If the first two months of 2026 felt like a tense chess match, the final week of February was the moment the board was flipped over. For government job aspirants, the events unfolding in the Middle East aren’t just headlines; they are the most significant geopolitical shifts since the turn of the decade.

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On February 28, 2026, the world woke up to the news of a massive military operation dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” This wasn’t just another exchange of fire; it was a full-scale joint strike by the United States and Israel on Iranian soil. Here is a humanized, detailed breakdown of why this happened, how it unfolded, and the ripple effects we are seeing today.

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The “Why”: A Failed Dance of Diplomacy

To understand the attack, we have to look at the weeks leading up to it. Since late 2025, Iran had been gripped by massive internal unrest. Economic collapse and the free-fall of the Rial led to nationwide protests.

1. The Nuclear “Stall”: President Donald Trump and his administration (including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner) had been engaged in indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. However, by mid-February 2026, the US concluded that Iran was using “stall tactics” to hide a rapid acceleration in its nuclear enrichment program.
2. The Intelligence “Flash”: Intelligence reports indicated that Iran was preparing its ballistic missile arsenal for a “preemptive strike” against US forces amassing in the region.
3. The Ultimatum: The US demanded a permanent end to enrichment, a halt to the ballistic missile program, and an end to proxy support (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis). When Tehran refused, the path to war was paved.

The “How”: Operation Epic Fury

The attack began in the early hours of Saturday, February 28. It was a multi-pronged assault that combined cyber-warfare with high-precision aerial strikes.

• The Targets: More than 900 strikes were conducted in the first 12 hours alone. Key locations included Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Qom, and Karaj. The primary goals were suppressing air defenses and destroying missile launchers.
• The Decisive Blow: In a move that stunned the global community, joint strikes targeted a secure compound in Tehran. By the afternoon of February 28, President Trump confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed.
• The Cyber Front: Simultaneously, a near-total internet blackout was enforced across Iran, likely to prevent the regime from coordinating a defense or suppressing internal uprisings.

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The “What”: Impact and Retaliation

The aftermath of the strikes has been chaotic, stretching far beyond the borders of Iran.

1. The Retaliation (The Second Wave)

Iran did not remain silent. On March 1, 2026, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones in a “revenge salvo.”

• Targeting Israel: Missiles struck the Beit Shemesh area near Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and injuring dozens more.
• Targeting the Gulf: In an unprecedented move, Iran targeted several Gulf nations that host US bases. Explosions were reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. A drone strike on the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai caused a fire, and an “incident” at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport claimed the life of one civilian.

2. The Economic Shockwave

The “Strait of Hormuz,” the world’s most vital oil artery, is currently the center of a global panic.

• Oil Prices: Crude oil prices, which were around $67 on Friday, are projected to jump toward $100 per barrel by Monday morning.
• Aviation Crisis: This is being called the biggest disruption to air travel since the pandemic. Over 350 Indian flights were cancelled on March 1 alone due to airspace restrictions. Hubs like Dubai and Doha are currently operating under severe constraints.

3. Political Vacuum in Iran

With the Supreme Leader dead, Iran has named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to an interim leadership council. However, the country remains in a state of high tension as the US explicitly calls for “regime change,” urging the Iranian people to take control of their future.

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Key Points for Your Exam Notes:

• Operation Name: Operation Epic Fury (US-Israeli joint mission).
• Primary Objective: Decapitation of leadership and destruction of nuclear/missile infrastructure.
• Immediate Consequence: Death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Global Impact: Surge in energy prices and massive disruption in international civil aviation.

A Final Thought for Aspirants

In the world of geopolitics, “equilibrium” is often a fragile illusion. What we are witnessing today is the transition from a “Cold War” in the Middle East to a “Hot War” with global consequences. As an aspirant, your focus should be on how this affects India’s energy security, the safety of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf, and the shifting dynamics of India-US relations.