The strikes on Lamerd are part of a much larger conflict that began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched a coordinated air campaign against Iran aimed at dismantling its missile and military capabilities. That operation, known as Operation Roaring Lion, involved roughly 200 fighter jets and more than 1,600 sorties against Iranian missile launchers, command centers, and air defense systems, with over 600 sites reportedly struck. The campaign has since evolved through phases of heavy bombing, Iranian retaliation, a fragile June ceasefire, and a shift toward a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Throughout, civilians have repeatedly been caught in the crossfire, with strikes on residential areas in Tehran and elsewhere leveling apartment buildings and killing families.

The conflict has also drawn in regional actors and strained global energy markets, as Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for a large share of the world's oil supply. Both sides have traded accusations over civilian casualties, with Iran condemning strikes as deliberate and U.S. officials describing some as unintentional results of outdated intelligence. The war has already claimed thousands of lives, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, alongside the loss of U.S. service members, and has pushed defense contractors to accelerate missile production under strain.