Iran: A dramatic escalation in the Middle East unfolded on Saturday as Israel said it detected multiple barrages of missiles launched toward its territory, hours after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran.
The Israeli military confirmed that air raid sirens sounded across several areas, including Jerusalem, and urged civilians to remain in protected spaces.
“An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel,” the military said, calling on the public to follow Home Front Command instructions until further notice.
אחיי ואחיותיי אזרחי ישראל, לפני שעה קלה יצאנו ישראל וארה״ב למבצע להסרת האיום הקיומי מצד משטר הטרור באיראן.
אני מודה לידידינו הגדול הנשיא דונלד טראמפ על מנהיגותו ההיסטורית.
במשך 47 שנים קורא משטר האייתוללות ״מוות לישראל״, ״מוות לאמריקה״. הוא הקיז את דמינו, רצח אמריקנים רבים וטבח… pic.twitter.com/itTF5b4jB4
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 28, 2026
Operation Targets Iranian Leadership
According to US officials, American forces joined Israel in launching a series of strikes on Iranian targets in what the Pentagon described as ‘Operation Epic Fury.’ The first wave reportedly focused on senior Iranian political and military figures.
An Israeli official said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among those targeted, though it remains unclear whether they were harmed. A source told Reuters that Khamenei had been moved from Tehran to a secure location before the strikes.
An Iranian source claimed that several senior commanders from the Revolutionary Guards were killed, but there has been no independent confirmation.
President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026
Iran Retaliates
Iran responded swiftly. The Revolutionary Guards announced the launch of missile and drone attacks against Israel and warned that all US bases and interests in the region were within reach.
In Bahrain, authorities said an area near the US Fifth Fleet service center was struck by a missile. Witnesses reported thick smoke rising along the coastline as sirens echoed across the island nation.
Explosions were also heard in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Residents in areas including Al Dhafra and Al Bateen described loud blasts that shook windows. Qatar said it intercepted missiles aimed at its territory.
Near Iran’s Kharg Island — the hub for roughly 90 percent of the country’s crude exports — explosions were reported, raising fresh concerns about oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s Warning and Regional Anxiety
In a video message, US President Donald Trump described the campaign as ‘massive and ongoing,’ saying it was aimed at eliminating what he called imminent threats from Iran. He cited the long-standing hostility between Washington and Tehran, including the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis, and warned that the operation could continue for days.
He also urged Iranians to remain sheltered while suggesting the strikes could open a path for political change within the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint action would “create the conditions” for Iranians to determine their future. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the assault as a preemptive move to counter threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
🇮🇱 🤝 🇺🇸 OPERATION ROARING LION: The IDF and the U.S Armed Forces have launched a broad & joint operation to thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to Israel over time.
The Iranian regime has not abandoned its plan to destroy Israel.…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 28, 2026
Diplomatic Hopes Fade
The confrontation comes after weeks of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at resolving the long-running nuclear dispute. A recent round of negotiations failed to yield a breakthrough.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and denies seeking atomic weapons, though it has refused to negotiate limits on its ballistic missile capabilities.
As the conflict deepens, Gulf nations remain on edge. Global airlines have cancelled flights across the region, and residents in Tehran were seen queuing at banks and petrol stations amid fears of further escalation.
With both sides signaling readiness for prolonged action, the crisis threatens to redraw the region’s fragile security balance and dim hopes of a diplomatic solution in the near term.
