America
Wakes Up to News of Expanded Military Operations Against Iran
February 28, 2026 | Sundance |
Many Americans are waking up this
morning to discover the United States and Israel have launched joint military
operations against Iran. The news can be unsettling, unnerving and yes,
admittedly, frustrating for many.
President Trump has made the
decision and called for the people of Iran to stand now against the Iranian
regime that has been a thorn in the side of many regional partners for
decades. A direct and kinetic U.S. war against Iran is underway.
This decision has weighed heavily on President Trump throughout the first
fourteen months of his presidency. Regardless of our personal opinions therein,
the decision has been made. Knowing the stakes at hand both here and
abroad, we carry the assurance that President Trump knows what the
ramifications entail.
Accepting the stakes; knowing this is an all or nothing proposition; the
conflict is likely to be a long duration event for several days, even
weeks. For the leadership in Iran this is a zero-sum moment. For
those who have long tried to find an alternative to war, this is also a no
retreat moment. Either the regime in Iran is toppled, or the operation
will have failed. Given all the expanded energy, this is the reality of the
matter.
(AP) – A person briefed on the military plans says Saturday’s operation
was planned by the U.S. and Israel for months and closely coordinated. The
person says the attacks are expected to continue for several days. {SOURCE}
That said, there will be time for talking about the domestic political
consequences for this action; however, this is not that time. Right now, our
thoughts and prayers are with American military carrying out their mission, and
with those who are in the expanded region of conflict. We pray for their
protection, safety and strength.
Within hours the Iranian regime responded with counter attacks launched
against U.S. military bases and regional allies in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. U.S. and allied defensive missile
systems are intercepting Iranian missiles in multiple operational areas while
the U.S. joint military operations against Iran continue into what is
presumably multiple pre-planned stages.
Multiple airspaces throughout the middle east are now closed to airline
travel. Multiple airlines have cancelled flights that cross through or
near the conflict zone, which is now essentially almost the entire middle
east. Tens-of-thousands of travelers are now scrambling to make alternate
arrangements. {Source} and {Source}
This is a massive area now with restricted airline travel that will impact
flights from Europe and SE Asia in both directions.
The various Islamic extremist groups sympathetic to the Iranian regime, who
have long held a position against the United States and our various allies, are
likely to activate against all defined enemy interests. A heightened
state of alert will remain in place for a long time.
Here is a transcript of President Donald Trump’s prepared remarks as
delivered shortly after the campaign began:
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat
operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by
eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very
hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United
States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.
For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged
an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States,
our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s
very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran,
holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies
carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American
military personnel.
In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS
Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service
members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless
attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years,
as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines.
It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.
From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained
and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts.
And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on
Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans,
while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the
world has never seen before.
Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just
recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they
protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my
administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon.
I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in
Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear
program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious
pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried.
They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it.
They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just
wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and
decades.
They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions,
and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear
program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now
threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed
overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how
emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with
nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.
For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive
and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from
threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to
destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will
be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going
to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the
region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or
roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill
thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure
that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will
never have a nuclear weapon.
This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength
and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military
in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its
power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible
step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do
not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill.
The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have
casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re
doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service
member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our
children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to
protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the
men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the
world, and they will prevail.
To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and
all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have
complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your
arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain
death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour
of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very
dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished,
take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your
only chance for generations.
For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it.
No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a
president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond.
America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is
the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and
glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action.
Do not let it pass.
May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God
bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.” ~
U.S. President Donald J Trump
