It has now been 11 days since the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran on February 28th, and if you're confused about what's happening, who started it, and who's actually in charge -- congratulations, you're paying attention.

Here's what we know. On February 28th, US and Israeli forces launched a joint military operation striking targets inside Iran, including military infrastructure in Tehran and sites connected to Iran's nuclear program. Israel's Air Force hit Mehrabad Airport, describing it as 'a central hub used by the IRGC to arm and fund its terror proxies across the Middle East.' The US destroyed Iranian naval ships and minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran retaliated immediately with strikes across the region, including attacks on Israel and US military positions. As of today, more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, 570 in Lebanon, and 12 in Israel, according to health officials in each country. Seven American service members have died. Eight more are seriously wounded.

The Strait of Hormuz -- the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes -- is largely shut to commercial shipping. Oil prices have surged. Gas prices are climbing. The economic ripple effects are being felt globally, including right here in Atlanta.

Now here's where it gets interesting. According to an Axios report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called President Trump with intelligence that Iran's Supreme Leader and top advisers would be gathered at a single location in Tehran, where they could be taken out in one strike. Netanyahu had been 'agitating' for faster military action, according to a US official. Trump and Netanyahu spoke by phone 15 times in the two months leading up to the strikes. They met in person twice.

Multiple analysts, including those cited by Al Jazeera, have described this as 'Netanyahu's war,' arguing the strikes benefit Israel's strategic interests more than America's. Netanyahu's stated goal is the complete disarmament and demilitarization of both Hamas in Gaza and Iran's nuclear capabilities. Trump, meanwhile, has described the conflict as a 'short-term excursion' that will end 'soon' because there is 'practically nothing left' to bomb.

Netanyahu disagrees. Israel's government has publicly stated there is 'no time limit' on the military operation.

Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The January 2025 ceasefire has been repeatedly violated. Israeli forces control over half of the territory. At least 75,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry -- a figure that Israeli military officials have privately accepted. Ninety percent of civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Humanitarian aid remains severely restricted.

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader after strikes reportedly killed senior leadership figures. Tehran has called the operation 'Operation Epic Mistake' and vowed to continue fighting.

For Atlanta, the immediate impact is at the pump and in the economy. Gas prices are rising, supply chains are tightening, and the uncertainty is hitting markets. Hartsfield-Jackson has seen disruptions to international routes through the Middle East. And like every American city, Atlanta has families with service members deployed in the region.

The facts are the facts. An 11-day war is underway. The death toll is climbing. Two leaders say two different things about when it ends. Oil prices are rising. And the question everyone from the White House press corps to your uncle at the cookout is asking remains the same: who's actually driving this thing?

We're not here to tell you what to think. We're here to make sure you know what's happening. Stay informed, Atlanta.