12:10 UTC — Iranian Officials Warn of Additional Strikes on U.S. Facilities

Iranian military leaders warned that further attacks could target U.S. military installations across the Middle East if ongoing airstrikes against Iranian territory continue.

Officials in Tehran said the warning followed recent strikes carried out by Israeli forces with U.S. support on Iranian military and infrastructure sites. The statements were reported by international outlets including Reuters and Al Jazeera.

U.S. defense officials have not issued a detailed response to the warning but confirmed that defensive measures remain in place at several regional bases.

11:45 UTC — Explosions Reported Near Energy Facilities in Tehran

Explosions were reported near oil storage and refining facilities in the Iranian capital, according to regional media and officials cited by Al Jazeera.

Initial reports suggested that the sites were targeted during the latest wave of airstrikes linked to the ongoing campaign involving Israeli and U.S. forces.

Iranian authorities have not yet released confirmed casualty figures, and the reports could not immediately be independently verified.

10:20 UTC — Air Defense Systems Activated in Gulf States

Several Gulf countries reported activating air defense systems after detecting incoming missiles or drones linked to Iranian retaliation.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain said projectiles were intercepted in their airspace. Officials indicated that some of the projectiles were believed to be targeting locations hosting U.S. military personnel.

No immediate reports of major damage were confirmed.

09:35 UTC — Strikes Continue Against Iranian Military Infrastructure

Israeli and U.S. forces continued strikes against military infrastructure in several parts of Iran, according to officials cited by international news agencies.

Targets reportedly included missile facilities, air defense systems, and military bases. Explosions were reported in areas near Tehran and in western Iranian provinces.

Military authorities from the Israel Defense Forces did not release detailed operational information.

08:50 UTC — Security Alerts Issued Across Israeli Cities

Air raid sirens sounded in several Israeli cities after incoming projectiles were detected, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces.

Israeli air defense systems were activated to intercept missiles believed to have been launched from Iranian territory or by allied groups in the region.

Local authorities instructed residents to seek shelter during the alerts.

What We Know

• Israeli strikes against Iranian military targets began on February 28, 2026.

• The campaign reportedly involved coordination with the United States Department of Defense.

• Iran has launched missiles and drones toward Israeli territory and U.S. military sites across the region.

• Air defenses have been activated in several Gulf states hosting U.S. forces.

What We Don’t Know

• The full extent of casualties from the latest strikes.

• Whether additional countries will directly join the conflict.

• How long the current phase of the air campaign will continue.

Where Strikes Are Being Reported

Current reports indicate military activity across several parts of the Middle East:

Iran

• Tehran — strikes reported near energy and military infrastructure

• Western provinces hosting missile and air defense facilities

Israel

• Air defense interceptions reported near Tel Aviv and Haifa

Gulf Region

• Missile or drone interceptions reported over:

  • Qatar

  • Saudi Arabia

  • United Arab Emirates

  • Bahrain

Iraq

• Security incidents reported near facilities used by U.S. forces in Baghdad.

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09:25 UTC — Israeli Strikes Reported Across Western Iran

Israeli aircraft carried out coordinated strikes on multiple sites linked to Iranian security forces in western Iran, according to reports citing Israeli military officials. The targets reportedly included facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militia.

Officials said the operation was part of the continuing campaign that began on 28 February with large-scale Israeli and U.S. strikes across Iran. The claims could not immediately be independently verified.

09:05 UTC — Iran Rejects Cease-Fire Talks Amid Escalating Conflict

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would not enter cease-fire negotiations and warned the country was prepared for a potential U.S. ground invasion if the conflict expands.

The statement came as U.S. and Israeli air operations continued and Iranian forces launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region, including against U.S. bases and Israeli territory.

08:50 UTC — Israeli Air Operations Continue After Week of Strikes

Israeli and U.S. forces have conducted thousands of airstrikes since the start of the campaign targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, according to open-source military reporting.

The operations have reportedly focused on air-defense systems, missile launch infrastructure, and military installations in Tehran and other regions of Iran.

08:20 UTC — Hezbollah–Israel Cross-Border Attacks Continue

Rocket and drone attacks between Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and Israeli military positions continued overnight along the northern Israeli border, according to regional security reports.

The cross-border strikes began earlier this week after Iran-aligned groups entered the conflict following Israeli strikes inside Iran.

07:55 UTC — Iranian Missile and Drone Attacks Target Regional Sites

Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against several regional locations, including Gulf states and U.S. military installations, according to regional security updates.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain previously reported missile strikes and drone incursions following the initial Israeli-U.S. operation.

07:30 UTC — Israel Maintains Nationwide State of Emergency

Israel remains under a nationwide state of emergency declared after Iranian missile attacks on Israeli territory.

Authorities have restricted large public gatherings, mobilized reservists, and increased defensive measures amid continued missile threats.

OTHER GLOBAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS

Ukraine Front Line Developments

07:10 UTC — Fighting Continues Along Eastern Ukrainian Front

Ukrainian and Russian forces continued exchanges of artillery and drone strikes along several sectors of the eastern front line, according to military briefings and regional authorities.

Independent verification of battlefield claims remains difficult due to restricted access to active combat areas.

South China Sea Naval Standoff

06:40 UTC — Regional Naval Patrols Intensify

Naval patrols by several regional states increased in the South China Sea following renewed tensions over maritime claims.

Defense officials from multiple countries confirmed the presence of additional coast guard and naval vessels in contested waters. No direct confrontations were immediately reported.

What We Know

• Large-scale Israeli and U.S. air operations began against Iran on 28 February 2026
• Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across Israel and the Gulf region
• Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues in Lebanon
• Regional tensions have spread across several Middle Eastern countries

What We Don’t Know

• The full extent of damage to Iranian military infrastructure
• Whether ground forces could become involved in the conflict
• The timeline for potential diplomatic negotiations

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Iran fired a volley of missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday night, in what appears to be a carefully calibrated retaliation for American airstrikes that targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities just a day earlier.

While Iran declared the attack a “mighty and successful response,” the reality on the ground tells a different story: No injuries were reported, no critical damage occurred, and both the U.S. and Qatar had advance warning before the missiles struck.

A Strike with a Message—Not a Mass Casualty Event

Iran’s state television proudly broadcast martial music and footage claiming six missiles hit the Al Udeid base, which houses about 10,000 American troops. But U.S. officials pushed back, saying no missiles made contact with the base and that most, if not all, were intercepted.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strike, calling it a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty and a breach of international law. Officials said their defense systems intercepted the majority of the 19 missiles fired, and the base had been evacuated in advance as a precaution.

Advance Warning and Escalation Control

Interestingly, both Iran and the U.S. seem to have gone out of their way to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. Iranian officials reportedly gave Qatar advance notice of the attack — a signal that Tehran may have intended this strike to be more symbolic than strategic.

President Trump confirmed as much, writing on his Truth Social platform that the missile strike was a “very weak response” to what he called the “obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Still, he thanked Iran for the early warning, which “made it possible for no lives to be lost.”

“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region,” he added, suggesting the U.S. response had served its purpose.

What Triggered the Exchange

The missile strike came one day after U.S. forces bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan — which American officials say were severely damaged. These strikes followed Israel’s earlier campaign of targeted attacks against Iranian nuclear and military sites, escalating fears that Tehran was fast-tracking its path to a nuclear weapon.

In response, Iran’s National Security Council said the number of missiles fired at Al Udeid was intentionally matched to the number of bombs used in the U.S. strikes — a tit-for-tat gesture meant to send a message without crossing too many red lines.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X just before the attack, saying, “We neither initiated the war nor seek it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran unanswered.”

Regional Fallout and Warnings of Wider War

Qatar wasn’t alone in taking precautions. As missiles streaked toward the Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE also temporarily closed their airspace. Airlines canceled flights, and the U.S. base at Ain al-Asad in Iraq activated its air defenses in anticipation of a wider assault that, fortunately, never came.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several European countries condemned Iran’s attack and reiterated calls for diplomacy.

Qatari spokesperson Majed Al Ansari warned that continued escalation could have “catastrophic repercussions for international peace and security,” urging all sides to prioritize diplomacy and de-escalation.

What Comes Next?

While the immediate threat appears to have passed, tensions remain high. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran will continue to retaliate unless both U.S. and Israeli military actions stop — but also left the door open to negotiations.

The U.S. has yet to issue a formal military response, but the pattern so far suggests both sides are walking a fine line: demonstrating strength while avoiding a full-scale war neither seems to want.

Whether this exchange marks the peak of the current crisis or merely a pause before the next round remains to be seen.

Source: The Times Of Israel – Iran fires missiles at American base in Qatar in retaliation for US strikes; none hurt

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Israel’s ambassador to the United States warned this week that Iran’s growing arsenal of ballistic missiles is just as dangerous as its nuclear program—and both must be dismantled to protect regional and global security.

In a Wednesday interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter stressed that Israel sees Iran’s missile production capabilities as an inseparable part of its broader military threat. “They come cruising out of the sky and create incredible damage,” Leiter said. “That production capacity has to be eliminated as well.”

His comments come amid a backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, fueled by fears that Tehran is edging closer to building a nuclear bomb. While international focus has largely been on Iran’s enrichment of uranium, Israel has consistently warned that the country’s ballistic missile program—capable of delivering warheads across the region—is an equally urgent threat.

The Dual Threat: Nuclear and Ballistic

Iran has long insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But since the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under President Donald Trump, Tehran has stepped up its enrichment activities and restricted international inspections. The Biden administration has sought to revive elements of the agreement, but negotiations have stalled amid political roadblocks and Iran’s continued nuclear progress.

At the same time, Iran has been expanding its missile arsenal, including long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Experts say Iran now possesses one of the largest and most diverse missile programs in the region.

Leiter emphasized that this dual-threat—nuclear capability plus the means to deliver it—represents an existential danger to Israel. “They cannot have the weapons that can destroy Israel, which they claim and which they want to do every day,” he said, referencing Tehran’s repeated calls for the end of the Israeli state.

Israel’s Options: Military Action on the Table

When asked whether Israel could strike Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility—deeply buried in a mountain near the city of Qom—Leiter didn’t offer specifics but signaled that military options are being considered. “It might require multiple strikes, it might require something else, or it might require one of our surprises,” he said.

Fordow is one of Iran’s most heavily fortified sites and would be extremely difficult to destroy in a single airstrike. Its protection by mountains and advanced air defenses makes it a prime example of why military analysts believe a strike on Iran would be far more complex than Israel’s past operations against nuclear programs in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007).

Still, Israel has made clear it won’t rule out acting alone. “If we have to pursue this and prosecute this by ourselves, we’re going to know what to do,” Leiter said. “We’re not going to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Strategic Pressure as U.S. Hesitates

Leiter’s remarks come as the Biden administration weighs its options in the face of Iran’s accelerating nuclear development. While Washington has expressed deep concern about Iran’s enrichment levels—now reportedly close to weapons-grade—it has stopped short of committing to military action.

This hesitation has fueled Israeli fears that the international community may once again tolerate a dangerous status quo. As a result, Israel is increasing its pressure—both diplomatically and rhetorically—while signaling that it is prepared to act unilaterally if necessary.

Israel’s military has been conducting drills simulating long-range strikes and preparing for potential conflict on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence officials have publicly warned that Tehran may be just weeks away from producing enough fissile material for a bomb—though weaponization would still take more time.

A Broader Regional Struggle

Beyond the nuclear file, Israel and Iran have been locked in a shadow war that spans the region—from Syria and Lebanon to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Iran’s support for Hezbollah, Palestinian militant groups, and proxies across the Middle East has kept Israel on constant alert.

With no sign that Iran is backing down, and with diplomacy stalled, Israel’s message this week was unmistakable: it views the threat from Tehran as urgent, multidimensional, and something it’s prepared to confront alone if it must.

“The threats are real,” Leiter said. “And our responsibility is to make sure they never materialize.”

Source: CNN – Israeli envoy to US says Iran’s ability to produce ballistic weapons must also be eliminated

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