President Donald Trump told The Washington Post early Saturday that his main concern is “freedom” for the Iranian people as the U.S. launched military strikes in the country. Iran quickly launched counterstrikes in response to the attack, which the Trump administration has named “Operation Epic Fury.” Multiple U.S. military bases were targeted by Iran, the official said, including the support facility for its 5th Fleet ships in Bahrain, according to the country’s state-run news service. Ask The Post AIDive deeper“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties,” Trump said in his taped remarks. He said Iran was “probably involved” in the al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole in 2000 in Yemen. On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with The Post that any operation Trump initiates in Iran would not result in the U.S. becoming involved in a drawn-out war.

Source: Washington Post February 28, 2026 13:55 UTC