In a controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump gave the final order for a large-scale airstrike on Iran 10 hours prior to the actual attack. Despite issuing this order, Trump’s public comments suggested that he was still open to negotiations with Iran, raising concerns over the potential for deceptive tactics aimed at misleading both Iranian leadership and the U.S. public regarding his intentions. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed to have been killed in these Israeli airstrikes, which adds to the geopolitical tension in the region.

During a briefing, General Dan Keen stated that Trump’s final attack command was issued on the afternoon of January 27, with the attack commencing on January 28. He noted that Trump had provided explicit instructions emphasizing the operation's approval, with no plans to back down. Notably, even after giving this command, Trump maintained a semblance of diplomatic engagement with the media, suggesting that there were still channels for negotiation. Military responses included repositioning aircraft carrier strike groups and deploying B-2 bombers from mainland U.S., while aiming to create a perception that U.S. actions were more focused on negotiation than rapid military engagement.

The operation began with cyber and space commands disrupting Iran’s communication and surveillance assets, preceding a coordinated attack involving over 100 aircraft and Tomahawk missiles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked that for over four decades, Iran’s regime had waged one-sided war against the U.S. While clarifying that the U.S. did not initiate this conflict, he assured that under Trump’s command, this war would come to an end, signaling a potential shift in U.S. military strategy toward Iran in the context of ongoing nuclear concerns.