US and Israel launch strikes on Iran. What we know so far

The White House has been ramping up pressure on Iran for months.

Some analysts fear the attacks could escalate into a wider regional 

war.

In the biggest increase in American power in the Middle East

since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq,

President Donald Trump said the US and Israel had launched

a "major military operation" against Iran on February 28.

Trump also called on Iranians to overthrow their government.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, explosions were reported

in Tehran and at least five other cities in the country,

and Iranian forces have begun retaliating against Israel.

Explosions and sirens were also reported in several Middle

Eastern countries where US military bases are located.

Here's what we know about the growing story.

The Pentagon has dubbed the operation against Iran "Epic Fury." 

The Israeli military codenamed it "Roaring Lion."

Israel launched the operation first, and the United States joined in. 

Explosions were reported in Tehran in the early hours of February 

28, which is midnight in Iran.

Within hours, Iran began firing missiles toward Israel and there 

were reports of attempted attacks on U.S. military installations

in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates,

and Qatar. Some countries said the missiles were intercepted.

The number of casualties from the attacks and retaliation was

not immediately known. The United Arab Emirates' Defense 

Ministry said one civilian was killed by falling debris.

Iranian state media reported that dozens of children were killed 

when a missile hit a school in Minab, southern Iran.

USA Today could not immediately verify that report.

The White House has been ramping up pressure on Iran for

months.

Trump has occasionally said he is unhappy with the way Iranian 

authorities have violently cracked down on protesters since last 

December.

He has also said he wants Iran to agree to a new deal on its

nuclear program. On February 27, Trump said he was

"not happy" with the way diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue 

were proceeding.

"Trump seems interested in no particular order in showcasing

the capabilities of the U.S. military, bolstering his negotiating 

position, showing how serious he was when he promised to

protect Iranian protesters in a January

Truth Social post, and differentiating his approach from

President Barack Obama,"

Nate Swanson, a former White House adviser on Iran, wrote in

a February 24 article for Foreign Affairs magazine,

referring to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and other world 

powers. The deal was negotiated by the Obama administration.