President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" in Iran on February 28, 2026, launching "Operation Epic Fury"—a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike campaign targeting hundreds of military and political sites across Iran. The strikes, carried out by U.S. attack planes and Israeli forces, hit at least nine Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, Shiraz, and Chabahar.

Israel reportedly targeted around 500 locations, focusing on ballistic missile sites, air defense systems, and high-value regime assets, including a high-security compound housing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which showed extensive damage in satellite imagery, and unconfirmed reports and claims by Trump that the supreme leader is dead.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. military bases across the Middle East. Targets included Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Salem Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. Iran also attacked Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with debris from an Iranian missile killing at least one person in the UAE. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait confirmed attacks, while Jordan reported a blast in its capital.

The U.S. and Israel struck Iran following a breakdown in last-ditch nuclear talks, months of escalating rhetoric amd intense lobbying of Trump administration by zealous Zionist activists and donors.

President Trump, in a video post on Truth Social, vowed to "destroy their missiles," "annihilate their navy," and "enable the overthrow of the regime,"urging Iranians to "take over your government." The U.S. Central Command confirmed that its forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks, with minimal damage to U.S. bases and no reported U.S. combat deaths.

The conflict has severely disrupted global energy markets. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—critical for one-fifth of the world’s oil—has been halted or rerouted, with the U.S. Maritime Administration advising vessels to avoid the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the strait unsafe, and oil prices surged amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions.

Casualty reports from Iran are alarming. Iranian state media and the Red Crescent reported over 60 deaths in a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, with Iran’s IRIB broadcaster citing 85 dead and 93 injured. The U.S. and Israel have not confirmed the school strike, but the attack has drawn international condemnation.

Regional tensions have escalated further. The Houthis in Yemen denounced the strikes and called for mass protests, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the operation as a "catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression." World leaders urged restraint, though Canada and Australia publicly backed the U.S.-Israel action.

Many conservatives on social media were outraged with many calling Trump a "traitor" for breaking his "no new wars" promise to voters during the 2024 presidential election campaign. Popular podcaster and Trump ally Tucker Carlson called the bombing of Iran "disgusting and evil."

Analysts warn the conflict risks spiraling into a protracted war with no clear exit. The Iranian military has vowed to continue retaliating until the U.S. and Israel are "definitively defeated," signaling sustained hostilities. The situation remains highly volatile as the region braces for further escalation.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated their conflict into an "open war" following intense cross-border clashes, with both sides launching airstrikes and exchanging heavy fire along the disputed Durand Line.

Pakistan declared "open war" after Afghan forces attacked over 50 Pakistani border positions, prompting Islamabad to retaliate with airstrikes on major Afghan cities including Kabul and Kandahar, targeting military hubs and Taliban infrastructure.

Pakistan's military claims it destroyed 73 Taliban posts, captured several positions, and killed 274 Taliban fighters, while also destroying an ammunition depot, a battalion headquarters, and a sector headquarters. The strikes reportedly hit areas near the spiritual heartland of the Taliban, where leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is believed to reside.

Afghanistan retaliated with cross-border attacks, claiming to have killed 55 Pakistani soldiers and captured multiple posts, while also reporting 13 Afghan soldiers killed and 22 wounded. The Taliban government said Pakistani strikes killed 19 civilians, including women and children, and injured 26 others.

Pakistan denied civilian casualties, asserting its operations were intelligence-based and targeted militant camps. Both sides accused each other of harboring and supporting militant groups: Pakistan blames the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which it says operates from Afghan soil, while Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of backing opposition factions. The TTP's leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, urged revenge for Pakistan's "invasion" of Afghanistan.

The conflict stems from long-standing tensions over the Durand Line border, which Afghanistan never officially recognizes. After the Taliban's 2021 takeover, Pakistan accused Kabul of sheltering the TTP, which has carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan—over 1,200 people were killed in militant attacks in 2025 alone.

Pakistan has carried out three major airstrikes on Afghan soil since 2022, with this latest escalation marking the most severe since the 2025 ceasefire.

In a statement, the U.S. expressed support for Pakistan's "right to defend itself," while the UN, Iran, China, Turkey, and Qatar have called for de-escalation and offered mediation. Despite prior peace efforts, including a Qatar-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, the fragile truce has collapsed amid renewed violence.

Former United Kingdom ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson was arrested on Monday, by London’s Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail the following day, pending further investigation.

The arrest stemmed from a criminal probe into his alleged leaking of sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, while Mandelson served as UK Business Secretary from 2008 to 2010.

Mandelson was identified as having maintained a close relationship with Epstein, whom he once referred to as “my best pal” in a 2003 birthday book. The US Department of Justice’s release of over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents in January 2026 revealed new evidence of their connection.

Emails from 2009 suggest Mandelson shared internal government assessments on ways to raise funds after the 2008 financial crisis, including plans to sell government assets. He also reportedly tipped Epstein about an upcoming EU bailout for Greece and confirmed plans to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

The documents show Epstein sent $75,000 in three payments to accounts linked to Mandelson or his then-partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva. Mandelson has denied knowledge of these transfers and questioned the authenticity of the records.

A veteran Labour Party figure, Mandelson played a pivotal role in Tony Blair’s 1997 election victory and later served as European Commissioner. He was appointed UK ambassador to the US in February 2025 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, despite knowing of his past ties to Epstein.

Mandelson was fired in September 2025** after earlier Epstein files surfaced. He resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords in early February 2026. Prime Minister Starmer publicly apologized for appointing him, calling the relationship a “lie” and acknowledging failures in the vetting process.

The arrest followed the recent detention of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (former Prince Andrew) on the same charge, highlighting a widening scandal involving high-profile figures and Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police conducted search warrants at two properties—Camden (London) and Wiltshire—linked to Mandelson. His arrest was reportedly prompted by a “baseless suggestion” he was a flight risk, according to his legal team at Mishcon De Reya.

The UK government agreed to release documents related to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, with the first tranche expected by early March, though some will be delayed due to the ongoing police investigation.

Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing and emphasized his commitment to cooperating with authorities to clear his name. The case remains under active investigation, with implications for UK political integrity and transparency.