Donald Trump, a smoke plume in Tehran, Iran, and Benjamin Netanyahu Donald Trump has sparked global chaos once again after giving the green lught to joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend. The attacks killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – a devastating moment for the Islamic Republic he has ruled for almost 40 years. Iran retaliated by firing its own missiles at countries linked to US military operations across the Middle East, plunging the region into fresh turmoil. As more countries get roped into the violence, here’s what we know so far. How Did This Conflict Start? The White House has been trying to force Iran to accept a new deal which would prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israel and the US have pointed to Iran’s extensive uranium enrichment programme as proof, as it has almost reached weapons-grade level. Iran continues to reject their accusations, claiming its programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes. Iran also terminated their previous nuclear agreement in June 2025, after the US and Israel waged a 12-day war against the country, hitting its nuclear and military sites. During last week’s negotiations. Tehran’s leadership agreed to stop uranium stockpiling and allow full verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency – but the talks ended without a deal, and Trump said he was “not thrilled”. The president has also been building up the largest US military presence in the region since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. At the same time, public protests in Iran against the oppressive regime have increased in recent months – and been brutally suppressed. Trump and Israel have even encouraged demonstrators to rise up against the government, telling Iranians “this will be, probably, your only chance for generations”. Then on Saturday, Israel launched so-called “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran and Trump accused Tehran of waging an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” targeting the US. He claimed Iran had rejected every chance to renounce its nuclear programme and alleged it was developing long-range missiles that could threaten Europe, US troops overseas and even “soon reach the American homeland”. What Is ‘Operation Epic Fury’? The US announced it would be taking action against Iran with the so-called “Operation Epic Fury”, while Israel called its own offensive “Lion’s Roar”. Trump has announced his plans to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, target Iran’s navy, disrupt Iran-back armed groups in the Middle East and prohibit Iran from building any nuclear weapons. Israel’s president Isaac Herzog told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme that they have a “huge amount of proof” to justify the attacks on Iran. “We are in a historic juncture where the future of the Middle East dependso n the success of this operation,” Herzog said, calling the Islamic Republic the “empire of evil” which wants to “wipe us off the map”. He said: “We have huge amount of proof which we are sharing of course with our British allies and every other allies. “We want to make sure that there is a real change in the region.” pic.twitter.com/BZuJDudLej — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026 How Deadly Have The Strikes Been So Far? Saturday’s strikes killed Iran’s Ali Khamenei who has ruled the country since 1989. The missile strikes killed 148 people at a girls’ school in southern Iran, too, according to Iranian state media. Iran’s retaliatory missiles also hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, killing at least nine – the deadliest attack on Israel since this war started. Three US service members have been killed in action as part of the American military operation, the US Central Command said non Sunday. Trump warned on social media there would likely be more casualties to come, saying in a video posted last night: “That’s the way it is.” The Iranian Red Crescent Society says 555 people have been killed in the country after the attacks hit more than 130 cities. How Is Lebanon Involved? Iran’s allies have leapt into action after the death of Khamenei, who controlled a range of militias across the region. Lebanese Shia milita group Hezbollah – despite being depleted from a prolonged war with Israel 18 months ago – sent missiles and drones towards Israel on Saturday in retaliation. Israel ordered the residents of 50 towns and villages to leave before striking the capital of Beirut and the south of the country, killing at least 31. Lebanon’s prime minster Nawaf Salam has since stepped in to discourage any Lebanese groups from launching rockets towards Israel. He said this was an “irresponsible and suspicious act” which “provides Israel with pretexts to continue its attacks”. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said Hezbollah would “pay a heavy price” for its strikes, which would continue with an increased “intensity”. The Israeli military say its “offensive campaign” against the milita is likely to last several days. What About The Rest Of The Middle East? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also reported that three people have been killed since Saturday in Iran’s retaliatory strikes. Explosions have been heard in Bahrain, Jordan, the Iraqi city of Erbil, and Quatar’s capital of Doha. Smoke has been seen near the US embassy in Kuwait, too. Supporters of Khamenei’s regime have also taken to the streets in cities across the region. Houthi supporters raise posters of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they chant slogans against Israel and the United States during a rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 1, 2026. How Is The UK Involved? Britain has tried not to get directly involved with Trump’s strikes, with ministers citing the mistakes of the UK’s past interventions in the Iraq war. But UK prime minister Keir Starmer said he had allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from British bases. He said this was defensive action, and that the UK would “not join offensive action now”. Hours after that announcement, a suspected drone strike hit RAF Akorotiri, a UK base in Cyprus, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, though there were no casualties. British officials are also planning an unprecedented rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf. There are more than 300,000 UK citizens in the region, and 102,000 of them have “registered their presence” with the British Foreign Office, according to foreign secretary Yvette Cooper. How Could This Conflict Be Felt Around The World? There are widespread fears of a global economic shock triggered by the attack. It seems from cocerns the strait of Hormuz, essential to worldwide trade, could become inaccessible as it sits between Iran and the UAE. Oil prices have already increased and the stock markets are struggling, with brent crude increasing by 13% during early trading hours on Monday. Airlines are also having to grapple with new routes as countries across the Middle East closing their airspace. Local authorities from New York City to LA say they are on high alert out of fears of a pending Iranian attack on the US mainland, too. What Happens Next? The US president said combat operations would continue in Iran “until all of our objectives are achieved”. He justified the strikes by claiming “an Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American”. But Trump also tried to appeal to the Iranian soldiers, saying: “I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death.” Trump claimed his attacks have already killed 48 Iranian leaders. The president has also alleged that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and that he has agreed. However, Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, said “we will not negotiate with the United States” overnight. Meanwhile, Trump’s domestic audience could put pressure on the president to slow down. He was elected on a promise not to drag Americans into other unnecessary wars overseas, and on his famous “America First” pledge. A Reuters /Ipsos poll found only 27% of Americans approve of the strikes, and a quarter of Republicans think Trump is too willing to use military force. Related... Keir Starmer Faces Backlash After Letting America Use UK Bases To Attack Iran Trump's 'Unbelievable' 9-Word Response To Iran Question Sparks Fury Online Keir Starmer Gives United States Permission To Use UK Bases To Strike Iran