Israeli forces and US military assets launched a pre-emptive strike against leadership sites on Iran on Saturday, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and overshadowing ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve long-running disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Reports by the Israeli army contending that senior figures of Iran’s leadership and military were eliminated have so far been denied by Tehran, although aerial photos appeared to confirm that the palace of the country’s Supreme Leader, al Khamenei, suffered serious damage from the air raid.
Iran responded with strikes on Israel and near US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar, whereas Iranian drones and ballistic missiles were reportedly shot down in Iraq and Jordan.
Iranian missile slammed into the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.#Iran #usa #IranWar pic.twitter.com/dPM3eptv5b
— shahmir khan (@shahmir52_khan) February 28, 2026
Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported at least 53 killed after a strike on a girls’ school. Iranian sources said the total number of casualties exceeds 200 across 24 provinces, with an additional 700 people injured in the attacks.
On the other hand, the UAE said a civilian was killed by debris from an Iranian missile, and in Dubai, four citizens were reported injured in a strike on Fairmont Palm hotel.
Footage shows an impact at a 5-star hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE, following the Iranian ballistic missile attack. It is unclear whether it was caused by a direct missile strike or falling debris. https://t.co/jSDZZ113um pic.twitter.com/JwHe7irr5A
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) February 28, 2026
Both Israel’s and Iran’s air space remained closed, and major airlines were diverting or cancelling flights to the wider Middle East region for safety reasons. The strategic Hormuz Strait, located in the south of Iran between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has been closed, according to reports.
Given the safety crisis, the Embassy of Greece in Israel called on Greek citizens in the country to remain sheltered, follow the instructions of local authorities, and watch the embassy’s social media channels for updates.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has activated the Crisis Management Unit to assist Greek citizens in the Middle East.
Έκτακτη Ανακοίνωση Πρεσβείας της Ελλάδος στο Ισραήλ https://t.co/T7WqIBYngT pic.twitter.com/aJYMvkCMax
— Greece in Israel (@GreeceInTelAviv) February 28, 2026
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council has been called for later on Saturday in New York.
Leadership sites in Iran struck by Israel, USA Forces
According to Israeli officials and US President Trump, the joint operation was meant to “neutralize threats” that both Israel and the United States believe Iran poses to regional security.
While Washington and Tehran had been engaged in talks earlier in February, attempts to reach an agreement faltered, with Israel opposing any deal that did not impose strict limits on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced that the attack began in the early morning and immediately declared a state of emergency across all of Israel, warning the public that Iran could respond with missile and drone attacks. Sirens sounded throughout the country, and mobile alerts urged citizens to remain close to protected areas as air raid precautions were activated.
Explosions were heard in Tehran, with Iranian state media showing smoke rising over parts of the city shortly after the strikes commenced. Reports said multiple missiles struck central districts, including areas near institutions associated with Iran’s leadership.
Israeli officials characterized the operation as necessary to counter what they describe as an imminent threat. Israel has warned that Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, alongside its expanding nuclear program, could endanger Israeli territory and civilians if left unchecked.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called the joint US and Israel strikes “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.” In a post on X, he wrote that Donald Trump has turned “America First into Israel First – which always means America Last.”
The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils.
Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone.
These crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered. pic.twitter.com/AVqiuolgWm
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) February 28, 2026
“I do not know why the U.S. administration insists on beginning a negotiation with Iran and then attacking Iran in middle of talks. The same thing happened last June,” Abbas Araghchi continued.
Commenting on Iran’s attacks on targets in the Middle East, he said he was engaging with “counterparts from brotherly neighbors to clarify that Iran is solely exercising its right to self-defense under UN Charter. Iran will not sit idly by as the US attacks our people. Regretful that targets are located in friendly states,” he concluded.
US involvement in Iran offensive
President Trump released a video statement confirming that US forces are taking part in the strikes, which came after a significant US military buildup in the region over recent weeks in anticipation of possible conflict.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026
“Our goal is to defend the American people by eliminating the imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime,” Trump said in the video he posted on social media. “We will destroy Iran’s missiles, [and] we will eliminate their navy.”
In his message, US President Trump cited Washington’s decades-long dispute with Iran, including the seizure of the 1979 US embassy in Tehran, when students held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, as well as a range of other attacks the US has blamed on Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution brought the clerics to power.
He urged Iranians to stay sheltered because “bombs will be dropping everywhere.” Trump added: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.” The air and sea campaign is expected to last for multiple days, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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