U.S. and Israel strike Iran. Here's what we know
Sources & Methods
NPR
4.9 • 919 Ratings
🗓️ 28 February 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Overnight, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran.
The strikes targeted Iran’s top leaders, Supreme Leader Khamanei and President Masoud Pezeshkian — trying to kill them, according to a person briefed on Israel’s operation who spoke to NPR. Iran has responded by lobbing missiles at Israel and other countries in the region that host U.S. troops.
Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Greg Myre, NPR national security correspondent, and Daniel Estrin, NPR international correspondent based in Tel Aviv, about what they know and what could come next.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Support for NPR and the following message come from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, |
| 0:05.4 | investing in creative thinkers and problem solvers who help people, communities, and the planet flourish. |
| 0:11.1 | More information is available at Hewlett.org. |
| 0:15.7 | A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to |
| 0:27.1 | defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious |
| 0:34.9 | group of very hard, terrible people. |
| 0:39.9 | The United States and Israel have attacked Iran. |
| 0:43.7 | Iran has hit back, striking across the Middle East. |
| 0:47.2 | Is this the beginning of all-out war? |
| 0:49.9 | This is sources and methods from NPR. |
| 0:54.3 | I'm Mary Louise Kelly. |
| 0:55.9 | It is Saturday. |
| 0:57.2 | It is shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern. |
| 1:00.3 | We're dropping in with a special sources and methods episode to bring you the latest on Iran, |
| 1:05.6 | which is that overnight, D.C. time. |
| 1:08.8 | The U.S. and Israel launched military strikes. Those strikes targeted Iran's top leaders, Supreme Leader Hamenei, and President Massoud Peschekin, trying to kill them. That is, according to a person, briefed on Israel's operation, who spoke to NPR. |
| 1:25.4 | Iran has responded, launching missiles at Israel, also at Saudi Arabia, also at Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, a whole list of countries that host U.S. troops. |
| 1:36.2 | Here with me to talk this through, Greg Myrie, who covers national security and Daniel Estrin, NPR's international correspondent based in Tel Aviv. |
| 1:44.9 | Hi, you two. |
| 1:45.6 | Hey, Mary Louise. |
| 1:46.8 | Hi, Mary Louise. |
| 1:47.6 | Hey. |
... |
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