Latest developments in US, Israel strikes on Iran

PARIS — The United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes against targets in Iran on Saturday, triggering explosions in the capital Tehran and an escalation across the region.

Here are the latest developments as the military action announced by US President Donald Trump and the Israeli government sparked a flurry of retaliatory salvos from Iran that closed airspaces across the Middle East.

Strikes across Iran 

The joint operation began with smoke seen rising over Tehran after strikes that Israel said were pre-emptive.

Shortly after, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, posting a surprise video statement announcing US combat operations in Iran, with the goal of "eliminating imminent threats".

Smoke was seen rising over Tehran's Pasteur district, site of the home of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and there was a huge security deployment in the capital.
The US and Israel said their operations were targeting Iranian military sites.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate.

This grab from handout video released by Israel's Government Press Office (GPO) shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayahu giving a televised address from his office in Jerusalem on February 28, 2026. Netanyahu said on February 28 that Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms urging Israelis to "stand together", in a video message after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic. (AFP)

It said the strikes followed months of joint planning between the allies.

In southern Iraq, a bombing that targeted a military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two people, authorities said.

Explosions were also heard near the US consulate in Iraq's Erbil, according to AFP journalists.

Missile, drone wave

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, after a first wave of missile and drone attacks had been launched at Israel.

"The first wave of widespread missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the occupied territories has begun," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement, referring to Israel.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said it was treating a man with blast injuries in the north of the country, after missiles were launched towards Israel from Iran.

The country's foreign ministry said it would "respond decisively" to the strikes, insisting Tehran had done "everything necessary to prevent war" from breaking out.

"Just as we were ready for negotiations, we are now more prepared than ever to defend the Iranian nation," it said.

People rush to fill their tanks at a petrol station in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on February 28, 2026, after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran. (Credit: AFP)

Gulf explosions

Explosions were reported across the Gulf region.

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions, as well as in Bahraini capital Manama and across Qatari capital Doha.

The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted Iranian missiles and reserved its right to respond to the attacks.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital, which is home to a base housing US personnel.

Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted several missile attacks targeting the Gulf state, while Kuwait also engaged incoming strikes.

Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian attacks targeting its neighbours in a statement released by its official press agency, but made no mention of Iran targeting the kingdom.

Elsewhere, Jordan said it shot down two ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom.

Airspace closures, flights nixed

Qatar's civil aviation authority said the Gulf state's airspace had been temporarily closed, and Qatar Airways said it had suspended all flights from Doha.

Iraq closed its airspace, and shortly after, witnesses and a military source told AFP that warplanes and missiles were seen in its skies.

Syria closed part of its airspace in the south along the border with Israel for 12 hours, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

Jews pray as they take shelter in Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026. The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies. (AFP)

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights, while Lufthansa announced it has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7.
Turkish Airlines suspended flights to 10 Middle East nations, while Air India suspended all flights to the region.

Swiss International Air Lines said it was pausing flights to and from Tel Aviv for a week.

Allied support, warnings

The UK government expressed the fear that the military strikes could blow up into a broader Middle East conflict.

"We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict," a government spokesperson said.

Australia supports the US action against Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Ukraine said the Iranian government's "violence against its own people and other countries" had triggered the attacks.

The European Union said developments in Iran were "perilous", and urged the protection of civilians.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country refused to be dragged into war.
Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised Washington for striking Iran, saying it had "shown its true face".