February 28, 2026

Explosions across the Middle East. The first day of the new war between Israel and the US with Iran – in the photo gallery of "Novaya-Europe"

In the morning of Saturday, February 28, Israel and the United States began striking Iranian territory. The Israeli army's military operation was codenamed 'Roaring Lion.' The Pentagon named its operation 'Epic Fury.' Israel stated that the targets of the strikes were Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other representatives of the ruling elite. Explosions were heard not only in Tehran; specifically, targets in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah were attacked. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 20 out of 31 Iranian provinces were attacked. The key objective of the operation is to maximally weaken Iran's military potential and its network of proxy forces. US President Donald Trump promised to 'level Iran's missile industry.' According to sources in Western media, the US has planned a series of escalating strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian military leadership announced that they will 'teach the US and Israel a lesson they have never received in their history.' In Tehran, they claim that Iran's retaliatory operation 'will continue until the complete defeat of the enemy.' Iranians began striking Israeli territory, as well as US military facilities and those of its allies throughout the region – in Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The consequences of the airstrike exchange are shown in the photo gallery of "Novaya Gazeta Europe." People in a bomb shelter, Ashkelon, Israel, February 28, 2026. Photo: Amir Cohen / REUTERS / Scanpix / LETA.A person in a shelter during a siren in Jerusalem, Israel, February 28, 2026. Photo: Ahmad Gharabli / AFP / Scanpix / LETA.Screenshots of strikes on Tehran, taken from social media, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photo: AFP / Scanpix / LETA.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's residence in Tehran after US and Israeli strikes. Photo: NYT / Airbus.Israelis taking shelter in an underground parking lot after missile launches from Iran, Tel Aviv, Israel, February 28, 2026. Photo: Itai Ron / REUTERS / Scanpix / LETA.Smoke after explosions in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026. Photo: REUTERS / Scanpix / LETA.Graffiti on a wall with the inscription "Down with the USA", Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Photo: Majid Asgaripour / WANA / Scanpix / LETA.Smoke plume over Tehran after reports of an explosion, February 28, 2026, Iran. Photo: Mahsa / MEI / SIPA / Scanpix / LETA.A man with children runs for shelter, Tel Aviv. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich / AFP / Scanpix / LETA.Explosion at sea after missile launches towards Israel from Iran, Haifa, northern Israel, February 28, 2026. Photo: Rami Shlush / REUTERS / Scanpix / LETA.