Iran has launched missiles and drones at Israel and targeted United States military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, dramatically widening the Iran-Israel conflict following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that the first wave of missile and drone attacks had begun, describing the operation as retaliation for what it called aggression against the Islamic Republic. The escalation marks a direct expansion of hostilities beyond Israel to include American military installations across the Gulf.
Explosions were reported in northern Israel as air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. Sirens sounded across parts of Israel and Jordan, and hospitals activated emergency protocols. At the same time, Gulf states reported missile activity targeting US facilities, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and installations in Kuwait.
Airspace in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq was temporarily closed as authorities assessed the security situation. Israel cancelled civilian departures, while several international airlines suspended regional operations.
United States President Donald Trump had earlier announced that US forces had begun “major combat operations” in Iran alongside Israel. Israeli authorities confirmed that their strikes targeted Iranian military, intelligence and government-linked sites, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as necessary to remove an existential threat.
A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that American and Israeli assets across the Middle East had become legitimate targets and warned of long-lasting repercussions. The official stated that there would be no red lines following what Tehran considers joint military aggression.
In Tehran, multiple explosions were reported, including near the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media confirmed that President Masoud Pezeshkian was safe. It remained unclear whether Ali Khamenei was present at the time of the reported blasts.
The United States has significantly reinforced its military presence in the region in recent days, deploying additional fighter jets, warships and air defence systems. The build-up was intended to pressure Tehran amid disputes over its nuclear programme and missile capabilities.
Iranian officials have consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons. President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected allegations that Tehran is developing a nuclear bomb, while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the UN Conference on Disarmament that Iran supports global disarmament and peaceful nuclear energy use.
The widening confrontation has increased concerns over regional stability. Gulf states hosting US military bases now face heightened security risks, while diplomatic channels at the United Nations are expected to intensify efforts to prevent further escalation.
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen also pledged to resume missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and Israeli-linked targets. The Red Sea corridor is a critical global trade artery connecting Europe and Asia, and renewed attacks could disrupt commercial and energy shipments.
Iran maintains a declared ballistic missile range limit of 2,000 kilometres, covering Israel and much of the Middle East. While there is no public evidence of an intercontinental missile programme, Washington has raised concerns about Iran’s space launch activities and their potential military applications.
The Iran-Israel conflict has now evolved into a multi-front regional confrontation involving direct exchanges between Tehran, Israel and US forces stationed across the Gulf. The coming days are expected to determine whether diplomatic intervention can contain the crisis or whether further military escalation follows.
