Iran launches retaliatory strikes after US and Israel attacks

WorldPolitics
28 Feb 2026 • 10:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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      • Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli military bases across the Middle East, following earlier attacks on Iranian cities, including Tehran.
      • Explosions were reported in Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, and Qatar, with one person killed in Abu Dhabi by falling debris, while sirens sounded across Israel.
      • The Iranian strikes came after Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu initiated "preventative attacks" across Iran, with Trump confirming a "major combat operation" and stating Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
      • Witnesses in Tehran reported hearing blasts and seeing smoke, while Iran and Israel have closed their airspace.
      • The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been moved to a secure location amid escalating tensions over the country's nuclear programme.

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