Asheville Residents Hold Peaceful Protest Against U.S. and Israel Attacks on Iran

“Residents gathered peacefully in Asheville earlier today to protest the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran,” an original report said, and the demonstration was covered by local ABC affiliate WLOS News 13. WLOS included the image under its “NEWS IN PHOTOS” listing as “'We don’t approve': Residents gather in Asheville protesting US and Israel attack on Iran,” on a page by Deanna Sipe dated Sat, February 28, 2026 at 3:52 PM.

WLOS placed the Asheville photo alongside national reaction after reporting that President Donald Trump posted a video to Truth Social on Saturday, Feb. 28 saying that the United States and Israel had begun “major combat operations” with Iran. WLOS quoted Trump saying, “A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

The same WLOS page included Associated Press imagery of explosions in Tehran, captioned, “Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo).” WLOS grouped the coverage under topic tags including Iran, United States, Israel, Donald Trump, and Military operations, signaling the station’s framing of the developments as both international and relevant to North Carolina audiences.

State leaders responded publicly as the coverage circulated. WLOS noted that “North Carolina leaders have weighed in, sharing their reactions to the attack,” and explicitly quoted Senator Thom Tillis’ statement posted on X: “President Trump has rightfully determined that this theocratic dictatorship cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and continue to slaughter its own citizens who simply want freedom.” Tillis’ post was the only named North Carolina reaction quoted on the WLOS page.

Local social-media threads mirrored the split in public response. A Reddit thread carried the gallery title verbatim, "We don't approve": Residents gather in Asheville protesting US and Israel attack on Iran, while a captured Facebook comment read, "So, while these people are protesting the bombing, the Iranians (the ones who were bombed) are celebrating AND praising Trump." Those posts reflect neighborhood-level debate even as professional outlets documented the photo and national statements.

Public details about the Asheville gathering remain incomplete in the available reporting. The original report used “earlier today” without a calendar date, while WLOS’ page is dated Feb. 28, 2026; the supplied material does not include organizer names, attendance counts, signage text, permit status, or law enforcement statements. The Asheville photo and the WLOS gallery anchor a clear local reaction to President Trump’s Feb. 28 Truth Social announcement and the AP-documented explosions in Tehran, but community leaders and public-safety officials have not been quoted in the material provided about the protest itself.