A US–Israeli “joint military operation” hit multiple targets across Iran in the early hours of Saturday February 28th, raising tensions in the region. Iranian retaliatory strikes followed, including attacks reported on targets in Israel and in parts of the Gulf where US forces are based.
Israel stated that the operation was a “preemptive” action intended to remove what it described as imminent threats tied to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while US President Donald Trump claimed the strikes were aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and urged Iranians to overthrow their government.
Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of international law and said it would respond. As daylight broke, reports emerged of explosions in Tehran and other locations, though independent verification of specific targets and casualty figures remained limited as of Saturday afternoon.
Iranian state media reported that a girls’ school in Minab, in southern Iran, was hit by an airstrike, causing multiple deaths. The claims had not been independently verified in early coverage
Within hours, Iran launched missile attacks that struck or were intercepted over several Gulf Arab states, including countries that host US military facilities. The United Arab Emirates reported one death in Abu Dhabi. Bahrain confirmed a hit on a US Navy service centre, while other states said air defences engaged incoming missiles. The strikes prompted flight disruptions and a rapid tightening of security advisories across the region.
Iranian leaders said the response would continue, with rhetoric hardening on all sides and calls for urgent international action. Russia publicly denounced the US–Israeli strikes as an act of armed aggression and urged an end to the violence, while other governments weighed the risk of broader conflict.
As reactions came in, several governments urged restraint and warned that further escalation could increase risks for civilians and disrupt regional stability. Accounts of the strikes and their impact differed sharply between US, Israeli and Iranian statements, while some details remained unconfirmed as of Saturday afternoon.
Airspace restrictions and airline suspensions across parts of the Middle East caused significant disruption to passenger travel and commercial routes, as governments issued safety updates and carriers rerouted or cancelled flights. Diplomats faced renewed pressure to find off-ramps that could prevent a prolonged cycle of reprisals, even as all sides signalled they were prepared for further action if attacked.
In Dublin, a protest took place in the city centre on Saturday afternoon, continuing the weekly demonstrations held to address the Iranian regime and authorities’ crackdown on protestors in recent weeks. Irish outlets reported that more than 150 Iranians gathered. Some demonstrators voiced support for foreign intervention as the only route to removing Iran’s leadership, even as they expressed concern for family members back home.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was concerned about the potential for a wider conflict and urged restraint and diplomacy. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee also said she was “deeply concerned” by the strikes.
