Middle East
The interception of Iranian attacks in Erbil (left) and Dubai (right) on February 28, 2026. Photos: submitted
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel and US military bases across the Middle East on Saturday, launching what it called a retaliatory operation after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, warning that further attacks would follow, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Tehran began its response less than three hours after the start of the US and Israeli strikes on Saturday, targeting sites in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and the Kurdistan Region.
Iran named the operation “True Promise 4,” describing it as a continuation of previous retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli targets. Iranian forces have carried out three earlier rounds of attacks, including responses to the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and US-Israeli strikes on Iran in June 2025.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted the main base of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as US bases in Qatar and the UAE, and military and security sites in Israel, using missiles and drones.
Bahrain’s state media confirmed that the US naval command center was targeted. The Fifth Fleet oversees US naval operations in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and parts of the Indian Ocean.
The UAE’s defense ministry said one civilian was killed in an Iranian strike on Abu Dhabi, adding that the victim was from an Asian country.
Kuwait’s military said Iran launched ballistic missiles toward the Ali Al Salem Air Base. Iranian media claimed a direct hit on a NATO-linked base, while Kuwait’s defense ministry said its air defenses intercepted the missiles.
Qatar’s state media, citing the defense ministry, said all missiles fired toward the country were intercepted. Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, saying, “Qatar reserves its full right to respond to this attack in accordance with the provisions of international law and in a manner proportionate to the nature of the aggression.”
A Jordanian official told AFP that the country’s air defenses intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles.
Iranian media also reported that Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd military base was targeted, though neither Riyadh nor Iranian state media officially confirmed the claim. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it “condemns and denounces in strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan,” and voiced support for “any measures they may undertake.”
In Kurdistan Region, Iran fired missiles and drones that were intercepted by US-led coalition defenses over Erbil, according to Kurdish authorities. The Erbil-based Directorate General of Counter Terrorism said at 1:25 pm that “coalition forces destroyed and brought down a number of missiles and explosive drones in Erbil province, and there were no human or material casualties.”
The IRGC claimed that its strikes on US bases killed or wounded at least 200 soldiers. Independent confirmation was not available. One civilian casualty and five others were confirmed in the UAE and Syria, respectively, where authorities said those killed were civilians.
Iran also said it struck Israeli military and security installations with ballistic missiles. Israel confirmed the attacks but did not disclose the scale of the damage.
Iran vows to continue attacks
Iranian media cited IRGC officials as saying the attacks on Israel and US bases in the region would continue.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said Tehran would target any regional location used by the US to launch attacks against Iran.
The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces said it would respond decisively. Spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said Iran’s response would make the US and Israel “regret” their actions.
International reactions
The escalation came as US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Oman, were ongoing, with another round scheduled this week. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi criticized the strikes on X, saying, “I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined… I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war.”
Russia’s foreign ministry called on the US and Israel to halt their attacks and return to diplomatic channels, offering to assist in a political solution based on international law.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting and urged Tehran to accept US conditions. “The ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop,” Macron wrote on X.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a post on X, “We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law.”
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a separate post that “Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law is a priority.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country supports the United States and Israel in “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on X that Iran’s nuclear program is “a threat to global peace and security,” adding that Australia supports US efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
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