Scott Ritter: "We have lost this war already!" - IRAN WAR NEWS - 28-Feb-2026 (update 2)
UPDATE 2:
Pezeshkian condemns 'savage' US-Israeli attack on school that killed nearly 90
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned the "savage" US-Israeli attack on an elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan, which left at least 85 schoolgirls dead.
"This savage act adds another black page to the record of countless crimes by the aggressors, a memory that will never be erased from our nation's history," the president said in a message on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, the Israeli regime targeted the Shajareh‑Tayyebeh Girls' Elementary School. The death toll has risen to at least 85 students killed and 92 others injured, local authorities said. Some victims remain trapped under the rubble, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
"Small Children Who Knew Nothing of Politics or Wars"
MINAB and TEHRAN, IRAN-Mohammed Shariatmadar stood outside the wreckage of the Shajareh Tayyiba girls' elementary school in Minab, in southern Iran on Saturday morning, unable to process what he was seeing. His six year-old daughter, Sara, a second grade student, was among dozens of girls killed when the school was bombed in the first few hours of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran.
[...]
When families were finally directed to a gathering point to receive the bodies of their children, he slowly moved forward. When asked if he needed help, he shook his head silently and waited for his daughter's body to be brought out.
"I cannot understand how a place where innocent children learn can be bombed like this," Shariatmadar told Drop Site. "We are talking about small children who knew nothing of politics or wars. And yet they are the ones paying the highest price."
Some 170 students were inside the building attending morning classes when the missile struck. At least 108 people were killed, according to the public prosecutor's office in Minab, many of them schoolgirls between seven and 12 years old.
It was unclear if it was a U.S. or Israeli strike. On Saturday, CENTCOM's spokesperson said they were "looking into" the reports.
"My heart is broken," Shariatmadar said. "For Sara and for all the children we lost today. I want the world to know that the children are the real victims. Every day that passes without a solution increases the pain and the suffering for the families and for the children alike."
Iraqi Resistance declares 16 operations against US bases - Yemen Press Agency
BAGHDAD, March. 01 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced carrying out sixteen military operations targeting US bases in Iraq and the region, using dozens of drones.
BREAKING NEWS: US AND ISRAEL LAUNCH WAR AGAINST IRAN, US BASES STRUCK ACROSS MIDDLE EAST
Redacted Special Report: The United States and Israel have started a new war against Iran
Trump's Iran Strike: WW3 or China Containment? - YouTube
After US strikes on Iran, fears of World War 3 are rising. But is this escalation really about Iran - or is China the real strategic target?
In this GVS Deep Dive, we analyze Trump's Iran strike, China's discounted oil imports, Venezuela's role, the Strait of Hormuz risk, and Gallup's latest polling shift on Israel and Palestine.
China imports over 11 million barrels of crude per day, including roughly 1.3-1.4 million bpd from Iran at discounted prices. Add Venezuelan crude and nearly 40% of China's imports come from sanctioned suppliers. If those flows disappear, Beijing's cost structure changes overnight.
Is this about Israel? Or about energy leverage and containing China's rise?
IRGC launches a new wave of retaliatory missile strikes on US bases across region
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has launched a new wave of attacks against American bases in the West Asia region as part of a large-scale response to US and Israeli aggression against Iran.
The IRGC said in a statement on Saturday that the new counterstrike targeted the US's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as other bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The operation, dubbed True Promise 4, also hit additional military and security sites deep within the Israeli-occupied territories.
"IRGC missiles and drones struck the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, other US bases in Qatar and the UAE, and military and security centers within the occupied territories," the statement read.
The attacks are part of a massive coordinated Iranian response to recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began in the early hours of Saturday.
In the first wave of retaliatory attacks earlier on Saturday, the IRGC carried out a string of simultaneous and massive missile strikes against US military bases across West Asia.
Arabic-language media outlets reported that the Iranian missiles struck US military installations in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Footage shows aftermath of Iranian retaliatory strike targeting Tel Aviv. - YouTube
Explosion rocks central Israel after Iran missile barrage | Middle East Eye
Loud explosions have been heard in central Israel following what Israeli media describe as a fresh missile barrage from Iran.
Channel 12 reported the blast as sirens sounded across Tel Aviv. Israel Hayom said a missile struck the city, though officials have not yet released full details.
2 U.S. Patriots MISS Iranian ballistic missile as it slams into U.S. al-Udeid base in Qatar
'Dubai's nightmare': Iranian strikes shatter calm of UAE business hub | Middle East Eye
Iran unleashed a furious missile and drone assault across the Arabian Gulf on Saturday in response to a surprise US-Israeli attack, but one city in particular appeared to bear the brunt of it: Dubai.
The Gulf emirate, one of seven in the UAE, is the region's good-time capital, where lucrative business deals can be sealed and celebrated. On Saturday, it was engulfed in billowing smoke and flames as missiles and drones rained down on it.
The strikes have more than just geopolitical significance, denting Dubai's reputation for being an oasis of calm and commerce in the Middle East.
Dubai has benefited potentially more than any other city in the world from the post-Covid boom of soaring asset prices, cryptocurrency, and remote work.
Capitalising on its low tax rate and smooth bureaucracy, Dubai has become a magnet for London bankers and American "finance bros." Its financial institutions have served as a haven for Sudanese militia leaders dealing in gold to Russian and Ukrainian expats fleeing war in Eastern Europe.
WATCH: Iran drone strikes US base in Bahrain
Watch the shocking moment an Iranian drone strikes a US base in Bahrain.
US troops panic as Iranian missiles get through to US Bahrain base
Thick black smoke rising into the air - Saman Kojouri reports from Tehran
Saman Kojouri, RT correspondent in Tehran, reports live following Israeli strikes reported in the Iranian capital, with explosions heard and emergency conditions declared in the region.
Prof. Mohammad Marandi : The Bombs Are Falling: LIVE From Iran !
Iran Closes Strait Of Hormuz, Strikes $1,1 Billion American Missile Radar In Qatar (Videos)South Front
Iran escalated its retaliatory operations across the Middle East in the afternoon of February 28, with reports suggesting that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
An official from the European Union's naval mission Aspides told Reuters that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from the IRGC saying "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz."
The strait is the world's most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Iran Won't Stop Until US Feels the Pain - Expert
Iran intends to inflict at least a few hundred casualties upon the US military as it realizes that the US will continue attacking until being forced to pay a significant cost, Foad Izadi, associate professor at the University of Tehran, tells Sputnik.
Netanyahu says Iran war to continue 'as long as necessary', claims Khamenei likely killed | Middle East Eye
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his first statement since launching the war on Iran.
"This fateful operation will continue as long as necessary - patience is needed. This war will bring about true peace," Netanyahu claimed on Saturday evening.
He also appeared to reference reports of an attempt on the life of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We destroyed the compound of the dictator Khamenei. There are many signs that this dictator is gone," he said.
In a direct message to Iranians, Netanyahu urged public unrest. "To the citizens of Iran - do not miss the opportunity. Your moment will soon come to take to the streets, complete the task, and overthrow the regime that is making your lives miserable."
Iran denies Khamenei death reports after strike claims | Middle East Eye
Tasnim and Mehr news agencies reported that Khamenei remains "steadfast and firm in commanding the field", directly contradicting earlier reports from Reuters and Israeli outlets citing unnamed "senior" Israeli officials who claimed he had been killed.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also dismissed the reports. Speaking to NBC News, he said that "as far as I know" the Supreme Leader and other senior officials remain in good health.
Khamenei's public relations office described the claims as "mental warfare", signalling that Tehran views the reports as part of a psychological campaign rather than confirmed fact.
Russia warns of "strategic consequences" over escalation against Iran, calls for immediate diplomacy - Yemen Press Agency
MOSCOW, Feb. 28 (YPA) - The Russian Foreign Ministry warned on Saturday of the grave dangers posed by continued military escalation and the American-Israeli aggression against Iran, emphasizing that the "logic of force" threatens regional stability and risks expanding the conflict globally.
In an official statement, Moscow called for an "immediate return" to political and diplomatic channels and a cessation of military operations, holding Washington responsible for the deteriorating situation.
Russia further stressed that the only path forward lies in respecting national sovereignty and international law, expressing its readiness to facilitate peaceful solutions to defuse the unprecedented tensions.
Hezbollah, Ansarullah warn US-Israeli aggression on Iran to engulf entire region
Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance groups have voiced their solidarity with Iran following the fresh US-Israeli aggression, warning that Washington and Tel Aviv will receive a crushing response from the Iranian Armed Forces.
Hezbollah, in a statement released on Saturday evening, warned about the dire consequences of the aggression for the entire West Asia region.
It said the US and Israel will receive "a stinging slap in the face" in retaliation for their vicious attacks on Iran.
Larry C. Johnson: Massive Iranian Retaliation Hits Back Hard After US Attack - Everything Ignited!
UPDATE 1:
Death toll from attack on Iranian girls school rises to 85, says judiciary | Middle East Eye
The death toll from an attack on a girls school in Iran's south has risen to 85, the Iranian judiciary said.
The attack on Saturday morning hit Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab in the southern Hormozgan province. Almost all of those killed were young girls.
Scott Ritter: Full-Scale War as Iran Attacks All U.S. Targets
Scott Ritter is a former Major, Intelligence Officer, US Marine, and UN Weapons Inspector. Ritter discusses why the US made a terrible mistake by attacking Iran, and Iran will likely prevail.
Israel says 200 jets struck 500 targets in Iran | Middle East Eye
The Israeli military says it deployed around 200 fighter jets in a sweeping attacks across Iran, striking roughly 500 sites, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
Iran's Day 1 strikes - Tehran Times
TEHRAN - Iran launched a significant wave of missile and drone attacks against military installations across West Asia and targets within Israel throughout Saturday, beginning its offensive shortly after the United States and Israel conducted joint strikes against sites within Iran.
Sources within Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) told Tasnim News Agency that Operation 'True Promise 4' has so far targeted 14 American military positions in the region, including key operational hubs in the Persian Gulf states and a major naval facility. The Army (Artesh) also took part in the attacks.
The coordinated Iranian response, announced less than two hours after the initial strikes against Iran, demonstrated an expanded operational reach, striking both Israeli and American assets stretching from the Arabian Peninsula to the Levant.
While official confirmation remains limited, images suggest that Iranian missiles and drones have struck several critical U.S. military outposts. Some of these bases include:
- Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar: Described as the largest U.S. base in West Asia and the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Iran struck this site previously during the June 2025 conflict. This time, according to an official statement by the IRGC, Iran managed to destroy a sophisticated FP-132 radar system, capable of tracking ballistic missiles over 5,000 kilometers.
- Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE: A critical U.S. military hub near Abu Dhabi, situated strategically close to the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in Dubai.
- Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, Jordan: Located northeast of Amman, this base has recently been emphasized by military analysts as a primary staging area for U.S. operations in the region due to its relatively shielded position.
- Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait: Cited primarily for its role as a major logistical and transport hub for U.S. forces in West Asia.
- Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain: The headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Manama was also hit by Iranian missiles.
Additionally, IRGC public relations stated that a U.S. Combat Support Ship (MST) sustained heavy damage from missile fire.
The operation also extended into the occupied territories. Reports and images circulating on social media purported to show Iranian missile impacts in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and the northern Galilee region.
Israel has imposed heavy censorship on war coverage, prohibiting both Israeli and international media from capturing the impact of Iranian attacks without authorization, which is rarely granted. Hebrew media sources reported that one journalist has already been arrested for filming wreckage caused by Iranian missile strikes in the occupied territories.
In a statement, the Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said Operation 'True Promise 4' will continue without interruption.
"As we had announced previously, in response to the brazen aggression of the U.S. and the Zionist regime against Islamic Iran, all the (Israeli) occupied territories and the bases of the criminal U.S. in the region were targeted by crushing attacks from Iranian missiles," Major General Abdollahi stated.
He further declared, "This operation will continue uninterruptedly until the absolute defeat of the enemy."
The top military official added that all bases, resources, and interests in the entire region belonging to the U.S. and Israel are now deemed legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters functions as Iran's primary war room.
Furthermore, by Saturday evening, unverified reports indicated Iran warned international vessels in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman that it would impose a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz within hours.
Iran launches retaliatory strikes against US bases (VIDEOS) - RT World News
"All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated," Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps was cited as saying by several media outlets.
US military suffered 200 casualties in retaliatory strikes - Tehran - RT World News
The US has suffered 200 casualties in Iranian retaliatory strikes on bases across the Middle East, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed.
Backed by the US, Israel launched what was described as a preemptive operation against Iranian military and nuclear-related targets in the early hours of Saturday, claiming the strikes were aimed at neutralizing threats posed by the Islamic Republic in the region.
US President Donald Trump later confirmed that the White House had supported West Jerusalem in conducting the strikes, citing the failure of nuclear diplomacy as a direct trigger for the move.
"As a result of missile strikes on American bases, at least 200 US military personnel were killed and injured," the Tasnim news agency reported Saturday, citing a statement by the IRGC.
Commenting on the retaliation, IRGC General Ebrahim Jabbari warned Trump that the Islamic Republic has "advanced capabilities" and is ready for a prolonged conflict.
"At the start of the war we will strike everything we have in our stockpiles," Jabbari said, vowing to launch "the most powerful missiles later."
BREAKING: IRANIAN LEADERS CONFIRMED SAFE + ATTACKS ON U.S. BASES UNPRECEDENTED | Laith Marouf
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are ALIVE and SAFE, following a series of U.S. and Israeli attacks on their residences.
Reports say more than 50 young girls were murdered when Israeli strikes targeted their elementary school in southern Iran. Tehran was quick to retaliate with attacks on both Israel, and U.S. Military bases in the region.
Laith Marouf, a journalist and executive director of Free Palestine TV, noted that Iran's attacks on U.S. Military bases are "unprecedented," and that the latest wave of weapons used doesn't even include Iran's new hypersonic ballistic missiles. The Zionists and their allies have no idea what's coming when Iran unleashes its modern capabilities, which could extend all the way to SPACE...
As Trump Launches "Massive" Regime Change War, Iran Strikes Back at U.S. Bases and Vows Not to Capitulate
At approximately 9:40 a.m. local time in Iran, President Donald Trump launched what he bluntly characterized as a regime change war aimed at eliminating the Iranian leadership, destroying the country's missile system and naval forces, and calling on Iranians to rise up and seize control in the aftermath of the attacks. The bombing campaign was initiated by Israel but Trump's statement announcing U.S. involvement made clear the stakes to Iranians: "Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take," Trump said in a taped statement on Truth Social soon after Operation Epic Fury began. "This will be probably your only chance for generations."
In what has now become a signature component of Trump's approach to Iran, the U.S. constructed a false veneer of continuing diplomatic negotiations, only to turn around and launch a major attack.
LIVE: Explosions Rock Bahrain After Iranian Strike on US Base | Trump | Khamenei | US-Iran War - YouTube
Iran has launched a significant and coordinated military retaliation, striking multiple United States military bases across the Middle East in a dramatic escalation of the widening conflict. American installations are reportedly under attack in key Gulf nations including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iraq, targeting strategic assets such as Al Udeid Air Base and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters. The strikes follow joint US-Israeli operations and signal a new, dangerous phase, putting the entire region on high alert as the Trump administration weighs its response to the direct assault on its forces and allies.
Breaking News LIVE: Explosions Rock Dubai as Iran Launches Missiles Toward UAE | US-Iran War LIVE - YouTube
Iran has launched a significant retaliatory military strike across the Middle East, targeting United States military installations and bases with waves of missiles and drones, escalating tensions to a critical level. Explosions have been confirmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where air defense systems were activated to intercept multiple incoming projectiles over the city's skyline. Debris from interceptions has reportedly fallen in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In response to the attack, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport have suspended all flights. The widespread Iranian operation, a response to recent joint US-Israeli actions, has also targeted US-linked sites in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, prompting airspace closures across the Gulf as the international community awaits a response from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Iran Israel War LIVE: WORLD WAR III | 8 Countries Under Attack, US Naval HQ Bombed, Bases Targeted - YouTube
The Middle East conflict has expanded dramatically after Iran launched a sweeping counter-assault following Israeli "preemptive" strikes. Iranian missiles reportedly targeted Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, triggering explosions across the region and forcing multiple countries to shut their airspace. Blasts were reported in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh and other locations as Iranian missiles targeted major U.S.-linked installations including bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain. Authorities in the UAE confirmed ballistic missile interceptions, but falling debris struck a residential area in Abu Dhabi, killing one person and causing damage. Flights were suspended across parts of the Gulf as airspace closures spread from Qatar to the UAE and Syria. Jordanian forces also intercepted missiles over their territory as the conflict widened beyond Israel and Iran.
Reuters: Iran notifies ships of closure of Strait of Hormuz
'Ships are receiving VHF communications from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stating that "no ship can pass through the Strait of Hormuz,"' the publication said, citing a representative of the EU's Aspides naval mission.
IRGC says 'no ship allowed to pass Strait of Hormuz', according to EU official | Middle East Eye
An official from the European Union's naval mission Aspides said on Saturday that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran's Revolutionary Guards saying "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz".
The unnamed official who spoke to Reuters said Iran had not formally confirmed any such order.
Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime channel, around 33km at its narrowest point, between the Musandam peninsula in Oman and Iran.
It connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, via the Gulf of Oman.
The strait is described as the most significant oil chokepoint in the world, with around a fifth of global oil output passing through it, and a third of global liquified natural gas (LNG).
Roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait every day, in addition to more than 10 billion cubic feet of LNG.
US-Israel attack on Iran is war on entire Islamic region, Araghchi tells counterparts - Tehran Times
"This imposed American and Zionist war is not just against the Iranian people, but against the entire region and Muslim countries," Araghchi emphasized. He added that it is the duty of all Muslim and regional states to fulfill their historic responsibility and neutralize the Zionist regime's malicious plan to destabilize Islamic states.
Are the US-Israeli strikes on Iran legal under international law? | Middle East Eye
"The strikes are clearly illegal, in that they are a breach of the UN Charter, which prohibits unilateral resort to force between states," he told Middle East Eye after Saturday's strikes.
"Self-defence is the only possible exception to that prohibition that Israel and the US could rely on, but the requirements for lawful self-defence are not met."
Recap: US and Israel bomb Iran | Middle East Eye
If you're just joining us, here's a quick recap of the latest developments across the region:
US-Israeli attack
The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran shortly after 9:30am local time (6am GMT).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the objective was regime change, while US President Donald Trump called on Iranians to rise up and take control of their government.
Eighty-five killed, mostly young girls, after a deadly strike on a school in southern Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been moved to a secure location, according to a Reuters source.
China condemns US and Israeli strikes on Iran, urges immediate ceasefire and return to talks.
Iranian response
Nearly an hour after the strikes began, Iran launched retaliatory rocket attacks.
Explosions were heard across Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, as air defence systems responded to incoming projectiles.
Iran also targeted US military bases in the region, with strikes reported in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Manama, Doha and Kuwait. Blasts were also heard in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
Major oil firms suspend shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as US-Israel strikes on Iran spark regional retaliation, with traders warning their ships will "stay put". The move threatens a chokepoint that carries a fifth of global oil and a third of the world's LNG supply.
IRGC Navy pounds US MST ship with a volley of missiles after Israeli-US aggression
As part of its retaliatory operations against the latest Israeli-American aggression on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a volley of missiles on Saturday at a US Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) support vessel.
In a statement released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the public relations department of the IRGC Navy said the Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) platform was struck by multiple missiles in a calibrated response.
The action followed fresh aggression carried out by the Israeli regime and the United States early Saturday, which targeted several cities, including the capital, Tehran.
Numerous casualties are feared, the majority reportedly civilians, among them women and children.
In response, Iran's armed forces initiated coordinated retaliatory operations, striking multiple military and intelligence targets in the occupied territories, as well as US military bases positioned across the Persian Gulf region.
Iran's retaliatory attack completely destroys sophisticated US radar system in Qatar
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that it destroyed a sophisticated American radar system stationed in Qatar as part of its retaliatory attacks targeting US bases and assets in the region.
'Trump plunges US into war his name will certainly be associated with'
We speak with journalist and Going Underground host Afshin Rattansi on the latest developments in the Middle East.
America's "Humanitarian Wars" against Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Palestine
History of America's Wars against Iran: 1909-2025
END UPDATES
[SPECIAL] - Scott Ritter : Trump attacks Iran - 'Epic Fury' or Epic FAIL ? - YouTube
America and Iran: War is Back! - YouTube
Is this 2003 again?
The United States has assembled its largest military deployment to the Middle East since the Iraq War. Sixteen warships are in the region. Oil prices are rising. Defense stocks are climbing. At the same time, administration officials warn that Iran may be close to nuclear capability - even as nuclear negotiations continue in Geneva.
In this Deep Dive, we examine whether the current U.S.-Iran standoff resembles the logic that preceded the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This is not a claim of identical circumstances. It is an analysis of a familiar pattern: preventive war rhetoric, narrowing strategic windows, expanding demands in negotiations, and contested intelligence assessments.
We break down:
The scale of the current U.S. military buildup
Claims about Iran's uranium enrichment and missile development
What the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is actually saying
The Pentagon's post-strike assessments from the June 2025 Iran-Israel conflict
Why European leaders are invoking "2003"
How American public opinion is shifting on Israel and the Middle East
Whether diplomacy in can still produce an off-ramp
Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to cap enrichment at 3.67%. Today, the debate centers on 60% enrichment, stockpiles, ballistic missiles, and regional proxies. Meanwhile, U.S. demands have expanded beyond non-weaponization to include restrictions on enrichment, missiles, and proxy networks.
Are we witnessing deterrence at its most forceful - or the dangerous logic of preventive war returning?
History suggests wars rarely begin in moments of clarity. They emerge when leaders believe the window is closing faster than diplomacy can widen it.
American-Israeli Strikes Kill Over 50 At Girls School, Iran Wipes Out U.S. Naval Base (Videos)South Front
12bytes: Apparently 2 girls' schools have been bombed now.
One of the strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 morning hit a girls' elementary school in the southern city of Minab, killing 57 people, including students, and wounding more than 60 others.
[...]
The U.S. military has not yet provided any details about its ongoing attack on Iran. However, the Israeli military said in a very short statement that it struck hundreds of targets in the Western region of the Islamic Republic, including missile launchers.
Videos released by the Israeli Air Force show several missile launchers getting hit, in addition to what appears to be an air defense site.
[...]
Satellite imagery published by The New York Times shows the destruction of Khamenei's compound in the Iranian capital, Tehran. However, it is highly unlikely that he was staying there. Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Pezeshkian is in "full health".
Iran began responding shortly after the opening strikes, launching several waves of missiles and drones at Israel. Impacts were reported, with even one man wounded in northern Israel, but Hebrew media has so far shared very little details, likely due to military censorship.
The Islamic Republic also attacked U.S. bases across the Middle East. with missile and drone impacts reported in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. There are still no details on the result of these attacks, which are still ongoing.
[...]
However, the most devastating Iranian attack targeted the U.S. Naval Support Activity based in Bahrain, home to the Naval Forces Central Command. The base was struck by several missiles, in addition to a drone that took out a large radar dome. Fire is still raging there, according to videos posted online.
The recent developments shows that, as expected, the attack on Iran quickly escalated into a regional conflict. The Islamic Republic's allies in Iraq and Yemen will reportedly join the fight against the U.S. and Israel, although there are no indications yet that Hezbollah in Lebanon will take such a step.
The conflict could escalate further if Arab countries decided to retaliate against Iran. Taking into consideration recent remarks by President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, which left little doubt about the fact that the U.S. and Israel are looking for a regime change in Tehran, this could happen within a few days.
Seyed M. Marandi: Israel & U.S. Launch Surprise Attack on Iran
Iran is under attack in what will likely be a massive regional war that cannot be contained. Seyed Mohammad Marandi is a professor at Tehran University and a former advisor to Iran's Nuclear Negotiation Team.
BREAKING: IRAN RETALIATES AGAINST U.S. BASES, ISRAEL AFTER TRUMP DECLARES WAR, ANNOUNCES STRIKES
President Trump has announced "major combat operations" ongoing in Iran, as the U.S. and Israel carried out a series of strikes across the country, with reports that top Iranian officials were targeted.
Iran has already begun its retaliation, with reports that Tehran is doing exactly what it said would: with attacks on Israel first, followed by attacks on U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Israel Used Secretive Golden Horizon Missiles In Attack On Iran, While U.S. Fired Tomahawk Missiles (Photos, Videos)South Front
The same type of missile was used in Israeli attacks that targeted Iran in April and October of 2024, as well as in the opening strikes of the 12-day war in June of last year, with similar remains found in Iraq in all of these cases.
The missile is thought to be a derivative of Israel's Sparrow family of air-launched target missiles, which were initially developed to mimic ballistic missiles and were used to test anti-missile systems.
The missile in question may in fact be the "Golden Horizon" air-launched ballistic missile named in a U.S. intelligence report that was leaked ahead of the Israeli attack on Iran that took place on October 26 of 2024. The missile is thought to have a maximum range of around 2,000 kilometers, and just like Sparrow targets, it is believed to be launched from F-15 fighter jets.
Besides having a longer range, air-launched ballistic missiles are extremely difficult to detect and intercept. This apparently made them the weapon of choice for Israel when it comes to attacking Iran.
Iranian Missiles Target Israel, In Addition To U.S. Bases In Bahrain, Qatar, UAE And Kuwait (Videos)South Front
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it has begun "the first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks" against Israel, with reports suggesting that United States bases across the Gulf were also targeted in response to the attack on the Islamic Republic that began on the morning of February 28.
IRGC pounds US bases across West Asia following US, Israeli aggression
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has carried out a string of simultaneous and massive missile strikes against US military bases across West Asia in retaliation for airstrikes targeting several cities in Iran, including the capital Tehran.
Arabic-language media outlets reported that the Iranian missiles struck US military installations in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Local media reported that a series of the projectiles slammed into a base where US marines are based in Jafir region of Bahrain
Bahraini authorities state that the service center of the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy has been hit as a result.
Israeli strike kills 70 school children in Iranian city - media - RT World News
Seventy students have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a girls' primary school in the city of Minab, in the south of Iran, the country's news agency Fars reported Saturday. It comes amid ongoing air strikes on the Islamic Republic by Israel and the US.
US and Israel war has 'vague and unachievable' goals, says ex-British diplomat | Middle East Eye
"In short, the US and Israel have started this war with vague and unachievable objectives, with no [international] law base, and little or no support from Gulf states or other US allies," he concluded.
"If Iran succeeds in hitting US/Israeli targets or disrupts oil exports, escalation will continue."
US, Israel launch war on Iran as public support collapses | The Electronic Intifada
As the US and Israel launched an all-out war on Iran, they did so amid shrinking American public support.
As recently as last week, a YouGov poll found that just a quarter of Americans wanted a war against Iran.
On Friday, a Gallup survey showed American sentiment shifting decisively towards the Palestinian people and away from Israel.