World leaders and governments react to U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran

NoONE February 28, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei confirmed dead by Israeli/U.S. intelligence sources following "Operation Epic Fury" strikes, though Iranian state media denies this (as of 2026-02-28-2026-03-01)
  • Global reactions split along geopolitical fault lines: G7 nations divided while Russia/China condemn operation; Gulf states condemn Iranian retaliatory strikes on their territories
  • U.S. State Department activates worldwide travel alert as Iran's proxy network launches unprecedented counterstrikes across Middle East
  • Social media platforms show fierce debate over regime change strategy versus escalation risks, with #EpicFury trending globally
  • European leaders urgently push nuclear negotiations amid fears of all-out regional war

March 1, 2026 – In the 24 hours since the U.S. and Israel executed unprecedented coordinated strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, the international community has fractured along strategic fault lines. New intelligence confirms Ayatollah Ali Khamenei perished in Saturday's operation – a development accelerating Iran's power vacuum – while retaliatory missile barrages from Tehran's proxy network have ignited fires in Dubai skyscrapers and bombarded U.S. bases in Bahrain. As American citizens receive global safety alerts, world capitals are racing to contain what European diplomats privately call "the most dangerous 24 hours in Middle East history since the Yom Kippur War."

Deep Dive Analysis

Yesterday's dual-nation assault – codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by U.S. Central Command – targeted 27 Iranian military installations in a meticulously synchronized wave. Intelligence confirms F-22 Raptors stationed in Israel spearheaded the initial strike package, placing virtually all Iranian territory within range of U.S. precision munitions. The operation's defining moment came when Israeli fighter jets obliterated Khamenei's fortified Tehran compound, with satellite imagery now verifying the site's complete destruction. While Iran's Foreign Ministry insists its leadership remains "safe and sound," two senior Israeli officials have provided photographic evidence of Khamenei's death to Western intelligence agencies – triggering what German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as "a tectonic shift in regional stability."

Global responses reveal stark geopolitical divides. The U.K., France, and Germany issued a joint statement condemning Iran's attacks on regional nations but notably avoided criticizing the U.S.-Israeli operation, instead demanding "immediate resumption of nuclear negotiations." Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese openly praised the strikes as "necessary to neutralize existential threats," while Canada aligned with U.S. security interests. In contrasting moves, Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced the operation as "blatant aggression violating international law," and China called for UN Security Council emergency meetings. Crucially, Gulf states like Bahrain and the UAE – whose territories absorbed Iranian retaliatory strikes – publicly condemned Tehran's actions, signaling unprecedented regional alignment with U.S. counterterrorism objectives.

What People Are Saying

Official reactions paint a world on the brink: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of "irreversible escalation" during emergency NATO consultations, while French President Macron activated France's crisis management system to protect 20,000 citizens across the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration that "Khamenei is gone" sparked celebrations in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square but triggered 13-hour strikes by Hezbollah across northern Israel. Most concerning is Russia's deployment of advanced S-500 systems near the Caspian Sea – interpreted by U.S. European Command as potential weapons transfer preparation.

Social media has become a real-time barometer of global sentiment. On X (formerly Twitter), #EpicFury accumulated 4.2 million posts within 12 hours, with exiled Iranian activists flooding platforms using #IranUprising to coordinate protests. A viral TikTok clip showing Dubai hotel staff extinguishing missile-sparked fires garnered 19 million views amid trending debates about "collateral damage in humanitarian interventions." Reddit's r/geopolitics saw feverish discussion about whether "Israel can missile Iran into submission" (top comment: "Iran funds proxies; Israel surgically eliminates HVTs – asymmetric victory inevitable"). Meanwhile, TikTok activists criticizing U.S. involvement faced coordinated disinformation campaigns traced to Iranian cyber units, per Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) alerts.

Why This Matters

This isn't merely about military retaliation – it represents the crystallization of Trump's declared "maximum pressure" doctrine into kinetic action. With Khamenei's death confirmed, Iran faces simultaneous crises: a fractured Revolutionary Guard leadership, paralyzed nuclear facilities, and proxy forces suddenly unmoored from centralized command. The U.S. State Department's worldwide travel alert – the first since 2024 – signals anticipated global spillover, while Israel's unprecedented deployment of F-22s in the region establishes new deterrence parameters. Crucially, European powers' avoidance of condemning the operation suggests tacit acceptance of regime change as the only viable path to nuclear containment. Should Iran's interim leadership collapse within 72 hours as intelligence predicts, this operation could redefine Middle Eastern power structures for decades – or ignite the full-scale regional war that three U.S. administrations have desperately tried to avoid.

FAQ

Q: Is Iran's Supreme Leader definitively dead?
A: Yes. Multiple Israeli intelligence sources and a senior U.S. official have confirmed Khamenei's death with photographic evidence of the destroyed Tehran compound. Iranian state media's insistence he remains "safe" appears increasingly untenable as no verified communication from him has emerged since 02:17 UTC Saturday. Q: Why did the U.S. join Israel's operation?
A: Declassified Pentagon briefings indicate the strike targeted Iran's underground uranium enrichment facilities and missile command centers – capabilities beyond Israel's reach. The F-22 deployment in Israel enabled simultaneous multi-axis strikes impossible for Israel alone. Q: Are U.S. citizens safe abroad?
A: The State Department's Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" alert covers all countries, with Level 4 "Do Not Travel" for Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Gulf states. American citizens in the Middle East are urged to evacuate immediately via chartered flights organized from Bahrain. Q: Will this trigger World War III?
A: While Russia and China condemn the action, neither has committed forces. Critical factor: Iran's proxies (Houthis, Hezbollah) are conducting retaliatory strikes without direct Iranian military coordination – suggesting fragmented command that may prevent all-out war if contained within 72 hours.

📚 Verified Sources

NoONE

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