The 2026 Israel-Iran war began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched strikes in Iran. The operation followed failed nuclear negotiations and years of direct and proxy attacks. Iran answered with missile and drone attacks on Israel and other regional states. The main fighting paused on April 8 after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire; Israel's operation was called Roaring Lion, and the U.S. operation Epic Fury.
What happened before the strikes
Iran and the United States held nuclear talks in Oman on February 6. The Iranian foreign minister described the meeting as a good start, but said continuation depended on consultations in both capitals. Later talks took place in Geneva, facilitated by Oman. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said the central dispute was Iran's insistence on an asserted right to enrich uranium and the U.S. demand that it stop enrichment. Those are the parties' stated positions; claims about hidden intent require separate evidence. Switzerland confirmed that the Geneva talks preceded the February 28 attacks.
Israel and the United States said the campaign targeted Iran's nuclear and missile programs and military capabilities. The campaign did not establish that Iran's nuclear expertise or all of its military capacity had been eliminated.
Seven questions about the campaign
- What happened in the opening strikes, and what followed Khamenei's death?
- Which nuclear and missile facilities were targeted, and what damage is confirmed?
- How did Iran attack Israel, and how did Israel's defenses respond?
- How were shipping and energy supplies affected?
- What did Hezbollah and the Houthis do during the war?
- What cyber operations were reported?
Fox News reported on the February Oman talks and Iran's stated position. Witkoff's account of the later negotiations describes the disagreement over enrichment and the U.S. offer. Switzerland's foreign ministry confirms Oman's facilitation of the Geneva talks and the February 28 attacks. The UK House of Commons Library records the February 28 opening and April 8 ceasefire announcement.