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LIVE: Saudi Arabia Condemns ‘Blatant Iranian Aggression’, Backs UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan

World
28 Feb 2026 12:24 PM IST

Israel, in coordination with the United States, begins military operation targeting what Netanyahu calls an “existential nuclear threat” from Iran; thanks Donald Trump and urges Israelis to follow Home Front Command guidelines.

LIVE: Saudi Arabia Condemns ‘Blatant Iranian Aggression’, Backs UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan
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Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with the country’s defense minister declaring a state of emergency across the country. (AFP)

Tel Aviv: Israel launched a daylight attack Saturday on Iran's capital , with a cloud of smoke rising from the city's downtown. The first apparent strike happened near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide.
The United States is participating in the strikes, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations. It was not clear the full extent of the American involvement. The White House declined to immediately comment.
It also wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was in his offices at the time. He hasn’t been seen publicly in days as tensions with the United States have grown. The attack comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
Roads to Khamenei's compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital. Neighboring Iraq closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran's military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.
Trump wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests . Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
It wasn't immediately clear if Iran would immediately strike back, but it had warned that American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets for any retaliation.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats.” He did not immediately elaborate.
Several hospitals in Israel launched their emergency protocols, including moving patients and surgeries to underground facilities.
In Tehran, witnesses heard the first blast by Khamenei's office. Iranian state television later reported on the explosion, without offering a cause.
Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time as it closed its airspace. The Israeli military said that it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”
More explosions struck Iran’s capital after Israel said it was attacking the country. Authorities have offered no casualty information from the strikes.
Meanwhile, Iran shut down its airspace and mobile phone services were cut.
The warning to pilots came out as explosions rang out across Tehran, the Iranian capital.


Live Updates

2026-02-28 06:54:36
  • 28 Feb 2026 5:17 PM IST

    Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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. The Kingdom affirms its full solidarity with and unwavering support for the brotherly countries, and its readiness to place all its capabilities at their disposal in support of any measures they may undertake. It also warns of the grave consequences resulting from the continued violation of states’ sovereignty and the principles of international law.

  • 28 Feb 2026 4:27 PM IST

  • 28 Feb 2026 4:26 PM IST

  • 28 Feb 2026 4:10 PM IST


  • 28 Feb 2026 3:53 PM IST

    Switzerland is deeply alarmed by today’s strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran


  • 28 Feb 2026 3:39 PM IST



  • 28 Feb 2026 3:38 PM IST

    Israeli military spokesman: Israel identified ‘a sharp acceleration in Iran’s missile program

    In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesman, said Israel has identified “a sharp acceleration” in Iran’s missile program.

    He said Iran was beginning to make dozens of ballistic missiles a month.

    Shoshani also said there had been no significant hits in Israel. He spoke just before noon, roughly four hours after the operation began  — AP

  • 28 Feb 2026 3:37 PM IST

    Iran confirms retaliation against strikes

    Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed in a statement the country had begun responding to the joint strikes, saying its armed forces had “commenced a decisive response to these hostile acts.”

    The statement warned Iranians to avoid areas in the zones being targeted and that the government had made “prior arrangements” to ensure supply of basic necessities.

    Schools and universities were ordered to close, while the statement said banks would continue to operate. — AP

  • 28 Feb 2026 3:36 PM IST

    France calls on citizens to exercise extreme caution

    France, whose military has bases and a regular presence in the Mideast, has called on French citizens in the region to exercise extreme caution.

    ''A military escalation is underway... It’s not the time for negotiations, we are in a situation of war,’' junior defense minister, Alice Rufo, told France-2 television Saturday, comparing the situation to what happened last June.

    ''Our priority is the protection of our citizens and protection of our forces in the region,’' she said.

    Asked if French forces were involved in the U.S. and Israeli strikes or targeted in retaliatory strikes, French military spokesperson Col. Guillaume Vernet said: ''The French armed forces continuously adapt their posture to threats and implement measures to ensure the surveillance and protection of military installations where French soldiers are deployed.’'   — AP

    He would not elaborate.

    ''Our military presence guarantees France’s independent assessment of the situation,’' he told the AP.

  • 28 Feb 2026 3:35 PM IST

    Turkish Airlines suspends flights to Mideast capitals over strikes on Iran

     ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines on Saturday suspended flights to 10 Middle East nations after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, with many nations closing their airspace.

    "Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan have been cancelled until March 2," spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote on X, while flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Oman were only suspended for the day.   — AFP

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