TEHRAN February 28, 2026 – Explosions rocked the city of Zanjan in northwestern Iran on Saturday after a reported joint Israeli-US airstrike targeted military installations there, according to viral footage and confirmed reports from multiple international outlets.
The strike forms part of a broader coordinated operation launched by Israel and the United States on February 28, 2026, hitting defence systems, IRGC bases, ballistic missile sites and other strategic targets across Iran, including Tehran, Tabriz, Qom, Kermanshah and several provinces.
A widely shared X post by @BRICSinfo captured the moment with dramatic video showing large fireballs and thick plumes of smoke rising over Zanjan, consistent with secondary explosions from munitions or fuel depots. The post, titled “JUST IN: Israeli-US strike hits Zanjan, Iran,” quickly gained traction as part of real-time coverage of the unfolding events.
Zanjan, capital of Zanjan Province and located roughly 300 km northwest of Tehran, is known to host Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities and missile-related infrastructure. Sources including Al Jazeera, CNN, Iran International and Wikipedia’s compiled list of attacks during the Iran-Israel conflict explicitly list Zanjan among confirmed targets, with strikes reportedly damaging IRGC barracks and ammunition depots.
Israeli officials described the operation as “preemptive” and aimed at eliminating imminent threats from Iran’s missile programme and air defences. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated the strikes were carried out with “full synchronisation” alongside US forces. US President Donald Trump has publicly backed the campaign, stating it would “lay waste to Iran’s military capabilities.”
Iranian state media confirmed explosions in Zanjan and other cities but provided limited details on damage or casualties specific to the Zanjan strike. Broader reports indicate civilian casualties in other locations, including a school strike in Minab that killed dozens.
In response, Iran has launched retaliatory ballistic missile barrages toward Israel and US assets in the Gulf, with intercepts reported over Israeli airspace.
The developments mark a dangerous new phase in the long-running shadow war between Israel and Iran, now involving direct large-scale US participation. Regional analysts warn of the risk of wider conflict drawing in other actors.
Life News Agency is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation and will provide further updates as more verified information becomes available.
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