Missiles lit up the skies across the Middle East on Saturday, as a long-simmering standoff erupted into open conflict.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, targeting senior leaders and military sites. The Pentagon named the campaign “Operation Epic Fury.” A source familiar with the matter said the first wave focused mainly on Iranian officials.
An Israeli official said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among those targeted, though their status was unclear. A source told Reuters that Khamenei had been moved to a secure location outside Tehran before the strikes. Iranian state media reported that 40 people were killed in an air strike on a school, but Reuters said it could not independently verify that claim.
Iran responded by firing missiles at Israel. Explosions were also heard in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain, which said they intercepted missiles. Bahrain reported that the service center of the U.S. Fifth Fleet was attacked. Blasts were also heard near Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export hub through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation was meant to remove what he called an “imminent threat” and prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. He also urged Iranians to seek change in their country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strikes as pre-emptive and aimed at protecting Israel.
Airlines canceled flights across the region, and analysts warned oil prices could rise sharply if the conflict widens. With tensions high and retaliation ongoing, fears are growing that this could become a broader regional war.
