New Delhi, February 28, 2026: The Middle East plunged deeper into conflict on Saturday after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, hours after Israel confirmed launching missile attacks on Iranian targets.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it responded with a large-scale wave of missile and drone strikes directed toward Israel, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Strikes in Tehran, Casualties Reported
Iranian state-linked media reported extensive damage in Tehran following joint US-Israeli strikes. Images circulating on international media showed smoke rising from multiple locations in the capital.
In southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, the Fars news agency reported that an Israeli strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab killed 24 students, revising an earlier lower death toll. The development has intensified global outrage and calls for de-escalation.
Iran Targets US Base in Bahrain
Iran also claimed responsibility for a strike on a US military base in Bahrain. Video footage aired by Al Jazeera showed smoke rising over the Juffair area, where the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed evacuations in Juffair and urged residents to cooperate with authorities.
Iraqi Armed Group Threatens US Bases
Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary faction within the Popular Mobilisation Forces, threatened imminent attacks on US bases in Iraq in retaliation for air strikes that reportedly killed two of its fighters at the Jurf al-Sakher base.
The escalation raises concerns that Iraq could once again become a battleground for US-Iran hostilities.
Global Reactions Pour In
Several countries condemned the military escalation and called for diplomacy:
Belgium: Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said diplomatic efforts should have been exhausted and warned against punishing Iranian civilians.
Norway: Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide questioned the legality of preventive strikes under international law.
Pakistan: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar “strongly condemned” the attacks and urged urgent diplomatic engagement.
Russia: The Russian Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to US and Israeli operations, urging a return to political and diplomatic settlement.
Indonesia: President Prabowo Subianto offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran and expressed readiness to travel to Iran if both sides agree.
Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the safety of Filipino nationals in Iran and the wider Middle East was of “paramount importance,” directing agencies to locate and protect overseas workers. Government data indicates about 2.1 million Filipinos were working across the Middle East in 2024.
Regional Stability at Risk
The rapid cycle of attack and retaliation has heightened fears of a multi-front conflict involving US forces, Israel, Iran, Iraqi militias and potentially other regional actors.
Diplomatic observers warn that without immediate de-escalation, the confrontation could disrupt global oil markets, maritime trade routes in the Gulf, and broader geopolitical stability.
