U.S. Launches Major Strike on Iran; Alabama's Aderholt Backs President Trump's Decision

February 28, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States carried out a sweeping military operation against Iran early Saturday, striking dozens of high‑value military and government-linked targets across the country in what the White House described as a necessary response to escalating threats from Tehran. The action marks one of the most significant U.S. military engagements in the Middle East in years and immediately triggered global concern about the potential for a wider regional conflict.

The Pentagon confirmed that the operation involved long‑range bombers, naval assets positioned in the Persian Gulf, and precision-guided missiles launched from U.S. bases across the region. Early assessments indicated that the strikes targeted ballistic‑missile infrastructure, Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities, drone‑production sites, and air‑defense systems believed to support Iran's expanding military footprint.

President Donald J. Trump authorized the operation late Friday night, citing intelligence that Iran was preparing additional attacks on U.S. personnel and allies. By dawn, explosions were reported near Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, and Iranian state media acknowledged that several military installations had been hit.

Aderholt: "To call the current Iranian regime brutal would be an understatement"

In Alabama, Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL‑04) issued one of the earliest and strongest statements of support for the President's decision. Speaking from Haleyville, Aderholt framed the strike as a long‑overdue response to decades of Iranian aggression toward the United States, Israel, and Iran's own citizens.

"To call the current Iranian regime brutal would be an understatement," Aderholt said. "For nearly 50 years, its leaders have called for 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel.' They are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members, including the 241 U.S. Marines murdered in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, as well as many other Americans killed directly and through their terrorist proxies."

Aderholt, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, emphasized that Iran's actions have extended far beyond foreign aggression. He pointed to the regime's long record of suppressing dissent and violently targeting its own population.

"The current leadership has also suppressed and killed thousands of Iran's own people simply for seeking a voice in their government," he said. "I stand with President Trump in leading America to take decisive action to restore stability to a region that has lacked it for far too long. The time for the people of Iran is now."

He closed his statement with a message of support for U.S. service members: "May God bless the men and women of our armed forces and the United States of America."

Iran Responds With Missile Fire

Iranian officials condemned the U.S. strikes as a violation of sovereignty and vowed retaliation. Within hours, Iran launched ballistic missiles toward U.S. military installations in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region. Several countries temporarily closed their airspace as a precaution, and U.S. forces across the Middle East were placed on heightened alert.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed that its air‑defense systems intercepted several incoming missiles, though those claims could not be independently verified. State television broadcast images of crowds gathering in major cities, with officials urging national unity and promising a "crushing response."

Global Reaction and Diplomatic Shockwaves

The sudden escalation drew immediate international attention. European governments called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, warning that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war. Russia and China sharply criticized the U.S. action, arguing that military escalation would only deepen instability.

Middle Eastern governments reacted cautiously. Some Gulf states expressed support for countering Iran's missile program, while others urged restraint, fearing the conflict could spill across borders and disrupt vital shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices surged in early trading, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions to one of the world's most important energy corridors.

Strategic Stakes for the United States

Defense analysts noted that the scale of the U.S. operation suggests a broader strategic objective: weakening Iran's long‑term military capabilities, limiting its ability to arm proxy groups, and signaling that Washington is prepared to use force to counter what it views as destabilizing actions.

Key implications include:

• Expanded proxy conflict - Iran may intensify support for militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

• Threats to global shipping - The Strait of Hormuz could become a flashpoint for naval confrontation.

• Domestic pressures inside Iran - The attack comes amid economic strain and political unrest.

• Diplomatic collapse - Prospects for reviving nuclear negotiations appear increasingly unlikely.

Alabama's Role and Aderholt's Position

Aderholt's statement reflects Alabama's longstanding ties to national defense, from Redstone Arsenal to the state's aerospace and missile‑defense industries. As a senior appropriator with influence over defense funding, his support signals alignment with the administration's approach and underscores the state's deep connection to U.S. military readiness.

With tensions rising and the possibility of further strikes looming, Aderholt's comments place him among the most vocal members of Congress backing the President's decision at a moment of global uncertainty.