A major conflict in the Middle East has raised global concern after the US and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran. The attacks, along with Iran’s retaliation, have increased fears of a wider regional war that could affect many countries, global energy supplies, and international security. Read along to understand what triggered the conflict, who is involved, and how it could affect the world.
The US and Israel Strike Iran – What Happened?
On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a series of airstrikes on military and government sites in Tehran and several other cities in Iran. The attacks hit military bases, nuclear facilities, missile factories, and the buildings where Iran’s top leaders work and live. The joint operation, named “Operation Epic Fury”, aims to destroy Iran’s military and dismantle its missile programme. Iran has strongly condemned the strikes and has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US-linked targets, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
As of the date of publishing, hundreds of people have died, and the bombing continues. The US and Israel have carried out heavy daily attacks, striking more than 4,000 different targets, according to reports.
The death of the Supreme Leader of Iran
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the country since 1989, was killed in one of the recent air strikes. Several other top officials and military commanders were also killed. US President Donald Trump announced Ayatollah Khamenei’s death on social media, and the news was later confirmed by Iranian authorities. Iran declared 40 days of national mourning.
After the Supreme Leader was killed, the US President reportedly said to the people of Iran: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations.”
Did You Know?
In 1979, the Iranian Islamic Revolution overthrew the country’s monarchy. In this uprising, the then king of the country, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, was removed from power and forced
to leave Iran. Iran’s new leaders brought in a form of government based on their interpretations of Islam. A senior cleric, or religious scholar, is supposed to be chosen as the head of the government, and is called the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader is the most important and powerful person in the country and has the final say on the most important decisions
Who is in charge of Iran now?
After the death of the Supreme Leader, Iran’s constitution requires a temporary leadership council to take charge of the country. On March 8, 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
Why did the US and Israel jointly attack Iran?
The United States and Israel have long been close allies and often cooperate on security and defence matters. However, Israel and Iran have been rivals for many years, and tensions between the two countries have led to several military confrontations. Israel has repeatedly warned that Iran’s nuclear programme and missile development pose a serious threat to its security. US President Donald Trump said the main aim of the attacks was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, extremely powerful bombs that can destroy entire cities. Iran has denied that it is trying to build nuclear weapons, saying that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes, such as generating electricity.
The attacks came after talks between the United States and Iran about Iran’s nuclear programme ended without an agreement. Israel has long argued that diplomatic efforts were not enough to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In June 2025, Israel had already carried out strikes on some Iranian nuclear and military sites as tensions between the two countries increased. Another reason mentioned by the US President was “regime change,” which means replacing the current leadership of a country with a new government.
Read about the previous military attacks between Israel and Iran: Iran-Israel Conflict 2025: What You Need to Know
US President Trump has said that the main aim of the attack was to try and stop Iran from making extremely powerful bombs called nuclear weapons – something that Iran denies it’s doing. The attacks came after talks with Iran’s nuclear programme ended without a clear agreement, as Donald Trump wants Iran to end its attempt to build a nuclear weapon.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear programme is only for the purpose of generating energy. In June 2025, the US and Israel had already carried out attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Another reason given by the American President for the attacks is “regime change”, which means changing the entire leadership of the country.
Did You Know?
- Nine countries in the world are known or widely recognised to have nuclear weapons. These are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. However, under the international agreement called the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (“NPT”), only five countries – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China – are officially recognised as nuclear-weapon states. The treaty aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, encourage the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and promote efforts toward global disarmament.
- The (“NPT”) was signed on July 1, 1968 and came into force in 1970. Today, 191 countries are parties to the treaty, making it one of the most widely joined international agreements. Under the treaty, countries that do not have nuclear weapons agree not to develop them, while nuclear-armed countries promise to work toward reducing and eventually eliminating these weapons.
- Iran is also a member of the treaty and signed it in 1968 as a non-nuclear-weapon state, meaning it has agreed not to build nuclear weapons.
- What is the IAEA? The International Atomic Energy Agency (“IAEA”) is a United Nations organisation that works to monitor nuclear programs around the world and ensure that nuclear energy is used only for peaceful purposes, not for making weapons.As part of this role, the IAEA sends inspectors to nuclear facilities in different countries to check their activities. In recent years, the agency has asked to inspect some nuclear sites in Iran, but Iran has restricted or denied access to certain facilities, which has made it difficult for the IAEA to fully verify Iran’s nuclear activities.
- India and Israel are not members of the NPT. India chose not to sign the treaty because it believes the agreement is unfair, as it allows only five countries to officially keep nuclear weapons while others cannot develop them
- India and the nuclear treaty
India follows a No First Use (“NFU”) policy for nuclear weapons. This means that India has promised not to use nuclear weapons first in a conflict. India will only use nuclear weapons in retaliation if it is attacked with nuclear weapons by another country. The NFU policy was officially announced after India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and included in India’s Nuclear Doctrine in 2003. The aim of this policy is to show that India’s nuclear weapons are meant only for deterrence, to prevent attacks and not for aggression.
How has Iran responded to the attack?
Within hours of the first US-Israeli strikes, Iran began firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, at US military bases across the region, and at the countries that host those bases. Countries hit by Iranian missiles and drones included: Israel, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, and Cyprus (where a British military base was struck). Most were intercepted by missile defence systems. Even though Iran said that it targeted US interests in the Middle East, some civilian sites were also hit. The US and Israel
have also both been accused of killing civilians.
Many Iranians in the country and around the world celebrated the news of the death of the Supreme Leader, as recent anti-government protests in Iran saw thousands killed. However, many in Iran loved the Supreme Leader and were furious.
After Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed, the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel by firing rockets into Israel. Israel responded to this by hitting back with airstrikes and sending tanks and soldiers into southern Lebanon.
The Impact of this Crisis Globally
The Middle East is one of the world’s most important energy regions. Around 25% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical chokepoint for oil shipments, has been effectively closed since the US and Israel began their attacks on Iran. Iranian officials warned that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could be attacked. Many oil tankers stopped entering the waterway.
As of the date of printing this issue, nearing 320 tankers and cargo ships are waiting outside the strait as shipping traffic remains disrupted. Oil prices rose quickly, and experts warned they could increase further if the conflict continues. Food prices may also rise because shipping routes and fertiliser supplies could be disrupted. Some countries have started limiting the sale of oil and gas to protect their own supplies.
About the Strait of Hormuz: The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow stretch of sea between Iran and Oman, and the UAE that connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, it is only about 33 kilometres wide.
Impact on India
As the US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, supplies of liquefied petroleum gas are getting adversely affected across India, forcing restaurants to cut menus, shorten hours and in some cases shut down altogether.
The ongoing Iran war has disrupted global oil supplies and pushed energy costs higher globally. However, currently, India has managed to keep fuel prices unchanged.
As of mid-March 2026, the conflict was still ongoing and unpredictable. The US and Israel continued strikes. Iran continued to fire missiles and drones.
The Junior Age Wellbeing Corner
News about wars, disasters or conflicts can sometimes feel worrying or upsetting. If something you read in the news makes you feel uncomfortable, remember that it’s okay to talk about it. You can share your thoughts with a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult. Taking a short break from the news, spending time with friends, playing outside, reading a book, or doing something creative like drawing can also help you feel calmer.
Remember, many people around the world are working every day to solve problems peacefully and make the world a safer place.
The Junior Age aims to present important world events in a clear, balanced and factual way so that young readers can understand what is happening around them.