war

US and Israeli strikes topple Iran leadership as Pakistan-brokered ceasefire pauses month-long war

Coordinated US and Israeli strikes on February 28 killed Iran's supreme leader and senior commanders, the fighting spread to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure, and a Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire was declared on April 8.

Apr 8th 2026 · Iran

Insights

The war began on February 28 with coordinated US and Israeli strikes across Iran.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders were killed on day one.
A strike on a girls' elementary school killed more than 150 people, mostly children.
Iran retaliated against US and Israeli-linked assets and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, causing global travel and energy disruptions.
On March 1 an Iranian drone attack killed six US soldiers in Kuwait and Iran-backed militias including Hezbollah opened new fronts.
Mojtaba Khamenei was named Supreme Leader on March 8, a selection rejected by the United States.
After weeks of strikes on energy and naval targets and an intensified air phase in early April, Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire accepted by both sides on April 8.

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