🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷 U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles flying over Iraq toward Iranpic.twitter.com/elRKAy7MK6 https://t.co/bJ3LEpDsMG
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 28, 2026
Israel and the USA have attacked Iran and Iran has begun to retaliate:
US, Israel Launch War on Iran
February 28, 2026
The US and Israel have started an aggressive war against Iran, and Tehran has retaliated with strikes against Israel and American military bases in the Middle East.
In a video posted to Truth Social early Saturday morning, President Donald Trump announced the beginning of military operations against Iran. Trump called on the Iranian people to rise up and seize power from their government. The President also stated that the war may result in American soldiers being killed.
An Israeli official said the goal of the war is regime change in Tehran. “The goal is to create all the conditions for the overthrow of the Iranian regime. We are targeting all of Iran’s political and military leadership – past, present, and future.” They continued, “The developments also depend on the question of how much the Iranian people will rise up.”
The Department of War has dubbed the attack on Iran Operation Epic Fury. US officials told Fox News that the strikes against Iran are expected to continue for days.
Kann News reports that Israeli strikes targeted the top political leadership of Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian state media has reported that Khamenei and Pezeshkian are unharmed. Trump said the US would completely destroy Iran’s missile program and navy.
Iran has responded by attacking US military bases around the Middle East and Israel. Blasts have been reported in Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, and Israel. https://news.antiwar.com/2026/02/28/us-israel-launch-war-on-iran/
February 28, 2026
US President Donald Trump announced that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran,” calling the campaign “a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.”
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally… obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy,” he said in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.
“We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.”
Trump indicated that the goal was to topple the regime, and he called on the Iranian people to seize the opportunity and take over their government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his own video message to the public that the operation was launched “to remove the existential threat” posed by the Islamic Republic, and “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny.
“The time has come for all parts of the Iranian people… to cast off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran,” the premier said.
Iran vowed a crushing response to the military campaign and launched repeated missile barrages at Israel starting at around 10 a.m., sending millions into shelters. … Israel said it had named its operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar.” Washington, meanwhile, said its name for the campaign was “Epic Fury.” https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-and-israel-launch-major-joint-assault-on-iran-trump-indicates-goal-is-to-topple-regime/?utm_campaign=most_popular&utm_source=website&utm_medium=article_end&utm_content=7
February 28, 2026
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian crown prince and longtime opposition figure, urged Iranians to stay vigilant and prepare for what he called a decisive moment in the country’s history.
In his address to the Iranian people and the nation’s security forces, Pahlavi cast the intervention as a historic opportunity, framing it as a “humanitarian intervention” against the Islamic Republic’s leadership rather than against the Iranian people.
“The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived,” he said.
“But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near,” he added.
Pahlavi’s message came hours after coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel targeted key sites in Tehran and other areas of Iran, triggering explosions that were widely reported across the capital and prompting retaliatory fire from Iranian forces. https://justthenews.com/world/middle-east/iran-resistance-leader-says-final-victory-within-reach-after-us-israeli-strikes?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators
I warned here earlier this month that Iran looked to be overplaying its hand (see Iran makes retaliatory threats–is Iran overplaying its hand?).
Presumably the Iranian regime is hoping that the attacks will be limited enough and it will survive.
Iran has responded militarily, but thus far the type of damage it threatened has not reportedly happened in anything I have seen. But here is something that the Israelis have reported:
According to assessments, Mohammad Pakpour, the Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been eliminated by Israeli decapitation strikes on Tehran. pic.twitter.com/KpNyrNuWgh
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 28, 2026
Mohammad Pakpour had been under sanctions by, the USA, the European Union, Australia, Japan, and Canada for his involvement with the IRGC and its wider operations.
So, it looks like Iran is fighting back without one of its top military leaders.
Yet, Iran, itself, is not finished. It could cause great damage to Jerusalem and other places soon, or perhaps later this year or next. Consider also:
February 28, 2026
Iranian military officials said they would deliver a “historic lesson” to Israel and the U.S. in response to the strikes, as Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign designated by the Department of War, continues to hit military infrastructure, top army leaders, and other high-value targets across multiple Iranian cities. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-announces-major-combat-operations-iran
Yet notice also a later update to the article above:
Will the chaos be contained, after Iran unleashed retaliatory missiles on at least five regional countries, including Israel? Iran is quickly signaling that it’s not willing to escalate this further, hoping for a halt in the US-Israeli operation:
Iran is attacking U.S. military facilities in the Middle East region and not “Americans in their land,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in his exclusive interview with NBC News.
He added that Tehran was interested in de-escalation and ready to talk once the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes end.
Amid rumors that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could be dead, after direct strikes on his main headquarters in the capital, Araghchi said that he is still alive “as far as I know.”
Araghchi is directly signaling the American side via an exclusive interview with NBC News. He spoke live from Tehran Saturday morning. He acknowledged that “two commanders had died but senior officials in the regime had survived including the head of the judiciary and the parliament speaker.”
Iran hopes that the USA will stop, while Donald Trump hopes the people will rise up and overthrow the regime.
The Book of Isaiah points to an Iranian confederation that will cause great damage to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9) and we are getting closer to the fulfillment of that prophecy. Israel and the USA’s attacking Iran may lead to the fulfillment of that prophecy, as well as lead to the deal of Daniel 9:26-27 and the countdown for the return of Jesus this year (with Jesus’ return being as early as 2032).
As far as Iran and prophecy go, notice something from my January 2025 free eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? :
Iran and Prophecy
Prior to his first election, Donald Trump stated that he wants to eliminate or at least change the “nuclear deal” with Iran. [i]
And that he did.[ii]
However, the Biden-Harris Administration tried to revive it, though never fully did. However, the Biden-Harris Administration did release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets back to Iran[iii] as well as it, apparently intentionally, did not enforce sanctions which allowed Iran to nearly triple its oil revenues 3 years after Donald Trump left office.[iv]
In the June 27, 2024 debate with Joe Biden, Donald Trump then blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for assisting in Iran’s ability to provide more funding to proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.[v] It is believed that Donald Trump will likely use some type of “maximum pressure” strategy again against Iran during his next Administration.[vi]
Because Bible prophecy indicates that it will be primarily Arabic nations that support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), though with some support (probably temporary per Daniel 11:25-26) from Turkey (and possibly Pakistan), it is not biblically possible that Iran can truly be the leader of the Islamic world as it seems to want to be. Also, because it is basically due east of Jerusalem, Iran should not be considered to be a candidate to be the final ‘King of the South’ of biblical prophecy.
Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).
It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have a connection to Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14).
Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.
Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the USA itself (as well as is the State of Israel) is vulnerable to EMP type attacks and items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.
But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).
[i] Wilkinson T. Trump’s plans to scuttle or amend the Iran nuclear deal remain a work in progress. Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2016
[ii] Trump DJ. President Donald J. Trump is Ending United States Participation in an Unacceptable Iran Deal. White House Fact Sheet, May 8, 2018
[iii] Knickmeyer E, et al. Americans released by Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’ Associated Press, September 19, 2023
[iv] Steil B. Biden is Giving Up Powerful U.S. Financial Sanctions on Iran | Opinion. Newsweek, August 13, 2021; Cohen A. Joe Biden’s Iran Oil Sanctions Failure. National Interest, November 2, 2024
[v] READ: Biden-Trump debate transcript. CNN, June 28, 2024
[vi] What is Trump’s ‘maximum pressure policy’ that could drive up costs for China’s Iranian oil imports? Times of India, November 6, 2024; Strobel WP, et al. Trump to Renew ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Against Iran. Wall Street Journal, November 8, 2024
Iran is still capable of terroristic attacks in places around the world. It can also use other conventional missiles to cause great damage to Jerusalem.
Here are also some statements from my list of 26 items to prophetically watch in 2026:
We expect to see more wars, rumors of war, and civil unrest.
WATCH IRAN AND ISRAEL as we seem to be very close to the time that Isaiah 22:5-11 is about to be fulfilled. Here is what the Bible says:
5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain.
6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate. 8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall.
11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago. (Isaiah 22:5-11)
Iran (Elam), Syria (Kir), Hezbollah (armor of the House of the Forest) and Israel (Judah) are to be engaged in major conflict. …
Donald Trump, leaders in the Middle East, and leaders in Europe have all discussed various peace deals. Essentially, they tend to be advocating one similar to the deal in Daniel 9:27.
Various Palestinian statements point to at least some in Europe will be involved, and may take the lead, on this deal. The Hamas-Israel war is a spark and one day we expect to see a larger war in the Middle East.
So, this is something to look out for as that is consistent with biblical prophecy.
What appears most likely at this stage is the Trump-Vance Administration will try to work with the Palestinians and Europeans to come up with something they will find acceptable and then attempt to pressure Israel to take it.
Though it likely will take a regional war involving Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Israel, with the prophesied destruction coming to Jerusalem. This is something we may see in 2026.
Once the deal is made, it will at some point be confirmed for one prophetic week (which could happen some time AFTER a deal is made) by the “prince,” the seven-year countdown for the return of Jesus occurs.
Yes, it looks like we may be seeing a major war and possibly a prophesied peace deal in 2026. And yes, that will essentially begin the countdown to the Apocalypse (meaning, in this case, the Great Tribulation). That said, a while back, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to Iran and Israel:
Iran and Israel Conflict
European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.
Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.
While the end is not yet, it is getting much closer. As Jesus said:
37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:37)
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27? Here is a link to something related in the Spanish language: Estados Árabes emiratos unidos y el tratado de paz en el medio este.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
26 items to prophetically watch in 2026 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 26 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon: 26 Items to Watch in 2026.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.