TEHRAN – On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the Islamic Republic of Iran became the target of a coordinated wave of military aggression by the United States and Israel.
The calculated scale and apparent precision of this assault, coupled with Tehran’s swift and emphatic reaction, signals one of the most severe escalations witnessed in the region this decade.
Below, we examine the most pressing questions surrounding the attack and present the latest verified information.
1. When did the attack on Iran begin?
The joint military assault conducted by the United States and Israel commenced in the morning hours of February 28, 2026. Reports of the first major explosions in the Iranian capital, Tehran, surfaced around 9:40 a.m. local time (Iran Standard Time, UTC + 3:30), marking the official beginning of the strikes across multiple sectors of the nation.
2. Which areas in Iran were targeted?
Multiple authoritative sources confirm that missiles and airstrikes impacted sensitive and strategic sites across Iran. Among the locations confirmed hit during the offensive were:
Tehran (capital): Explosions were reported across several central districts, including areas near Daneshgah Street, Jomhouri Avenue, and the Seyyed Khandan district. Iranian media also noted strikes near the Pasteur district, proximate to the residence of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Qom and Isfahan: Detonations were confirmed in these historically significant and strategically important central cities.
Regional Sites: Strikes were also observed in the northwestern city of Tabriz, the western province of Kermanshah, Ilam province, Karaj, and the crucial southeastern port of Chabahar.
3. Were civilians killed in the attacks?
Iranian official media has confirmed that a girls’ elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, was struck, resulting in numerous documented deaths and injuries among young pupils, though final casualty figures remain subject to official verification. International reports and footage corroborate the damage to civilian educational infrastructure, forcing Iranian emergency services into a massive casualty assessment operation.
4. What justification did the U.S. and Israel offer?
Israeli officials characterized the operation as a “preemptive” necessity, intended to dismantle what they termed an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s missile and military development programs. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities stated the strikes were part of “major combat operations” designed to neutralize perceived threats to American forces and their regional allies. Tehran has vehemently rejected this rationale, labeling the actions a flagrant violation of international law.
5. How did Iran respond militarily?
Within hours of the initial assault, Iran’s armed forces initiated a robust retaliatory campaign, launching missile and drone attacks specifically targeting U.S. military assets throughout the region, as well as Israeli sites in the occupied territories. Confirmed targets of the Iranian retaliation include:
– Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar): A primary U.S. command and logistics hub.
– U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters (Bahrain): Reports indicated Iranian missiles impacted areas near the naval facilities.
– U.S. Installations in Kuwait: Sites were engaged or targeted by Iranian missiles.
– Al Dhafra Air Base (U.A.E.): Iranian strikes activated local air defense systems.
– Saudi Arabia and Jordan: Reports indicated that bases hosting U.S. assets in these nations were also targeted.
6. Has the situation escalated beyond Iran and Israel?
Yes. Iran’s retaliatory action immediately extended across the Persian Gulf region, causing explosions and triggering defensive responses in several Persian Gulf Cooperation Council states hosting significant U.S. military presence. Airspace alerts and heightened security warnings have been issued across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, leading to widespread disruption of international air traffic.
7. What has the United Nations said?
The United Nations has called on all parties — including Iran, the U.S., and Israel — to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. UN officials emphasized that continued hostilities risk civilian casualties and wider regional conflict, and urged a return to diplomacy. The UN also highlighted the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and protecting civilians. The UN Security Council has not yet issued a formal resolution, but its leadership continues to press for dialogue.
8. How have Russia and China reacted?
Russia has strongly condemned the strikes as unprovoked aggression and urged diplomatic channels to address the crisis. China has called for restraint, respect for sovereignty, and avoidance of further conflict, reflecting concerns about regional instability.
9. What did Tehran call on the international community to do?
Tehran has appealed to UN member states, especially Muslim and nonaligned nations, to condemn the attack and take collective action to uphold international law, arguing that regional peace and security are at stake.
10. How have Persian Gulf Arab states reacted to Iran’s retaliation?
Several Persian Gulf states have publicly condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on their territory or airspace, viewing them as violations of sovereignty and threatening regional security.
An Al Jazeera correspondent reported that Erbil Airport in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq was targeted twice on Saturday.
Syrian state media reported that a missile explosion killed four people and injured numerous others in an industrial area of Suwayda, without noting the source of the missile.
The only country in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council that Iran has not struck today thus far is Oman.
The crisis is entering a highly dangerous and unpredictable phase. Iran has already launched retaliatory strikes across West Asia, and both the United States and Israel have signalled readiness for prolonged military operations. Regional governments remain on high alert, with airspace closures and security warnings in place.
Whether the conflict remains confined or expands into a broader regional confrontation will depend on diplomatic engagement, restraint by all parties, and international efforts to prevent further escalation.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: tehrantimes.com
