Signal 2026 Iran War — US-Israel Strike Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Ceasefire Fragile

Summary

The 2026 Iran war began on 28 February 2026, after US authorization at 3:38 p.m. EST on 27 February, under the codenames Operation Epic Fury (US), Operation Roaring Lion (Israel) and Operation True Promise IV (Iran's response). In the first week, the Israeli Air Force struck approximately 500 military targets and deployed about 1,200 bombs within 24 hours, which it called the largest combat sortie in its history; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed along with other senior officials. Casualty estimates vary widely by source: Iran reported 3,503 killed, OCHA estimated more than 3,400 civilian deaths, and US/Israeli sources claimed more than 6,000 Iranian military personnel killed, while Hezbollah's internal sources reported more than 1,000 of its fighters killed. A ceasefire began on 8 April but collapsed on 8 July when attacks resumed, and as of the article's writing the war remained ongoing under a de jure ceasefire. Key leaders involved included US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, following Khamenei's death.