The United States and Israel launched a massive joint military operation against Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a wave of retaliatory strikes that has pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider war.

The operation codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by the US and "Roaring Lion" by Israel targeted Iranian military installations, nuclear-related facilities, and top government officials in coordinated strikes that began in the early morning hours in Tehran.

Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei's death on March 1. He was 86 years old and had led Iran for nearly four decades. Iran declared 40 days of national mourning and immediately launched retaliatory strikes across the region.

Why did the US and Israel attack?

President Donald Trump, in a video statement released at the start of the operation, said the US objective was to "defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime", citing Iran's nuclear program as the primary threat.

The strikes came just two days after US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva ended without a breakthrough. Days before the attack, international inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported discovering hidden highly enriched uranium in an underground Iranian facility that had survived previous strikes. The IAEA said it could no longer confirm that Iran's nuclear program was "exclusively peaceful."

US intelligence also reportedly warned that Iran was planning to launch a preemptive missile attack of its own, which Trump cited as further justification for acting first.

Beyond the nuclear threat, the attack came amid a severe domestic crisis inside Iran. Beginning in late December 2025, mass protests erupted across the country after Iran's currency, the rial, collapsed and prices spiked sharply. The Iranian government responded with deadly force, with death toll estimates ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of protesters killed. Trump had previously told Iranians to "keep protesting," saying "help is on the way."

The region responds

Iran wasted no time retaliating. It launched an unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and Gulf Arab states that host American forces, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

Dubai's international airport, the world's busiest for international travel, was forced to suspend all flights indefinitely after Iranian strikes caused damage to the facility. Airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also hit.

Three American service members were killed and five others seriously wounded, confirmed by US Central Command on March 1. Trump warned that more US casualties were likely but vowed that strikes would continue.

Iran also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz,  the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes, prompting major shipping companies to immediately suspend transit through the strait.

Global reactions

The strikes drew sharp international condemnation from several world powers. China condemned the attack called it "unacceptable" and a violation of international law. Russia's President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei's killing as a "cynical murder." North Korea also condemned the strikes as illegal aggression.

Within the United States and among Iranian diaspora communities, reactions were sharply divided, with some celebrating the fall of a regime they had long opposed, and others warning of dangerous and unpredictable consequences.

The European Union urged both sides to immediately halt military action, warning of a possible "nuclear proliferation cascade" if the conflict continued to escalate.

What happens next?

As of this writing, the conflict is ongoing. Israel has continued strikes inside Iran, and Iran has vowed further retaliation. The fate of Iran's government remains unclear following Khamenei's death, with a temporary leadership council reportedly being established.

The OPEC group of oil-producing nations convened an emergency meeting to address the threat of a severe oil price spike should Gulf supply lines remain disrupted.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno signed Executive Order No. 7, cutting fuel consumption across city government offices by 50% in anticipation of reduced fuel supply from the Middle East. The order directs all city offices, departments, and bureaus to reduce fuel use of motorized vehicles, generators, heavy equipment, and other fuel-dependent assets.

Filipinos will also start feeling the impact. Starting Tuesday, March 3, 2026, gasoline prices will rise by P1.90 per liter, diesel by P1.20 per liter, and kerosene by P1.50 per liter, a direct consequence of the supply disruption caused by the conflict. This marks the 10th straight week of price hikes for diesel and kerosene, and the 8th consecutive increase for gasoline. Since the start of the year, gasoline has gone up by a total of P4.80 per liter, diesel by P8.20, and kerosene by P6.20.

The international community is watching closely and calling for an immediate ceasefire before the crisis spirals further out of control.