Iran and Israel traded missiles on Saturday after Israeli forces, backed by the United States, struck targets in Tehran. The Pentagon named the mission “Operation Epic Fury,” recalling the 2025 strike “Midnight Hammer.” Israel said the attack killed Mohammad Pakpour, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Soon after, Iran fired a barrage of missiles toward Israel. As a result, sirens rang out across Tel Aviv and nearby cities. Residents rushed into shelters while the Israeli Air Force intercepted incoming threats. Meanwhile, hospitals moved patients and surgeries to underground units as a safety step.
At the same time, explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, and Dubai. One Asian national died in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, several Gulf countries closed their airspace. In Bahrain, officials sounded alarms after a reported missile threat near the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base.
In Tehran, strikes hit areas near offices linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, reports said he had already moved to a secure location. In addition, internet access across Iran went down during the attacks.
US President Donald Trump announced major combat operations, saying the goal was to remove urgent threats. Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strikes necessary to remove an existential danger. Meanwhile, India urged its citizens in Israel to stay near shelters and avoid non-essential travel.
