Middle East
A plume of smoke rising from the site of a strike in Tehran early on March 28, 2026. Photo: Atta Kenare / AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Israel carried out extensive air and drone strikes across multiple Iranian provinces on Saturday, targeting military infrastructure, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would retaliate by attacking American- and Israeli-linked universities in the region.
According to the Israeli army, more than 100 targets were struck between Friday and Saturday night across Iran, including missile production and launch bases, air defense systems, and military industrial units. The military said the campaign is aimed at degrading and ultimately destroying Iran’s military production capabilities.
Iranian officials, however, said many of the sites hit were civilian locations, reporting casualties among non-military populations. The IRGC also warned that, in response to alleged attacks on Iranian universities, it would target American and Israeli universities in West Asia.
Rojhelat
In Iran’s western Kurdish-majority areas (Rojhelat), several sites in Kermanshah province were hit. On Saturday evening, three locations inside Kermanshah city were bombed. Earlier in the day, strikes targeted an IRGC command center and a site in the Hafiziyeh neighborhood. Authorities have not yet released details on damage or casualties.
In Lorestan province, a building in Borujerd was struck Saturday morning, killing nine people, including men, women, and children, according to the provincial war casualties office, which said all victims were civilians.
The target in Borujerd was identified as Ali Fouladwand, who was killed alongside several family members, including his son and daughter. No information has been released about his background. His residence had also reportedly been targeted in a previous Israeli strike last year, in which his wife was killed.
Tehran and other provinces
Tehran saw some of the heaviest strikes, with multiple areas in the east, west, and north of the capital targeted Saturday night. Residents reported intense bombardment, sharing videos online.
Iranian state television said several sites were hit after 9:00 pm, including buildings in Saadat Abad, Masoudiyeh, Tehransar, Chitgar, and Satarkhan, as well as locations on Palizi Street and near the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster. Targets included a barracks, residential buildings, and an unfinished structure.
Earlier in the day, strikes hit Sabounchi Street and areas near Yasi Fatemi Park, Sohrevardi Street, Artesh Highway, and the Mahallati neighborhood. Additional attacks were reported in Parchin, Shahriar, and Qaleh Hassan Khan, where military sites were targeted.
Elsewhere, multiple sites in and around Karaj were struck, with residents reporting powerful explosions. In East Azerbaijan province, a military area southwest of Tabriz was heavily bombed.
In Isfahan, several sites were targeted, including military bases and, for the third time in a week, the city’s main gas pressure reduction station on Kaveh Street. Authorities in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari said three soldiers from the province were killed in the strikes.
In Bushehr province, 15 sites were targeted, according to local officials, with four civilians reported killed. In Khuzestan, strikes hit a communications center and an area near a water facility in Haftkel, with officials saying the targeted center was used for broadcasting radio and television signals.
In Markazi province, an alleged strike hit an abandoned livestock facility near Khomein, causing no damage. In Qazvin province, a drone strike on a building in Najaf Abad village killed six civilians.
Further south, a military base near Bam airport in Kerman province was hit without reported casualties. In Zanjan, a drone strike on a residential unit killed five people and wounded 13 others, according to provincial authorities.
Escalating threats
The Israeli army said its operations are intensifying and will continue in the coming days, targeting key components of Iran’s military industry.
Iranian officials have rejected Israel’s claims, saying civilian infrastructure has been disproportionately affected. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, more than 93,000 non-military units have been damaged since the start of the war, including over 31,000 residential and commercial units in Tehran province alone.
The latest escalation underscores the widening scope of the conflict, with both sides signaling further action in the days ahead.
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