Watch now   Urgent Saturday Updates as U.S. Goes to War with Iran — 2/28/26 Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Feb 28 Friends, we are now living through the opening chapter of a new war that is expanding in real time, and the speed at which it’s unfolding should alarm every single one of us. Last night, I went live on YouTube just moments after we learned that war had begun. Thank you to everyone who tuned in live to our coverage. Now, let me catch you up on the latest developments. Over the past 12 hours or so, the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military assault on Iran, hitting hundreds of targets across the country. Explosions rocked Tehran, and satellite imagery soon revealed heavy damage across key military and strategic sites. Among the most sensitive locations reportedly struck was a high-security compound tied to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu just announced that there are many signs that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ‘is no longer.’ There have been growing, but unconfirmed, indications he may have been injured or even killed in the opening strikes. Iranian officials say he is alive, but he has not been seen publicly since the attack began. He was supposed to speak a couple hours ago, but as of now, this has not taken place. Almost immediately after the initial attacks, the situation escalated. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes not just toward Israel, but across the broader region, targeting countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and beyond. Civilian infrastructure has already been hit. In Bahrain, residential buildings were struck. In the UAE, falling debris has reportedly killed at least one person. Kuwait’s main airport was hit by a drone. Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen are calling for mass mobilization. Explosions rocked Tehran early Saturday morning there and continued throughout the day. Witnesses described chaos in the streets as families rushed to find loved ones, take shelter, and flee the capital. Israeli forces say they hit roughly 500 targets, including missile launch sites, air defenses, and military infrastructure. And while all of this is happening, the leadership vacuum at home has become impossible to ignore. In a video released on his social media platform last night, Trump ominously confessed that the operation could result in American casualties as “often happens in war.” “The lives of American heroes may be lost,” he said. He almost directly quoted the character Lord Farquaad’s infamous line from the movie Shrek: “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make!” Trump also encouraged the Iranian people to take to the streets to overthrow their government. Then, he went virtually silent. We were first told the strikes were about stopping nuclear enrichment. In fact, diplomacy had reportedly been underway just days ago through Oman as a mediator. Iran had signaled willingness to halt enrichment under certain conditions. Talks were expected to continue. Then the bombs fell. Now officials are openly talking about regime change. This has been the obvious goal all along. Warnings about the threats of Iran’s nuclear program (remember when Trump just months ago told us it was “totally obliterated”) or missiles that can reach the United States appear to be a total fabrication — a false pretext to try to justify an overthrow of the Iranian regime. We’ve also seen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical shipping lanes in the world, effectively shut down. That narrow passage carries roughly 20 percent of global oil supply. There are already reports that vessels are being warned away by Iranian forces. If that closure holds, the economic shock could hit quickly and globally. Markets haven’t even opened yet, and analysts are already bracing for a surge in oil prices. And then there is the human toll. Reports from inside Iran indicate that more than 200 people have already been killed. Among the most devastating incidents was a strike on a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran. Dozens of children are feared dead. Images from the scene show rescuers pulling bloodied backpacks from the rubble. At the same time, Iran’s retaliation has struck symbolic and strategic targets across the Gulf, including areas familiar to millions. Tourist centers in Dubai have come under drone attack. Footage of an Iranian ballistic missile slamming into the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain was shared on social media earlier today. And while all of this unfolds, we are left with major unanswered questions. What is the actual plan? U.S. intelligence assessments reportedly concluded that even if Iran’s top leadership were removed, hardline elements within the Revolutionary Guard would likely step in to fill the vacuum. In other words, eliminating one figure would not guarantee systemic change, and could even produce a more extreme successor. So what happens next? Inside Iran, protests are already taking place, some against the strikes, others reflecting the country’s longstanding internal tensions. Outside Iran, Iran-backed forces in places like Yemen are calling for mobilization. Shipping lanes are closing. Missiles are still flying. Meanwhile, the domestic picture here in the United States has been marked by confusion and absence. There were earlier reports that Trump was getting ready to address the nation. The White House then called those reports “inaccurate.” Officials are already starting to prepare the American people for a prolonged war. U.S. Senator Tom Cotton just said the operation against Iran will last weeks, not days. And we know all too well how fast weeks can turn into years when it comes to Middle East wars. Even voices within the intelligence and defense community have raised concerns about the justification for the strikes. Some lawmakers, after classified briefings, have said they saw no evidence of an imminent threat to the United States that would necessitate immediate military action. And let’s be clear: that doesn’t make Iran a benign actor. The regime’s record is well known. The Iranian people themselves have suffered under it for decades. But acknowledging that reality doesn’t answer the question of whether this path leads to stability, or deeper chaos. And right now, chaos is spreading. Missiles are crossing borders. Global energy routes are under threat. Regional alliances are being tested. And the risk of a broader and prolonged war grows by the hour. Through all of this, we can hold onto two truths at once. The Iranian regime has long oppressed its own people. And the Iranian people, like civilians everywhere, are now caught in the middle of forces far larger than themselves. Our hearts should be with them. And with our own service members, who may soon find themselves drawn deeper into a conflict whose scope is still evolving. We are at the very beginning of this story, and it’s one that feels all too familiar. We’ll continue to monitor developments as this situation unfolds. In moments like this, clarity matters. And we’ll do our best to provide that clarity with each update. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.