Israel and the United States initiated large-scale airstrikes against Iranian military targets, air defenses, and leadership on February 28, 2026, in an operation that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered Iranian missile and drone retaliation across the region. The ensuing conflict featured extensive aerial campaigns, strikes on energy infrastructure, and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, but remained centered on air and missile exchanges rather than sustained ground incursions into Iranian territory. Israel conducted limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon during the same period, yet reports of Pentagon planning for short-duration raids or seizures of coastal assets in Iran did not result in confirmed deployments. Ceasefire arrangements in April–May and subsequent diplomatic efforts have reduced direct hostilities, though periodic threats of renewed strikes persist into August 2026. Any confirmation of an Israeli ground operation would hinge on verifiable official statements or footage of forces crossing into Iran proper, distinct from proxy or Lebanese actions.