Transcript of US/Israeli Strikes Iran, Iran Retaliates on Israel and other Middle East Countries

After weeks of military buildup, the US and Israel have launched a major combat operation in Iran.

It's a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

I'm Ayesha Rasko.

I'm Scott Simon, and this is Up First from NPR News. The Defense Department calls this mission Operation Epikfury and has targeted Iran's leadership. President Trump is calling on the Iranian people to quote take over your government. In a moment, details from NPR's Greg Myri.

Iran has retaliated by launching a missile attack on Israel. Israel's air defense systems are responding. We'll hear from our correspondence in the Middle East.

So please stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your weekend.

Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations, and Find Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation. Working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all on the web at theschmitt. Org.

Npr News Now is your podcast source for updates Every Hour on the US military action in Iran. President Trump calls it a war and says the goal is regime change. He also says US casualties are possible. With news changing rapidly, listen to NPR News Now. New episodes at the top of Every Hour on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

The US launches a military operation against Iran.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating eminent threats from the Iranian regime.

On State of the World, we'll bring you the latest on the operation as well as reaction from the region and around the globe. Listen to State of the World on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Large explosions were reported in Tehran as the US Israeli military operation in Iran began early Saturday morning. It followed weeks of escalating tension in the Middle East.

Npr National Security Correspondent Greg Myrie is with us. Thanks for being with us, Greg.

Hi, Scott.

And what can you tell us about this military operation?

Well, first of all, this is a massive operation, and that's based on the extent of the initial strikes and in the way President Trump is describing this. There was a lot of speculation beforehand whether he might opt for a short, sharp attack or a longer one. The initial impression is that the President chose to go very big. These strikes began after sunrise in Iran. Huge explosions rang out in the capital of Tehran. Iranians posted videos on social media that showed large plumes of thick smoke. There are preliminary reports of strikes in many parts of Iran, though we don't have word on the full extent of damage on specific targets like the country's nuclear facilities. President Trump posted this eight-minute video on Truth Social. Here's part of it. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating eminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.

Greg, did the President offer any details about the operation itself?

A bit. He said the US would destroy Iran's missile program and its navy. So these are parts of the Iranian military that could hit US ships or military bases in the region. So it makes sense that they'd be a priority in the early days of the campaign. Now, he also said Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program, the same one he said the US obliterated last year. And nuclear analysts have said they haven't seen that rebuilding, but it's something President Trump keeps sighting.

What does Iran say today?

The foreign Ministry calls the airstrikes a gross violation of its national sovereignty. The statement said the US and Israeli airstrikes hit both military and civilian targets. Iran said it will defend itself, adding that schools and universities will be closed, and it warned Iranians to avoid crowded areas.

Before the strikes began, the President didn't say much about what his ultimate goal might be in Iran, but that's changed today, hasn't it?

Yeah, that's right, Scott. Really, the most striking part of his video came right near the end when he spoke directly to the Iranian people. They said, They should stay inside and shelter now. Boms would be falling everywhere. But then he added, When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. So this is really hugely significant. He's encouraging Iranians to directly confront the very same government that killed thousands of demonstrators in mass street protests just last month. Now, Trump is explicitly calling for regime change. He's not describing a limited operation, and he wants Iranians themselves to oust the Islamic clerical regime that's ruled for 47 years. One final point, though, we should stress that there's no sign the US will send ground troops into Iran, and it's not clear how much the US will weaken the government with air power alone. At this stage, it's just impossible to say whether the leadership might be vulnerable to the domestic uprising that Trump is calling for.

And here's Greg Myrie. Thanks so much.

Sure thing, Scott.

Israelis woke up this morning to air raid sirens.

Iran has fired dozens of missiles toward Israel so far, according to the Israeli military. No significant hits have been reported.

And Israel has tried to assassinate Iran's top leaders, according to a person briefed on the operation who spoke with NPR. We're joined now from Tel Aviv by NPR's Daniel Estrin. Daniel, thanks for being with us.

Thank you, Scott.

Give us a sense of what it's like right now where you are.

Well, I can't say this was a complete surprise. I mean, Israelis have been anticipating military action for many weeks now. Yesterday, the US ambassador to Israel told his embassy staff, if they wanted to leave Israel, then yesterday was the day to do it. Since this morning, there have been several waves of air raid sirens. I've been tape recording them from my balcony. The air raid siren goes quiet, and then you hear this. Boom outside the window. That's Israel's air defense system intercepting incoming missiles. You can see the trail of smoke in the sky over Tel Aviv. Right now, I'm in a safe room, a protected, sheltered room. The airport in Israel has been closed to all flights. Public shelters are open across the country. Cafés are closed. So the streets are quiet. But in between air raid sirens, I was out on the street and I met a woman walking her dog, Racheli Aharoni, and she says she doesn't have a protected room in her apartment. I feel bad also.

I feel very bad. Very bad because I don't know what will be. If people know what to do, people don't know what to do.

So a lot of uncertainty and apprehension you hear there. She says she just doesn't really know what to make of the decision to strike Iran because she said the people in charge, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she called them crazy people.

How does Netanyahu make the case for why Israel and the US are attacking Iran now.

Netanyahu put out a video saying Iran was trying to rebuild its missile and nuclear capacities since the Israeli war on Iran last June, which the US also took part in. He said if Iran was not stopped now, they would become immune to attack. He said Iran was trying to buy time with talks with the US over its nuclear program. He called that a futile and deceptive negotiation. And he said that Israel would not stand by while, quote, the shadow of anihilation hangs over Israel. So he said the ultimate goal was to help Iranians topple their own government. Here's a bit of what Netanyahu said... So he's saying there in Hebrew, Now, Iranians have the chance to take their destiny into their own hands.

What has Israel struck so far?

I spoke to a person briefed on the operation who said that Israel did try to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Hamaneh, and the Iranian President as well. Netanyahu said that Israel has been targeting regime figures, also sites of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the besieged paramilitish military forces. And he said Israel, together with the US, was striking ballistic missile sites.

Daniel, what are you going to be looking out for in the coming hours and days ahead?

Well, first of all, the Israeli military says that it's going to be calling up about 70,000 reservist soldiers and fortifying its borders, especially along the Lebanese and Syrian borders, because there's a lot of concern here that Iran's proxy militia, Hezbollah, could join in in the retaliation, firing rockets or even storming the border into Israel like Hamas did on October seventh, 2023.

And here's Daniel Eshtren in Tel Aviv. Thanks so much for being with us.

You're very welcome.

Npr's Jane Arraff is in Amman, Jordan, monitoring the developments in the region.

She joins us now. Jane, thanks for being with us.

Thank you.

Iran has retaliated to the US and Israeli airstrikes. Tell us what you know.

Well, Well, I can tell you what I'm seeing and hearing here in Jordan, where there's the sound of jet fighters and missiles being intercepted. It's an indication that this is having immense repercussions across the region. In addition to those strikes on Israel, Iran has declared all US and Israeli interests a target. What that means is pretty much all the US bases that are dotted in this region in any country are fair game. There have been attacks by Iran so far in Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar. There have been missiles launched into Jordanian airspace, and the spokesmen for Iran's military general staff says their armed forces will teach America and Israel a big lesson.

In terms of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, do we have any sense yet of where the bombs have fallen and the casualties and what's being targeted?

Well, there's no word on casualties or damage yet in the strikes near the Supreme Leader's residence or the presidential palace that were part of the focus of these attacks this morning. But Iran says there was a direct hit on a girls' elementary school in Southern Iran, where it says more than 50 of the students have been killed, and it says another 50 plus are still buried under that rubble. We have to remember, Scott, that these attacks began at the beginning beginning of the work and school week in Iran. So lots of people in schools, offices. The government, though, believes that strikes in Iran will be focused on the capital, and it has advised citizens to leave Tehran and other major cities. It's closed schools and universities. And this morning, we spoke to two Tehran residents before communications were cut. They described panicked people rushing home and terrified children pouring out of classrooms. One of the people who we've spoken to over the last few months says she's been protesting and she has been hoping for the end of the regime. She hopes this is it. But a lot of Iranians fear the uncertainty and the danger that would also come.

And how is this playing out across the region?

Airspace has been closed. There have been flights canceled. The US has advised Americans, for instance, here in Jordan, to shelter in place. And normally, Jordanians go to the roof to watch missiles flying when tensions arise like this. But this feels more serious.

Jane, only yesterday, literally yesterday, there was talk of a possible deal between Iran and the US. What do you foresee in the days ahead.

It's really hard, Scott, to see how this could return to diplomacy or anything approaching it. Even Oman's chief diplomat, and he's been the one mediating these talks between the US and Iran, says these attacks by the US and Israel don't serve US interests or the interests of global peace. Iran has been calling for an urgent meeting of the Security Council, but it's not clear what that would even do. And one of the things that deeply worries governments and people in this region is it's hard to see how this would remain in control. President Trump is calling for regime change, but what happens next? What comes next? All of that is so uncertain that people here are deeply worried.

And there's Jane Araff and Amman Jordan. Jane, thanks so much for being with us.

Thank you.

And that's up first for Saturday, February 28th, 2026. I'm Ayesha Rosco.

And I'm Scott Simon.

Andy Craig, produce today's podcast.

Our editors are Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill, Martin Patience, and Melissa gray. Our director is Michael Radcliffe.

Our technical director is David Greenberg, with engineering support from Simon Lazlo-Jansen, Zovankenhoven, and Jay Sees.

Shannon Rodes is our Senior Supervising Editor. Our executive producer is Evy Stone, and Jim Cain is our Deputy Managing Editor.

We will continue following developments in the Middle East today on npr. Org and on the radio.

You can find your local station at stations. Npr. Org. Thank you for being with us.

This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive an up to 40 currency Sees with only a few simple taps. Be smart. Get WISE. Download the WISE app today or visit wise. Com. T's and C's apply.

Get in loser. We're taking a trip under the sea to a junkyard.

I've done cobra helicopters. We've seen old washer machines.

Does a second strip book count.

This junk helped create one of the world's largest artificial reefs and a new home for many marine animals.

But how did our trash become another fish's treasure?

Find out on Shortwave.

Listen in the NPR app or wherever you got your podcast.

Coming up on the Here and Now Anytime podcast, squirrels, ferrets, and moose. Oh, my. Climate change is making it harder to be a mammal these days. Our Reverse Course, returns with stories of science in action from the frozen Northwoods of Minnesota to the desert of Arizona. Listen to Here and Now, Anytime, wherever you get your podcasts.