Iran has carried out its most intense missile barrage since the start of the Middle East conflict, striking Israeli cities and US facilities in the region. The attacks, described by Iranian broadcasters as lasting about three hours, targeted Tel Aviv, Haifa, and West Jerusalem, as well as US installations in Erbil, Iraq, and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain.
Israel confirmed the missile threat and activated its air defence systems to intercept incoming projectiles. AFP journalists reported air raid sirens in Jerusalem followed by distant explosions, while Iranian media highlighted the scale of the strikes on American facilities.
The escalation follows the ongoing conflict that began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile strikes. The Revolutionary Guards said a “mass” of ballistic missiles targeted the Fifth Fleet and three other facilities in northern Iraq, warning that no US Navy vessels had approached the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Other Gulf countries were also affected, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reporting that their air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones early Wednesday. The strikes signal a regional intensification of hostilities with widespread implications for security and trade in the Middle East.
The attacks underscore the risks to civilian populations and global energy routes, as tensions continue to rise across the region. The situation remains volatile, with air defences on high alert and nations closely monitoring missile activity and potential retaliatory strikes.
