airstrikes beyond their borders.
It remained unclear whether the newly announced operation targeted nuclear facilities, military infrastructure or other strategic sites within Iran. Iranian authorities had not immediately responded publicly to the claims.
Diplomats and regional analysts cautioned that an expanded confrontation could have sweeping consequences, potentially drawing in armed groups allied with Tehran and destabilizing an already volatile region.
As details continued to emerge, governments across the Middle East and beyond called for restraint, underscoring the risks of escalation in a conflict that could reshape the strategic balance of the region.
U.S. and Israel Begin Joint Military Action Against Iran, Netanyahu Says
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