TEHRAN: A major military escalation unfolded on Saturday after Israeli officials confirmed that Israel, alongside the United States, carried out extensive strikes against Iran. In response, Iran launched a large-scale retaliation, targeting key Israeli cities with ballistic missiles and drones.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had initiated the first wave of counterattacks, describing them as a direct response to the joint operation.
According to Iranian state-linked media, the strikes involved both missile and drone assaults.
Israel’s military said air raid sirens were activated nationwide as a precautionary measure amid fears of incoming Iranian missiles. Authorities urged citizens to remain alert and follow safety instructions.
In a video address, the US president stated that American forces had begun a “broad military operation” in Iran, pledging to eliminate what he described as threats posed by Tehran. Israel’s Channel 12, citing security sources, reported that the offensive inside Iran was coordinated jointly by Washington and Tel Aviv.
Regional tensions quickly spread beyond the two countries. Gulf states including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait reportedly heightened security and placed defense forces on alert as fears of a wider regional conflict grew.
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who had been mediating indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, expressed deep concern. In a statement posted on social media, he said he was “dismayed” by the escalation, warning that renewed military action undermines diplomatic efforts and threatens global stability.
Inside Israel, political reactions were mixed. Arab-Israeli opposition lawmaker Ayman Odeh strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of choosing perpetual conflict over diplomacy. Odeh urged leaders to pursue a regional political solution that could bring long-term peace and security instead of continued warfare.
Meanwhile, reports from Iran indicated civilian casualties. Officials in Hormozgan province claimed that an Israeli strike hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab County, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 students. Independent verification of the claim was not immediately available.
The situation remains fluid as both sides exchange threats and the international community calls for restraint to prevent a broader regional war.
