![\"Smoke](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-28T092503Z_519997222_RC2XUJAB6810_RTRMADP_3_IRAN-CRISIS-BLAST.jpg\" "\\"NYC")
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Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. <\/p>\n
Majid Asgaripour\/West Asia News Agency via Reuters<\/p>\n
New York City is on high alert Saturday after the United States and Israel carried out sweeping military strikes against Iran in the middle of the night<\/a>, New York time.<\/p>\n The joint military operation targeted top leaders of the oppressive fundamentalist regime. President Donald Trump, who did not seek Congressional authorization prior to launching the attack, said the operation would eliminate security threats and give Iranians a chance to topple their government.<\/p>\n But it also plunged the region into open conflict.\u00a0Tehran responded by launching missiles at Israel and condemned the strikes as unprovoked and illegal.\n<\/p>\n The\u00a0NYPD<\/a> issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>, noting that it is carefully monitoring events related to the operation and beefed up security at potential targets for terroristic retaliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs is our protocol and out of an abundance of caution, we will be enhancing patrols to sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites,\u201d the NYPD stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are no specific threats to New York City at this time.\n<\/p>\n Gov. Kathy Hochul said the New York State Police are also \u201cincreasing their presence at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites statewide in coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,\u201d and have \u201cbegun outreach to religious organizations\u201d ahead of the Jewish holiday of Purim.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the military strikes \u201ca catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.\u201d He said he has been in contact with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and emergency management officials regarding \u201cproactive steps\u201d to secure sensitive sites within the city \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdditionally, I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers: you are part of the fabric of this city \u2014 you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders. You will be safe here,\u201d he wrote on X (Twitter).<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n House Democratic Leader and Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries slammed Trump for giving the military the go-ahead to attack Iran without seeking Congressional approval, as mandated in the U.S. Constitution.<\/p>\n \u201cIran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region. However, absent exigent circumstances, the Trump administration must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cDonald Trump failed to seek Congressional authorization prior to striking Iran. Instead, the President\u2019s decision to abandon diplomacy and launch a massive military attack has left American troops vulnerable to Iran\u2019s retaliatory actions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe pray for the safety of the men and women of the U.S. military as they have been put into harm\u2019s way in a dangerous theater of war,\u201d Jeffries added.\n<\/p>\n Manhattan U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, charged that \u201cTrump started an illegal war without approval from Congress and against the wishes of the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf Donald Trump wanted to go to war, he should have gone to Congress first and convince the American people and their representatives that the cause is worthy of the expenditure of American blood and treasure,\u201d Nadler said.\u00a0\u201cTrump campaigned on ending forever wars, and he may just have started one.\u201d<\/p>\n Brooklyn\/Staten Island U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican member of the New York City delegation, lauded the military strikes against Iran, saying, \u201cThe United States has taken decisive and courageous action against Iran to defend our citizens, interests, and partners after the leading state sponsor of terrorism would not negotiate in good faith or commit to diplomacy over nuclear capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIran is responsible for attacks that have killed American civilians and service members, and its continuous declarations of \u2018Death to America\u2019 while pursuing advanced nuclear capabilities threaten the United States and our allies,\u201d Malliotakis added. \u201cThe United States, the Middle East and the world will be a safer and more peaceful place when the oppressive and murderous Iranian regime is eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n