Iran Enveloped in Chaos as Massive US-Israeli Military Strike Follows Months of Economic Collapse and Nationwide Protests

The military strikes hit a nation already reeling from skyrocketing inflation and unprecedented currency devaluation.

RMN News Wars Desk
New Delhi | February 28, 2026

TEHRAN – On February 28, 2026, Iran was plunged into a state of total crisis as a massive, coordinated joint military operation by the United States and Israel struck over 30 locations across the country. This military escalation occurs against a backdrop of months of internal instability, fueled by a devastating economic collapse and a record-low valuation of the Iranian rial.

“Major Combat Operations” Target Nuclear and Military Sites

U.S. President Donald Trump described the offensive as “major combat operations” designed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and destroy its military capabilities. The strikes targeted the capital, Tehran, as well as Isfahan, Qom, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. Media footage showed smoke rising near the Supreme Leader’s office, the presidential palace, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters.

Casualty reports are beginning to emerge, with at least 40 people killed at a school in southern Iran. Additionally, Israel has claimed the death of top IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour.

A Nation Already on the Brink

The military strikes hit a nation already reeling from skyrocketing inflation and unprecedented currency devaluation. Anti-government demonstrations, which began in late December 2025 after a shopkeepers’ strike in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, had rapidly expanded to cities including Karaj, Shiraz, and Hamedan.

In a failed attempt to stabilize the economy before the strikes, President Masoud Pezeshkian had accepted the resignation of Central Bank Governor Mohammadreza Farzin, replacing him with Abdolnasser Hemmati. Despite these shifts, university students joined the unrest, chanting “Death to the dictator”—a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Pezeshkian initially claimed the government “recognizes the protests,” security forces were frequently seen using tear gas to disperse crowds.

Regional Retaliation and Global Impact

Iran responded to the February 28 strikes with an immediate retaliatory barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. military assets in the Gulf. The IRGC confirmed targeting the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. In Abu Dhabi, one civilian was killed by falling debris following a missile interception.

The conflict has caused immediate regional paralysis:

• Airspace Closures: At least eight countries, including Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar, have completely closed their airspace.
• Communications Blackout: A near-total internet blackout has been reported in Iran, with connectivity dropping to just 4%.
• Travel Advisories: The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has advised all nationals to avoid non-essential travel and remain near designated shelters.

While Supreme Leader Khamenei previously dismissed the internal unrest as “sedition” orchestrated by foreign enemies, the combination of widespread public defiance and a massive foreign military offensive has placed the current regime under the most significant pressure it has faced in decades. From exile, Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, stated that the economic and security situation will continue to deteriorate as long as the current government remains in power.