In a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, the United States and Israel have launched coordinated military strikes on multiple locations deep inside the Islamic Republic of Iran, including sites tied to the country’s leadership and strategic infrastructure. In response, Iran’s forces have fired missiles and drones across the region in a sweeping retaliation that has rattled Gulf states and raised fears of a wider war.
Massive Airstrikes on Iran’s Political and Military Infrastructure
In the early hours of February 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces initiated a large-scale military operation against dozens of Iranian targets in an assault that officials in both capitals said had been planned jointly for months. In a statement, the Israeli military said that the strikes were part of a coordinated effort with the United States to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime” and to counter what it described as an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
The offensive, widely reported by international news agencies and media outlets as Operation “Lion’s Roar”, struck a range of sensitive and symbolically significant locations in Tehran and beyond. Among the reported targets were the office complex of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the presidential office of Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian intelligence headquarters, and other government installations. Iranian authorities acknowledged that parts of Tehran, including northern districts and areas near key government buildings, were hit by explosions.
Satellite imagery released shortly afterward showed damage to Khamenei’s compound in Tehran, underscoring the extraordinary scale of the operation. While Iranian officials insisted that Khamenei had been moved to a secure location before the attack, the imagery underscored the symbolic significance of the targets and the intensity of the strikes.
Military and Nuclear Sites Also Targeted
Beyond political leadership sites, the strikes reportedly hit numerous military installations and missile infrastructure across Iran, according to multiple news reports. Explosions were also reported in cities including Tabriz, Qom, Ilam, and other major provincial centers, suggesting a broad offensive designed to weaken Iran’s air defenses, missile capabilities, and command structures.
While Western officials have described many of the strikes as aimed at military and strategic facilities, Iranian state media also reported significant damage in areas that could have civilian implications, including near communications infrastructure and the southern port region—raising concerns about the broader human impact.
Iran Responds with Broad Retaliatory Missile Strikes
Almost immediately following the U.S.–Israeli operation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a wide series of missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases and allied positions across the region. The retaliatory strikes reached countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which host significant American military assets.
Iranian missiles were reported to have struck or been intercepted near several key sites. In Bahrain, explosions were recorded near the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, and footage circulated showing smoke rising around the NAVCENT command building, according to reports verified by U.S. media. Qatar and Kuwait also reported intercepting Iranian missiles, and alerts sounded across areas of the Gulf as defensive systems sought to neutralize incoming threats.
In the UAE, at least one person was killed in the capital Abu Dhabi when Iranian missiles were intercepted, while earlier in Bahrain and Kuwait residents reported loud explosions and sirens. In some instances, civilian airspace was shut down, aviation routes were suspended, and global markets reacted to the uncertainty.
Missiles and Explosions in Israel and Gulf Skies
Iran’s retaliation extended beyond Gulf Arab states. Iranian missiles were also reported heading toward Israeli territory, triggering air-raid sirens across major cities, including Jerusalem. Israeli air defenses, including the Iron Dome system, engaged incoming threats, and blasts were heard over parts of northern Israel.
The scale and geographical spread of the retaliation underline Tehran’s intent to strike at U.S. and allied interests wherever they are located, far beyond its own borders. A senior Iranian official told international media that there were “no time limits or red lines” for the retaliation and that Iran would continue its operations until U.S. and allied forces were decisively defeated.
Human Costs and International Reactions
The unfolding conflict has already led to casualties and disruptions. In Iran, state media reported deaths and injuries in several cities from the initial strikes. A particularly tragic incident occurred in Minab, where several schoolchildren were reported killed amid the aerial bombardment.
Global reactions have been swift. Governments around the world, including the United Nations and European Union, have issued calls for restraint and urgent de-escalation, warning that the conflict threatens greater humanitarian suffering and could rapidly spiral out of control. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, among others, condemned the violence, while several nations urged dialogue and negotiation to prevent further loss of life.
Strategic Implications and Looming Risks
Analysts say the U.S.–Israel strikes represent one of the most intense military escalations in the region in decades, highlighting deep fractures over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and long-standing tensions over ballistic missile development and regional proxy activities. The conflict threatens to redraw geopolitical alignments and could entangle additional states in the region.
Diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the crisis had been underway before the strikes, with talks earlier in 2026 attempting to address nuclear limitations and de-escalation. Those efforts now appear uncertain as both sides commit to military engagements that could be protracted.
As of now, the situation remains highly volatile. Military operations continue, Iranian forces vow further retaliation, and regional tensions show no signs of abating, leaving many observers worried that the Middle East could be on the brink of an even wider conflict.
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