On February 28, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Iran launched missiles aimed at Israel, prompting immediate defensive measures. The IDF confirmed that air raid sirens were activated across various regions in Israel as a response to the detected threats.
Israeli military officials stated that their defense systems were engaged to intercept the incoming missiles. In a statement, the IDF noted, “Defense systems are operational to counter the threat. Alerts have been sent directly to mobile phones in the affected areas.” Concurrently, Israeli Air Force units were reported to be conducting intercept operations and striking back at identified threats.
Subsequent reports indicated that Iran had also targeted military installations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Bahrain, with explosions reported in Kuwait. Local media highlighted significant traffic congestion on the outskirts of Dubai following the attacks.
Bahrain condemned the missile strikes as “treacherous” and confirmed that they were directed at its infrastructure. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense acknowledged that the country had been a target of Iranian ballistic missiles, stating that some had been successfully intercepted. However, debris from the interceptions caused material damage and resulted in one fatality in a residential area of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE government assured that it is fully prepared to respond to any threats. In a related development, the IDF carried out strikes within Iranian territory, with reports of explosions in Tehran.
Israeli military sources characterized the operation as a “preventive military action” aimed at neutralizing potential threats from Iran and preventing future attacks on Israeli soil. The IDF issued a nationwide alert, advising citizens to remain close to secure areas.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the necessity of the operation, stating it was designed to counteract the imminent threats posed by Tehran. A U.S. official confirmed American involvement in the operations against Iran, indicating ongoing airstrikes aimed at weakening Iran’s security infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump later announced the initiation of a military campaign against Iran to eliminate perceived threats from the current regime, labeling its leadership as a “brutal group” that poses direct risks to U.S. interests and allies.
An Iranian official responded, stating that the country is preparing for retaliatory actions, warning that the response will be devastating.
The recent escalation follows a complex backdrop of diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. In 2015, a landmark nuclear agreement was reached to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but compliance has waned since the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions.
On February 13, Trump remarked that regime change in Iran would be the best outcome. He also confirmed the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Arabian Sea as part of a significant U.S. military presence in the region.
On February 17, U.S. and Iranian officials met in Geneva for a second round of negotiations aimed at curtailing Tehran’s nuclear program and preventing further conflict. These discussions followed indirect talks held in Oman earlier in February, which were the first since military strikes by Israel and the U.S. on key Iranian nuclear facilities during a brief conflict in June.
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of heightened U.S. military presence in the Middle East and rising tensions following widespread protests in Iran last month, during which the government initiated severe crackdowns that, according to human rights groups, resulted in thousands of deaths.
Iran's missile strikes towards Israel have escalated regional tensions, prompting defensive actions from Israel and military responses from the U.S. The situation is compounded by ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear program and the recent history of conflict in the region.