US-Iran Conflict Escalates: Trump Says Major Combat Operations Underway After Israeli Strikes

President Donald Trump has said the United States has started "major combat operations in Iran" following Israeli air strikes, declaring that American forces are acting to remove what is described as an imminent threat from the Iranian regime and its military capabilities.

Trump’s announcement followed Israeli moves, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying the strikes aimed "to remove threats". Israel has declared a state of emergency, while several hospitals activated emergency plans, shifting patients and planned surgeries into underground areas for protection.

US strike on Iran: Trump states military goals

In a video message on Truth Social, Trump said the operations are designed to defend the United States by "eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime." He described a large and continuing mission led by the US military against Iranian military infrastructure.

Outlining the scale of the campaign, Trump said, "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," adding, "We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."

US strike on Iran linked to nuclear programme dispute

Trump argued that Iran had been trying to rebuild parts of its nuclear programme damaged during a US bombing campaign in June 2025. According to Trump, Washington repeatedly attempted to reach a deal aimed at halting what was described as nuclear weapons ambitions.

Trump said, "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," and added, "They rejected every opportunity to reach their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore," before stressing, "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."

US strike on Iran and warning to IRGC, civilians

Trump delivered a direct message to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, urging surrender. "I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death," he said. "Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death."

Trump also addressed Iranian civilians, urging action against the leadership in Tehran. "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations," Trump said. "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."

US strike on Iran, expected risks and regional impact

Trump acknowledged the risk to American forces involved in the US strike on Iran, saying his administration is trying to reduce harm to personnel. "My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region," Trump said.

Despite those assurances, Trump warned of likely losses. "Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill," he said. "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties," he said. "That often happens in war," he added.

Event	Date / Period	Main actors
US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities	June 2025	United States, Iran
Announcement of US strike on Iran	February 2026	Donald Trump, US military
Israeli strikes and emergency declaration	February 2026	Israel, Israel Katz

Trump appeared in Corpus Christi, Texas, on February 27, 2026, waving after arriving on Air Force One, as the tensions with Iran entered a new phase. The report is written by Bobins Vayalil Abraham, who focuses on the human side of global conflicts and geopolitics.