What happened
In the early hours of Feb. 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran, marking the start of what U.S. officials are calling a sustained offensive against the Iranian regime’s military capabilities and nuclear program. The U.S. has named the operation “Operation Epic Fury.”
The strikes reportedly hit multiple targets in Tehran and other Iranian cities as well as Iranian defense and missile infrastructure. Both Tehran’s air defenses and communications systems were disrupted by the attacks.
🎯 Goals stated by U.S. and Israel
President Donald Trump said the aim was to eliminate what the U.S. views as an imminent threat from Iran’s missiles and nuclear ambitions and to create conditions for a political change in Iran.
Israeli leaders described their part of the offensive as targeting what they call an existential threat from the Iranian regime and said strikes would continue “as long as needed.”
🇮🇷 Iran’s response
Iran immediately retaliated, launching missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases across the region.
Gulf Arab states including the UAE and Qatar closed their airspace and reported intercepting Iranian missiles. One person was reported killed in Abu Dhabi from missile debris.
Missile attack on U.S. military base in Bahrain
Iran launched a large barrage of missiles across the Gulf in retaliation for a major U.S.-Israel military strike on Iranian territory earlier today.
Bahrain confirmed that at least one Iranian missile hit part of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet facilities in Manama, the host nation for U.S. Central Command operations in the region. Videos show explosions and smoke near U.S. bases.
Gulf neighbors, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, reported intercepting missiles or sounding alerts as sirens and defense operations were activated.
British authorities warned their nationals in Bahrain and other Gulf states to shelter indoors amid the attacks.
Reports indicate at least one civilian death in Abu Dhabi from falling shrapnel from Iranian missiles.
In context: these strikes are part of an escalating broader conflict after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian sites earlier today, described by U.S. officials as an effort to curb Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
