TEHRAN/TEL AVIV (Feb 28, 2026) — The Middle East crisis has intensified dramatically as the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran, triggering explosions in Tehran and other Iranian cities and renewed military confrontation that risks a broader regional war.

According to official statements, Israel carried out preemptive strikes against Iranian military targets, citing threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. U.S. President Donald Trump characterised the operation as “major combat operations,” declaring that strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s offensive capabilities and preventing further threats to regional security.

Multiple explosions were reported in Tehran, prompting the closure of Iranian airspace, while sirens blared across Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, where air raid alerts and interim defence operations were underway. Iran’s military has responded with missile barrages and drone attacks directed at Israeli territory—forcing civilians to seek shelter and escalating fears of extended conflict.

The strikes mark a major escalation from last year’s 12-day Israel-Iran war and follow months of stalled diplomatic negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. International concern is mounting as military actions continue and diplomatic solutions appear increasingly distant.