Iran targeted military bases of the US in Abu Dhabi, Dubai (The UAE), Doha (Qatar), the Saudi capital of Riyadh and Israel on February 28, 2026 hours after the US and Israel conducted joint strikes on the Islamic Republic, triggering a deadly conflict in West Asia.

In the morning, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the Supreme Leader is alive and safe. Tehran claimed that a strike on a school killed 24. Reports suggest that the US-Israel strikes also claimed the lives of Iranian Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Mohammed Pakpour. US President Donald John Trump confirmed the role of his country in strikes against Iran, stressing that the US began major combat operations in Iran. He told the press: “We have a big decision to make. You know that. Not easy. We have a very big decision to make. We have a country that’s been for 47 years blowing people’s legs off, arms off and the face. They have been knocking out ships, killing people. Not only Americans, but lots of people.”

Meanwhile, Israel claimed that it launched a “pre-emptive strike” against Iran after multiple explosions were heard in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu described the move as a “joint operation” aimed at confronting what he termed an “existential threat” from Iran. According to the Israeli officials, the operation is being called Roar of the Lion.

In retaliation, Iran also launched missiles towards Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other locations across the Gulf. The Defence Ministry of the UAE mentioned in a statement that a civilian of an Asian nationality was killed because of the “fall of some missile debris in a residential area” in Abu Dhabi. It added: “Such acts constitute a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the safety of civilians and undermines stability.“

Dubai residents told the AFP that they heard an explosion and saw missiles streak across the sky. “It was a big explosion, and it made the windows shake,” one witness told AFP. Another resident saw three missiles heading across the sky before disappearing into the distance, describing them as “fireballs” followed by a trail of smoke.

As all these Middle Eastern cities host the US troops, Iran has started targeting them. The US has reportedly stationed over 2,000 soldiers in Saudi Arabia, with some of them being deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base, roughly 60km south of Riyadh. The base supports US Army assets, including Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High Altitude Area defence systems.

Bahrain claimed that an Iranian missile attack targeted the Fifth Fleet headquarters of the US in Manama. “The Fifth Fleet’s service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later,” stated Bahrain’s National Communication Centre in a statement. It may be noted that the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet area of responsibility includes the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including anti-mine vessels and logistical support ships.

Sirens were also sounded in Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait as their air defence system was “engaged with incoming missiles“. The Interior Ministry of Qatar said that the Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, adding: “No damage has been reported, according to the initial field assessment. No casualties or material damage were recorded in residential areas.“

As expected, the Western allies of the US, including Britain, France and Germany, have condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes in West Asia. In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Rodney Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have said: “France, Germany and the UK have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.” They added: “We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the US, Israel and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.” The three leaders further said: “We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.“

Interestingly, Andy Kim, the Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey, has called on the US Congress to curb President Trump’s war powers. He has urged all the lawmakers to return to Washington DC and immediately pass a war powers resolution in order to limit the President’s authority to carry out additional military action against Iran without congressional approval. Kim told CNN: “Right now, I have zero confidence in this President who has so flagrantly violated our Constitution. That is why we should have Congress immediately go back into session for the War Powers vote to reassert the American people’s will, which, again, they don’t want to be at war.”

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das