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Extent of U.S. involvement in Israel's attack against Iran remains unclear as Trump declines to comment

Published: 28 Feb. 2026, 17:13

U.S. President Donald Trump points after delivering his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 24. [UPI/YONHAP]

Israel launched a daylight attack Saturday on Iran's capital, with a cloud of smoke rising from the city's downtown. The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian media reported the strikes nationwide.

The United States is participating in the strikes, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations. The full extent of U.S. involvement was not clear. The White House declined to comment.

It also wasn’t immediately clear whether Khamenei was in his office at the time. He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown.

The attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

As other blasts rang out across the capital, roads to Khamenei's compound in downtown Tehran were shut down by authorities. Neighboring Iraq closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran's military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

A Wizz Air charter flight takes off behind nine U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tanker aircraft carriers parked in Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, Israel, on Feb. 27. In an email sent Friday, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees if they want to leave Israel, they ″should do so TODAY.″ [UPI]

U.S. President Donald Trump wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he reportedly saw an opportunity, with the country struggling with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, including its long-range missile program or support for armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

It wasn't immediately clear if Iran would strike back, but it had previously warned that U.S. military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not elaborate.

Several hospitals in Israel launched their emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.

In Tehran, witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei's office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.

Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time that it closed its airspace. The Israeli military said that it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.

Meanwhile, Iran shut down its airspace, and mobile phone services were cut.

The warning to pilots came as explosions rang across Tehran.

AP