Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it has launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for recent joint US–Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities across the Middle East.
“In response to the aggression of the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks towards the occupied territories has begun,” the IRGC said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington had initiated “major combat operations” in Iran, following what Israel described as pre-emptive strikes against Iranian targets.
A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that all American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East were now considered “legitimate targets.” The official warned there were “no red lines after this aggression,” adding that Tehran’s response would be complex and open-ended. Calls for restraint or surrender, the official said, were “unacceptable and mere wishful thinking.”
Explosions in Tehran, Leaders Moved to Safety
Multiple explosions rocked Tehran and other areas, including near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Authorities did not confirm whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time. Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian remained “safe and sound.”
Earlier in the week, Pezeshkian dismissed US accusations that Tehran sought nuclear weapons, reiterating that Iran would not develop a nuclear bomb. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi similarly told the UN Conference on Disarmament that Iran “will never seek nuclear weapons” and supports peaceful nuclear energy use.
The US strikes came amid a significant military buildup in the region, including deployments of fighter jets and warships. Washington has pressured Tehran over its nuclear programme, while Iran insists it has not enriched uranium since June. However, it has restricted international inspectors from sites previously bombed during a 12-day conflict. Satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press suggests Iran may be assessing damage and recovering materials at some locations.
Netanyahu: Strikes Target ‘Existential Threat’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint operation aimed to eliminate what he described as an “existential threat.” He praised President Trump’s “historic leadership” and said coordinated US–Israeli action would create conditions for the Iranian people to “take their fate into their own hands.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes targeted Iranian military, government, and intelligence facilities to “remove threats.”
Hours after Iran’s retaliatory barrage, explosions were reported in northern Israel as air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. Air raid sirens sounded in parts of Israel and Jordan, and several Israeli hospitals moved patients and surgical operations underground as a precaution.
Regional Fallout and Airspace Closures
The conflict has severely disrupted air travel. Iran, Israel, and Iraq closed their airspaces, while the United Arab Emirates followed amid rising tensions. Russia suspended all flights to both Iran and Israel.
Several international airlines halted regional operations. Wizz Air suspended flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until March 7. Lufthansa canceled flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Muscat for the weekend. KLM halted flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv, and Oman Air suspended services to Baghdad.
Houthis Threaten Renewed Attacks
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed to resume missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and Israeli targets in support of Tehran. A Houthi official warned that the first strike could occur “as soon as tonight.”
The Houthis had paused operations under earlier agreements with Washington and during a ceasefire in Gaza last October.
With both sides exchanging direct fire and regional actors on alert, fears are mounting that the confrontation could spiral into a broader and prolonged conflict across the Middle East.