ISTANBUL

Several residential buildings were targeted in Bahrain’s capital Manama, the Interior Ministry said Saturday, as regional tensions continue to escalate amid the US-Israeli attack on Iran.

🚨 Kamikaze drone hits high-rise building in Bahrain's capital

🗣️ The Interior Ministry says multiple residential buildings in Manama were targeted, with Civil Defense crews continuing firefighting and rescue operations pic.twitter.com/Qcwhtimzmm

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

In a statement posted on the US social media company X, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said a number of residential buildings in Manama had been targeted, adding that civil defense teams were continuing firefighting and rescue operations at the affected sites.

The ministry said further details would be provided later.

Explosions heard in Dubai after missile interception amid Israel-Iran escalation

Explosions were heard in Dubai as shrapnel from a missile intercepted in the air fell over parts of the city, media reported Saturday, amid the ongoing US-Israel confrontation with Iran.

🚨 Kamikaze drone reportedly hits near Dubai hotel

📍 The projectile struck close to the 5-star Fairmont The Palm in the United Arab Emirates ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/TCrqcpnSrE

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

Footage circulated on social media showed debris descending over areas of Dubai following the interception.

Further details were not immediately available.

Drone targets Kuwait International Airport amid US-Israeli war with Iran

A drone targeted Kuwait International Airport on Saturday, causing minor injuries to several workers and limited material damage at Terminal 1 amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.

🚨 Drone strike hits Kuwait International Airport

🛬 Kuwait Civil Aviation has reported minor injuries to workers and limited material damage from the attack pic.twitter.com/YICpMuvxvK

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

In a statement posted on the US social media company X, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation's spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi said the drone strike resulted in slight injuries to a number of employees and “limited material damage” to the T1 passenger terminal building.

The spokesperson said competent authorities immediately implemented approved emergency procedures, secured the site and began assessment, mitigation and the reorganization of operational processes in line with the highest safety standards.

The authority added that further updates would be provided through official channels as they become available.

Khamenei is still alive ‘as far as I know,’ says Iranian foreign minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still alive “as far as I know,” in an interview with NBC News.

“Almost all officials are safe and sound and alive. We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem,” he said.

When asked about US President Donald Trump's pre-recorded remarks after the attacks, Araghchi labeled efforts of regime change as "Mission Impossible."

"You cannot do regime change while millions of people are supporting this so-called regime," he said, adding that Tehran is "certainly interested for de-escalation."

Countries issued initial reactions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait condemned Iranian attacks targeting them, while Australia and Canada voiced strong support for the US and Israeli attacks. 

Spain rejected what it described as “unilateral military action” and called for an end to escalation. 

The UK, France and EU representatives urged restraint and a halt to escalatory measures, as Russia denounced the strikes as an “unprovoked armed attack.”

Netanyahu, Trump’s war on Iran ‘unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate,’ says Iranian foreign minister

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday condemned the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.”

In a statement on the US social media company X, Araghchi said: “Netanyahu and Trump’s war on Iran is wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate.”

He added that US President Donald Trump had turned “‘America First’ into ‘Israel First’ — which always means ‘America Last’.”

“Our powerful armed forces are prepared for this day and will teach the aggressors the lesson they deserve,” Araghchi said.

Israeli officials say top Iranian political, military figures targeted in strikes

Israel targeted senior Iranian political and military figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, in the latest strikes, Axios reported Saturday.

A senior US official confirmed to the news outlet that Israel conducted air strikes against Iranian senior commanders and political leaders.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that assessments in Tel Aviv indicated a strong likelihood that Ali Shamkhani, Khamenei's advisor who is responsible for Iran's nuclear program, had been eliminated.

Iran's Foreign Ministry moved quickly to push back on some reports, saying Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in good health.

Iranian authorities issued no official confirmation of any deaths.

At least 40 killed in Israeli strike on girls’ school in southern Iran

At least 40 people, including students, were killed and 48 others injured after Israeli strikes targeted a girls’ primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, Iranian media reported on Saturday.

Iran accuses US, Israel of violating UN Charter, vows ‘decisive’ response

Iran on Saturday accused the US and Israel of military aggression, calling the strikes a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the attacks targeted defense infrastructure and civilian sites in multiple cities and took place while Tehran and Washington were engaged in a diplomatic process.

It stressed that Iran had prioritized diplomacy to prevent war but “the time has now come to defend the homeland,” and that the armed forces would respond in a “decisive and powerful manner.”

Tehran asserted its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and called on the UN Security Council and the international community to condemn the joint US-Israeli attack and take urgent action.

Missiles hit US-linked site in Bahrain amid escalating regional situation after attack on Iran

Missiles struck a US-linked facility in Bahrain on Saturday amid escalating tensions in the region as Iran prepared for retaliation after a joint Israel-US attack.

Bahrain’s National Contact Center said the service center affiliated with the US Fifth Fleet came under a missile attack and that further details would be provided later, urging residents to follow official instructions and rely on verified sources.

Smoke was seen rising in the Juffair area, which hosts a US naval base.

In Qatar, a senior official said the country intercepted an Iranian missile using the Patriot defense system. Al Jazeera quoted a Defense Ministry source as saying that “an Iranian missile was intercepted using the Patriot system.”

The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, announced a temporary and partial closure of its airspace as a precautionary measure, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said southern air corridors would be closed for 12 hours starting at noon local time to ensure flight safety.

Kuwait’s civil aviation authority also announced the temporary closure of the country’s airspace.

The Jordanian army said its aircraft were conducting routine aerial patrols to safeguard the kingdom’s airspace.

Meanwhile, sirens sounded in several areas across Jordan, and the Interior Ministry issued guidance to citizens on how to respond to the alarms and what to do if foreign objects fall within the kingdom.

Explosions heard in northern Israel after missiles launched from Iran

Explosions were heard in the Haifa area in northern Israel on Saturday following launches from Iran, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.

💥 Explosions heard in the Haifa area in northern Israel following launches from Iran

➡️ Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says launched 1st large-scale wave of missile and drone strikes toward Israel

➡️ Israel launched attack against Iran early Saturday under the name ‘Lion’s Roar’… pic.twitter.com/iZ3N1sCfir

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

Earlier, air raid sirens sounded in several areas across Israel after missiles were identified as launched from Iran toward the country, the Israeli army said.

Iran preparing ‘harsh response’ to Israel: State TV

Iran is preparing a “harsh response” to Israel, state television said Saturday, after Israeli strikes on the country.

In a brief statement posted on its Telegram account, the broadcaster said: "Iran is preparing a harsh response to Israel."

Cyberattacks hit Iranian news sites, including IRNA, amid Israel-US strikes

Cyberattacks have targeted multiple news sites and local apps in Iran, the IRNA news agency, which was also affected, said on Saturday, as the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic republic.

While IRNA's website was inaccessible, others reported disruptions and there were internet outages.

Internet monitor NetBlocks confirmed "Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout with national connectivity at 4%."

Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran to 'protect American people'

As explosions rocked Tehran and Israel announced "preemptive" strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump also confirmed launching "major combat operations" in the Islamic republic.

🔴 US President Donald Trump announces that the United States military begins major combat operations in Iran

🗣️ He says Washington’s objective is to 'defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime'

➡️ The strike occurs despite ongoing… pic.twitter.com/AnR4cr76L2

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

“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,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social account.

“Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world,” he added.

The president vowed to destroy Iran's missiles, raze its missile industry to the ground and annihilate the navy, reiterating that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated,” Trump said.

“We're going to ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans,” Trump added, stressing that they will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Citing attacks including the 1979 US embassy takeover in Tehran, the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 Americans, the 2000 USS Cole attack, Trump said. “Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq.”

“The regime's proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as US naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes,” he added.

“It's been mass terror,” Trump said. “We're not going to put up with it any longer. From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias.”

The president called Iran “the world's number one state sponsor of terror,” and said that it just recently “killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested.”

Trump said it has always been US policy, especially under his administration, that “this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon.”

He cited Operation Midnight Hammer last June, which “obliterated the regime's nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan,” adding that the US warned Iran not to resume its nuclear efforts while attempting negotiations.

“They've rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore,” Trump said, adding that Iran attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can “now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.”

“For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests,” he declared.

Trump said his administration has taken “every possible step to minimize the risk to US personnel,” and that “the Iranian regime seeks to kill.”

“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” he said.

Addressing the Iranian people, Trump said: “I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home,” adding: “It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said.

He also urged Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, armed forces and police to lay down their arms and have immunity, or face “certain death.”

Later, in a post on US social media company X, the Department of War wrote “OPERATION EPIC FURY,” referring to the operation’s code name.

The attacks come as talks over Iran’s nuclear program have been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.

Last June, the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites towards the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war.

Israeli strikes kill, wound Revolutionary Guard personnel as Iran vows response

Initial Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday killed and wounded numerous Revolutionary Guard personnel, including key operational staff, ISNA news agency reported, citing a source.

Further explosions followed the strikes in the cities of Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Lorestan, the Mehr news agency said, indicating the attacks extended beyond the capital.

Senior Iranian officials were also targeted in the Israeli attack on Tehran, according to Israeli media reports.

Israeli Channel 12 said Israel is preparing in the initial phase for four days of intense joint attacks on Iran, citing a security official.

In response, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament National Security Committee, said in a post on US social media company X: “We warned you! Now you have started down a path which end is no longer in your control.”

Tehran hospitals declare emergency after strikes.

Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanipour told the official IRNA news agency that emergency measures were activated following explosions across parts of the capital.

Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strike on Iran as explosions rock Tehran

Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, with thick smoke seen rising over parts of the city, as the Israeli defense minister said Israel launched a "preemptive" strike against Iran.

Explosions rocked Tehran as Israel’s defense minister said a 'preemptive' strike was launched against Iran, with sirens sounding across Israel and a nationwide state of emergency declared

Channel 12 reports the US and Israel acted jointly, despite ongoing nuclear diplomacy, days… pic.twitter.com/Z2NBu5g2iN

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

Sirens also sounded across Israel, which declared a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country that includes a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors.

Israel's Channel 12 said the US and Israel launched the attack jointly.

Israel and the US have carried out joint strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran amid heavy air activity and sirens sounding across Israel pic.twitter.com/rmIrBRFq4I

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 28, 2026

The strikes come amid diplomatic efforts between US and Iranian officials for a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.

Badr Albusaidi, Oman's foreign minister, who mediated the talks, met US Vice President JD Vance on Friday. “I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days. Peace is within our reach,” he wrote on US social media company X after the meeting.

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