Regime Change, Missile Destruction and an Existential War

By Elijah J. Magnier –

When a military campaign openly declares regime change as its objective, the nature of the conflict transforms immediately. It ceases to be about deterrence or limited retaliation and becomes a confrontation over political survival, strategic posture and regional order. That is the moment the conflict shifts from tactical to existential.

On February 28, 2026, coordinated strikes by Israeli forces, with U.S. military participation, hit multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Karaj. Explosions in major urban centers confirmed the opening of direct and large-scale military confrontation between Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran. President Donald Trump announced the beginning of what he described as a “major combat operation in Iran,” stating his intention to destroy “the threat from the cruel Iranian regime.” He also emphasized that targeting Iran’s missile program was central to U.S. strategy.