Unholy: Two Jews on the News

Emergency update: US and Israel strike Iran; Khamenei reported dead

Date: February 28, 2026
Hosts: Jonathan Freedland (The Guardian), Yonit Levi (Channel 12 Israel, absent from this episode due to live TV coverage)
Guest: Amos Harel (Haaretz military analyst)

Episode Overview

This emergency episode responds to a seismic day in the Middle East: a joint US-Israeli air assault on Iran, with major Iranian counterattacks, and breaking news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s reported death. Jonathan Freedland hosts the episode alone as Yonit Levi is anchoring live Israeli TV coverage. Military analyst Amos Harel provides in-depth analysis of the strike’s origins, coordination between the US and Israel, the Iranian response, prospects for regime stability, and what comes next.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Timeline: How the Day Unfolded

• [00:00-02:13] Jonathan sets the stage:
  • At ~8am Israel time, joint US-Israeli airstrikes targeted up to 500 sites in Iran, primarily around Tehran and western Iran.
  • Iranian retaliation included missile attacks against Israel, and multiple Gulf states with US bases.
  • Breaking: Unverified reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death, with Israeli officials reportedly shown photos of his body.

2. The Decision to Strike

• [02:13-05:36] Amos details the background:
  • The operation was preceded by days of speculation regarding a potential US strike.
  • President Trump "finally made up his mind to attack. He didn’t need to convince Benjamin Netanyahu because Netanyahu was pushing for a strike all along." ([02:47], Harel)
  • Israeli and US air forces hit hundreds of targets, including missile infrastructure, suspected nuclear sites, and IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) bases.
  • Iranian casualty reports are at 200, with unconfirmed deaths of their Defense Minister and a senior IRGC commander.

3. The Operation’s Leadership and Coordination

• [04:55-08:37]
  • Despite some media framing, both Harel and Freedland stress the operation was conceived and approved by Washington.
  • Quote: "The author and the lead is Donald Trump. The advisor, so to speak, is Benjamin Netanyahu. ... It appears that [Trump] decided intentionally to mislead the Iranians." ([05:36], Harel)
  • Israeli strikes may have preceded US action by minutes, creating an impression of Israeli initiative but "this was coordinated in advance… part of the same plan." ([06:30], Harel)

4. Iran’s Response: Severity and Targets

• [08:37-13:50]
  • Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones, mainly at Israel but also at Qatar, Bahrain, and UAE—countries hosting US bases.
  • The attacks differed from past barrages: missiles were spaced over 10-11 hours, keeping Israelis sheltered for prolonged periods.
  • Possible reasons: Iranian command-and-control was degraded by the strikes, limiting ability for concentrated response; urgency to use missile launchers before they were destroyed.
  • "Latest number published by the Israeli authorities was... 89 people injured since the morning, all of them lightly hit, which is, I wouldn’t say not insignificant, but not massive." ([12:47], Harel)
  • Harel cautions: while casualties are relatively low so far, "this is not the end of the story." ([13:29], Harel)
  • Emphasizes Israeli and US air superiority: "There's quite a gap here. This doesn't mean that we won't pay a price. ... But it's no secret... both the Israeli Air Force and, of course, the American Air Force are much, much stronger than anything that Iran could offer." ([13:19], Harel)

5. War Aims: Regime Change or Something Else?

• [13:50-18:09]
  • Objectives are unclear, both in Washington and Jerusalem.
  • Debate in the US: is the aim destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile programs or toppling the regime due to its human rights record?
    • "If [Trump and Netanyahu] actually manage to hit regime targets, and if in some magical way, Iranians... are able and willing to do that again, and if hundreds of thousands of people take to the street... then we're in a whole different ball game." ([15:13], Harel)
  • Trump’s motives are uncertain; he "doesn’t like long wars" and could flip from regime change to seeking a "better deal than Obama" ([16:35], Harel).
  • Harel is skeptical of quick, clean regime change: "This best-case scenario, in which within a few days this all ends and the regime is out and suddenly democracy... I still see this as a bit far-fetched, this scenario right now." ([17:13], Harel)
  • Warning: "The law of unintended consequences, it works overtime during wars..." ([17:46], Harel) referencing Gulf wars as warning examples.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Israeli airstrikes’ scale:

  • “The army has used around 200 airplanes, fighter planes for about five for attacking about 500 targets mostly in Tehran and in western Iran.” ([02:38], Harel)

• On the operation’s ownership:

  • “The author and the lead is Donald Trump. The advisor, so to speak, is Benjamin Netanyahu.” ([05:36], Harel)

• On Iranian retaliation and its constrained effectiveness:

  • “Many in their command and control chains were hit... with the lack of commanders, they found it hard to organize a simultaneous attack.” ([10:33], Harel)

• Perspective on best-case scenario:

  • “This best-case scenario, in which within a few days this all ends and the regime is out and suddenly democracy... I still see this as a bit far-fetched.” ([17:13], Harel)

• On risks and history:

  • “The law of unintended consequences, it works overtime during wars. And we've all witnessed the two wars in the Gulf in 91 and 2003. We saw unintended consequences there.” ([17:46], Harel)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Setting the scene; initial news and significance
• 02:13 — Details on the strike’s timing, execution, and targets
• 05:36 — Discussion of operational leadership, US vs. Israeli initiative
• 08:37 — The nature and effectiveness of Iran’s missile response
• 13:50 — Ambiguity of the war aims; discussion of hopes and risks
• 17:46 — "Law of unintended consequences," warnings from history
• 18:44 — Episode close, preview of more coverage

Summary and Takeaway

This emergency episode captured a potentially historic pivot in the US, Israeli, and Iranian relationship.

• The strike was a major, coordinated US-Israel operation—with Donald Trump as the decisive actor, Netanyahu as advocate, and both militaries acting in concert.
• The immediate Iranian military response was intense but less effective than anticipated, possibly hampered by the loss of commanders and rapid pressure on remaining capabilities.
• Uncertainty dominates: Whether the operation signals a bid for regime change, a massive punitive raid, or a bargaining chip for new negotiations remains unclear, both to policy-makers and observers.
• Lessons from history: All participants warn of unforeseen and potentially grave consequences; Middle East dynamics rarely conform to optimistic predictions.

Listeners receive a rapid, layered picture of the breaking story, with expert context and a sobering reminder that decisive military moves are often just the start of unpredictable and hazardous new chapters.