Trump announces “major combat operations” against Iran as explosions rock Tehran and region

• President Donald Trump announced that the United States has launched “major combat operations” against Iran, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” aimed at eliminating imminent threats and dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
• In a video address, Trump accused Tehran of refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions and vowed to destroy Iran’s missile systems, military infrastructure and navy.
• He cited Iran’s history of hostility toward the U.S., including the 1979 hostage crisis and regional proxy activity, saying Washington would no longer tolerate what he described as decades of aggression.
• Trump issued an ultimatum to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), urging members to surrender for “complete immunity” or “face certain death,” despite U.S. operations appearing to be conducted primarily from the air.
• The strikes were announced shortly after mediated talks in Oman reportedly showed progress, and as Israel confirmed its own attacks on Iranian targets, heightening fears of a broader Middle East conflict.

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday, Feb. 28, that the United States has launched “major combat operations” against Iran, pledging to devastate the country’s military capabilities and eliminate its nuclear program.

In an eight-minute video posted on his Truth Social platform at approximately 2:30 a.m., Trump said the U.S. military action, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Department of War (DOW), aims to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

Trump said that the U.S. “can’t take it anymore,” accusing Tehran of rejecting “every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions.” He added that the U.S. would “lay waste” to Iran’s military infrastructure and “obliterate” its nuclear program.

Trump cited Iran’s long-standing hostility toward the U.S., referencing the 1979 hostage crisis and more recent actions by Iranian-backed proxy groups across the Middle East.

“For 47 years the Iranian regime has chanted “death to America” and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,” Trump said. “It’s been mass terror. And we’re not going to put up with it any longer.”

Explosions were reported in Tehran’s Pasteur district, home to the highly secured residence and office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as in multiple other Iranian cities. The extent of the damage and whether any senior officials were killed is still being determined.

Iran has responded with a swift wave of retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, targeting U.S. military bases in nearby countries and Israeli positions. Blasts have been reported from the beaches of Dubai to the streets of Doha. It remains unclear whether these explosions are missile impacts or interceptions, but the speed and scale of Iran’s response indicate a coordinated and aggressive retaliation.

Analysts note that, unlike the June strikes by the U.S. and Israel—which focused on Iran’s missile stockpiles and concluded in hours—this round of attacks began in daylight on the first working day of the week in Iran and may continue for several days. Observers warn that this escalation could mark the beginning of a longer and more complex regional conflict.

Trump urges Iranian people to “take over your government” once U.S. operations conclude

The president also asserted that Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a direct threat to U.S. national security. He said American forces would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground” and vowed to “annihilate” Iran’s navy.

In his address, Trump issued a direct ultimatum to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite wing of Iran’s military. He called on its members to lay down their arms and accept “complete immunity,” warning they would otherwise “face certain death.” Given that U.S. operations appear to be conducted from the air rather than involving ground forces, it was unclear how or to whom IRGC members would be expected to surrender.

Trump also addressed the Iranian people directly, urging them to “take over your government” once U.S. operations conclude. “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond,” he said.

Iranian officials had not immediately issued a formal response at the time of Trump’s statement. The scope, duration, and potential consequences of Operation Epic Fury remain unclear, but the move marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions and raises fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East.

Watch this episode of the “Health Ranger Report” with the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Dave DeCamp as they talk about whether 2026 be a year of peace or war.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

AlJazeera.com

Edition.CNN.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com