On February 28, 2026, the situation in the Middle East entered its most serious phase in recent years — after a coordinated military operation by Israel and the United States against Iran, Tehran responded with large-scale missile strikes on Israeli and American targets, effectively marking a new stage of direct military confrontation between major powers in the region.

On Saturday morning, Israel announced that it had carried out a “preemptive missile strike” against Iran. The country’s Ministry of Defense and official IDF representatives stated that the objective was to eliminate an imminent threat to the State of Israel and its citizens. The operation, which media outlets have already referred to as a joint action dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”, was coordinated with Washington, and U.S. forces also participated in air and missile strikes on Iranian territory.

During the first phase of the strikes on Iran, dozens of strategic targets were reportedly hit, including military bases, air defense systems, facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and government headquarters. According to social media reports and official sources, explosions were heard in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, and other major cities, accompanied by the closure of Iranian airspace.

Iran Under Attack by the United States and Israel

In response, Tehran launched a massive retaliatory missile and drone strike, firing ballistic missiles toward Israel as well as at U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf region, including air bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Iranian officials described these strikes as “just retribution” for attacks on sovereign territory and as an act of self-defense against external aggression.

In Abu Dhabi, one person was reported killed by falling debris, while air defense systems were actively engaged in the UAE and other countries in the region hosting U.S. military facilities. In Israel, air defense systems were activated over northern areas following the launch of Iranian missiles, including near Jerusalem.

U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the nation, described the actions as the beginning of a major combat operation, stating that the objective was to “eliminate the threat posed by the Iranian regime” and protect Americans from “immediate danger”. He also called on Iranian military personnel to lay down their arms and appealed directly to the Iranian people to seek political change.

Israel, for its part, declared a state of emergency, closed its airspace, and placed air defense forces on heightened alert, warning citizens of possible retaliatory attacks. Both sides continue to exchange claims regarding damaged targets and potential casualties, many of which remain unverified.

The confrontation comes amid the collapse of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, which analysts say deepened the crisis and contributed to the decision to resort to direct military force rather than diplomacy. Some experts believe the escalation could have far-reaching consequences for international security, energy markets, and global economic stability, as oil prices and commodity markets are already experiencing sharp volatility.

Additionally, several countries in the region have closed or restricted their airspace, and many airlines have canceled flights over the Middle East due to the threat of missile strikes and the intensifying conflict.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Russian citizens of the possibility to leave Iran and Israel via Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Jordan

On the international stage, reactions have been mixed: Russia sharply condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes as an act of aggression and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, while Western countries have expressed concern over the escalation and the risk that it could evolve into a broader regional war.

 

This confrontation represents one of the most significant escalations since previous military clashes in the region. The key question now is whether this will remain a limited campaign aimed at degrading military capabilities, or whether it will expand into a wider regional conflict involving additional states. Many experts also note that diplomatic efforts, which only days ago still seemed possible, are now unlikely to yield results in the short term.

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28.02.2026 01:28