Israel Launches Unprecedented Military Campaign Against Iran: Timeline, Impact, and Global Repercussions

Background: From Containment to Direct Action
Months of careful planning preceded the February 28 offensive. Following the twelve-day conflict of June 2025 — during which Israeli and U.S. forces struck and significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — intelligence agencies continued to monitor Iran’s efforts to rebuild missile capabilities and stockpile enriched uranium.

By late 2025, Israeli military intelligence concluded that Iran was nearing a nuclear capability that would be increasingly difficult to counter. Compounding these concerns, a popular uprising erupted in Iran in January 2026, only to be violently suppressed by the government. For Israeli planners, this represented a rare strategic opportunity: Iran was internally weakened, and its regional influence appeared temporarily diminished.

The February 28 Strike: Planning and Execution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed U.S. President Donald Trump on February 23 of the timing and location of a high-level Iranian leadership meeting, which included Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Intelligence was precise, actionable, and timely. Within days, both governments authorized a coordinated offensive.