The Middle East descended into a state of high-intensity warfare as Iran launched a “decisive” wave of retaliatory strikes following joint U.S.-Israeli operations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired a barrage of missiles and drones targeting U.S. military hubs, including Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Dhafra in the UAE, and the U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. This escalation follows reports that American and Israeli strikes hit the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, whose current condition remains unknown.
From Kuwait to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, all countries hosting US military assets reported Iranian missile attacks on their territories.
Residents in Dubai, an emerging global financial hub in the Gulf, witnessed several loud blasts throughout the day. A… pic.twitter.com/DKZNRpxbDw
— Bloomberg (@business) February 28, 2026
The humanitarian cost of the exchange has been catastrophic. In southern Iran, officials confirmed that 85 people, mostly young pupils, were killed when a girls’ primary school in Minab was struck by three missiles during daylight hours. Meanwhile, in the UAE, the defense ministry reported one fatality from intercepted missile debris. Civil unrest and panic have gripped Tehran, with authorities converting major highways into one-way routes to facilitate a mass exodus from the capital as President Trump urges the Iranian people to “overthrow the clerical establishment.”
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Global leaders have reacted with alarm. While the UK, France, and Germany condemned Iran’s “indiscriminate” strikes, they emphasized their non-participation in the initial U.S.-Israeli assault and called for an immediate return to negotiations. However, with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council vowing to continue operations until the “enemy is decisively defeated” and Israel calling up tens of thousands of reservists, the prospects for a ceasefire appear increasingly dim as the region braces for a prolonged conflict.
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