Iran has responded to a large-scale attack by the US and Israel with retaliatory strikes, targeting Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
According to Iranian state media, explosions were reported in several cities across the country, including Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that 24 of Iran's 31 provinces had been hit in US and Israeli strikes, resulting in 201 deaths and 747 injuries as of 20:45 local time.
The US and Israel launched the initial attack, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that the strike targeted the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. President Donald Trump later confirmed US involvement in the strikes, stating that the objective was to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
Attack Timeline
The first statement on the attack came from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said Israel had launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats. Trump later posted a video on Truth Social confirming US involvement in the strikes.
Iran's foreign minister accused Israel and the US of launching a war that was "wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate". The Iranian defence ministry vowed to deliver a "crushing and regret-inducing" response to the attack.
International Response
The European Union's naval mission in the region, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, reported that the IRGC had sent radio messages to vessels warning that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz" in the Gulf. US Central Command said that its forces had "successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks" on Saturday.
Major airlines have diverted or cancelled hundreds of flights to the Middle East, citing safety concerns in the region. The UK Foreign Office travel guidance for several countries in the region is now advising travellers to "remain vigilant, follow local authority advice and take shelter if advised".
Casualties and Damage
State media reported that at least 85 people had been killed in an Israeli strike on a primary school for girls in Minab, Hormozgan province. The BBC has not been able to verify the reports. Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation has said the country's airspace is closed until further notice.
In Israel, a teenager was treated for shrapnel-related injuries, and a man was injured by a blast shockwave in the north. A second person in the north was injured after falling from a height in the wake of a missile impact. The UAE's defence ministry said its air defence systems dealt with a "blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles" and intercepted a number of them.
