Joint US-Israeli Military Action Against Iran: Airspace Closures and Emergency Declarations

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East shifted dramatically as the United States and Israel executed a series of synchronized, preemptive military strikes against various strategic targets within the Islamic Republic of Iran. This significant military intervention triggered an instantaneous surge in regional tensions, resulting in the immediate grounding of all civilian flights across both Iranian and Israeli territories, while the Israeli government formally declared a nationwide state of emergency.

Describing the rationale behind the offensive, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the mission as a vital preemptive strike essential for neutralizing imminent threats to the State of Israel. Simultaneously, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the commencement of a "massive military operation" designed to dismantle Tehran’s missile capabilities and permanently obstruct its path toward nuclear armament. The operation was conducted under two distinct codenames: "Lion's Roar" for the Israeli forces and "Shield of Judea" for the American contingent. Military reports indicate that approximately 30 strategic sites were neutralized, including administrative hubs and military installations in Tehran. Significant explosions were documented in the Iranian capital, specifically within the Jomhouri district, near University Street, and in close proximity to the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The repercussions for civilian infrastructure and daily life were immediate and profound. Following the declaration of a state of emergency, Israel shuttered its national airspace to all commercial traffic, with Transport Minister Miri Regev noting that any resumption of flight services would require a 24-hour advance notification. Similar restrictive measures were adopted by the governments of Iran and Iraq, while reports surfaced from within Iran regarding a widespread shutdown of mobile communication networks. In Israel, the healthcare system transitioned to emergency protocols, which included the relocation of critical surgical operations to fortified underground facilities to ensure continuity of care during potential retaliatory strikes.

This military escalation followed a period of intense buildup by American forces in the region. In the days leading up to the strikes, the United States significantly bolstered its military footprint, deploying a total of 150 combat aircraft—the highest concentration of American air power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq campaign. By February 27, 2026, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford had taken a position off the Israeli coast, part of a naval deployment that encompassed nearly one-third of the entire active U.S. Navy fleet. Dana Stroul, an expert from the Washington Institute, observed that this massive mobilization provided President Trump with the necessary tactical flexibility to execute high-stakes military decisions.

These strikes occurred against a backdrop of failing diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear program. Although negotiations had briefly resumed in early February 2026, they remained largely deadlocked following a previous period of intense hostility. This cycle of violence follows the 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran that took place in June 2025, a conflict that had already severely strained regional stability and set the stage for the current military confrontation.