Iran Warns of Full Military Response After U.S. and Israeli Airstrikes

The Republic of Iran has issued its strongest warnings yet of military retaliation after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes on Iranian territory, with Tehran saying its forces will defend the country with everything at their disposal and respond to what it called a clear act of aggression against its people.

Airstrikes on February 28, 2026 hit several Iranian cities including Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz, as part of a joint operation that Israeli authorities codenamed Operation Lion’s Roar.

Iran’s foreign ministry said the two countries had violated Iranian sovereignty and broken the United Nations Charter, noting that the strikes hit defensive infrastructure and civilian areas at a time when diplomatic talks between the two sides were still ongoing.

Tehran said in formal statements that defending itself against the attacks is a right guaranteed under international law, and that it would use all available capabilities to fight back against what it described as criminal aggression. The government also called on the UN Security Council and the broader international community to act without delay.

Iran’s military leadership warned that its ballistic missile and drone units were ready and prepared to strike back. Tehran has long maintained that any attack on its territory would trigger a response targeting U.S. military bases and other strategic installations across the region.

Government officials were categorical that retaliation was not a threat but a matter of sovereign right. Analysts have further noted that Iran is likely to call on allied proxy groups in the region to be part of any broader response.

The strikes set off alarm bells globally. The UN Secretary-General joined other world leaders in calling for de-escalation and pushing for a return to diplomacy before the conflict pulls in more countries and costs more civilian lives.

Whether those appeals will be heeded remains the central question, with the Middle East now on edge over what Iran does next.