TIMELINE: Key moments before and during US-Israel war with Iran

From street protests in Georgia to a U.S.-Israeli military operation that killed Iran's supreme leader, the first two months of 2026 saw tensions between Washington and Tehran spiral into a devastating regional conflict. This timeline traces the rapid escalation—from diplomatic breakdowns and missile strikes to retaliatory attacks across the Middle East—culminating in a war that reshaped the balance of power in the region.