American Prestige Special - The U.S. and Israel Attack Iran (Preview)
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Feb 28, 2026 Breaking news of coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the question of whether the aim is regime change. Reports of widespread strikes and heavy civilian casualties, including an attack on a girls’ elementary school. Iran’s limited retaliatory strikes, threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, and the risk that the conflict could expand across the region.
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U.S. And Israel Strikes Framed As Regime Change
- The U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes that, according to Donald Trump, aim for regime change in Iran.
- Daniel Bessner frames the campaign as explicitly seeking to eliminate the Iranian government rather than merely gain negotiation leverage.
Widespread Strikes Caused Large Civilian Casualties
- The attacks hit widely across Iran with heavy civilian tolls, including a girls' elementary school strike reported as an Israeli attack.
- Bessner cites Red Crescent figures of at least 201 dead and highlights an elementary school hit killing over 80 people, mostly children.
Iran's Calibrated Retaliation Targets Gulf And Israel
- Iran has launched limited retaliatory strikes focused primarily on Gulf targets and U.S.-related facilities in GCC states.
- Bessner notes retaliations expanded to some civilian sites and Israel, with unclear casualty reporting and calibrated Iranian response so far.