🚨🚨Breaking News: The U.S. Launches the War… See More

These trends created an environment in which a significant spark could ignite open warfare.

1.2 The Spark: Joint U.S.–Israeli Strikes on Iran

The current war began on 28 February 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated airstrikes deep into Iranian territory — hitting military sites, command posts, and air defense infrastructure in cities including Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in one of these strikes — a highly symbolic and destabilizing event that marked a sharp escalation in hostilities.