The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran early on 28 February 2026, triggering a sharp escalation across the Middle East and prompting Iranian retaliation against US military sites in the Gulf and neighbouring states.
According to multiple international reports, the initial strikes targeted locations inside Iran, marking a major expansion of hostilities between the longtime adversaries. Washington described the operation as aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities, while Israeli officials framed it as a response to ongoing security threats.
Iran responded hours later by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and at US military bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq. Regional authorities reported air defence activity, temporary airspace closures and heightened security alerts as the attacks unfolded.
The developments disrupted commercial flights and prompted emergency meetings among Gulf states amid concerns the confrontation could widen into a broader regional conflict. International leaders called for restraint, warning that continued escalation risks destabilising an already volatile Middle East.
