Iran retaliates with strikes targeting U.S. military bases, Israel and civilian targets

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via U.S. Navy:  USS Abraham Lincon aircraft based in San Diego has been dispatched to the region

February 28, 2026 (Tehran) – The U.S. and Israel today launched massive air strikes in Iran. President Donald Trump has said the operation aims to overturn Iran’s government. Trump and Israeli sources have said that Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in the air strikes, CNN and Reuters report.

Iran has retaliated with unprecedented attacks targeting U.S. military bases, Israel, and civilian targets across the Middle East.  According to the BBC, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait - all home to US military bases - said they had intercepted missiles fired towards them, however black smoke was seen rising from a U.S. base in Bahrain and an explosion was heard in Kuwait. A luxury hotel in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi international airport were also struck. In Israel, one person died and 25 were injured in an attack on Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The U.S. State department is advising Americans around the world to “exercise extreme caution.”  The military conflict has also resulted in disruptions to air travel.