The Journal. U.S. and Israel Attack Iran
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Feb 28, 2026 
Jared Malson, Wall Street Journal Middle East correspondent in Istanbul, and Alex Ward, national security reporter, discuss U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. They outline goals like degrading Iranian military capacity and targeting leaders. They explore regional reactions across the Gulf, risks of escalation, political fallout in Washington, and the challenges of any post‑strike power vacuum.
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Coordinated Strikes Aim At Iranian Leadership
- The U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran aiming at leadership and military assets.
- Alex Ward notes the strikes target Tehran and senior leadership but outcomes remain unknown amid the "fog of war."
Rhetoric Framing Versus Stated Military Justifications
- President Trump framed strikes with Iran's long hostile history but focused publicly on the nuclear and missile threats.
- Alex Ward says the historical rhetoric is "window dressing" compared with nuclear/missile justifications.
Regime Change Is The Public Aim But Strategy Is Unclear
- Trump and Netanyahu publicly articulated regime change and broad destructive aims including striking nuclear sites and the missile program.
- Jared Malson highlights these aims are sweeping and leave unanswered questions about how to achieve them.