Several US military bases in some Gulf states were targetted by Iranian missiles on Saturday, following Tehran’s vow to retaliate in the wake of American and Israeli strikes which took place in the midst of negotiations between the US and Iran.
While several missiles were intercepted, several others hit their targets.
Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which have a US military presence, have said they were able to intercept Iranian missiles.
“All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps was cited as saying by several media outlets.
Meanwhile, at least 80 people, including students, were killed and 60 others injured after Israeli/US strikes targeted a girl’s primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
Quoting a provincial official, Iranian broadcaster IRIB said the school was hit during the attacks earlier in the day.
Further details were not immediately available.
The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early Saturday, claiming it was meant to remove “threats” posed by the Iranian “regime.” Separate video statements were released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, which also hinted at supporting efforts for a change in government in Tehran.
Iran termed the strikes a violation of sovereignty, vowed to respond and launched retaliatory strikes.
The developments came as Oman was mediating talks between Washington and Tehran on Iran’s nuclear program, and the latest round was held in Geneva on Thursday.Explosions were heard in the Haifa area in northern Israel on Saturday following launches from Iran, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.
Earlier, air raid sirens sounded in several areas across Israel after missiles were identified as launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli army said.
Israel launched attack against early Saturday under the name ‘Lion’s Roar,’ declaring a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country.
This attack comes as diplomatics efforts were paused on Friday.
Earlier on Saturday, explosions were heard in Tehran, with thick smoke seen rising over parts of the city, as the Israeli defence minister said Israel launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran.
Initial Israeli strikes killed and wounded numerous Revolutionary Guard personnel, including key operational staff, ISNA news agency reported, citing a source.
Further explosions followed the strikes in the cities of Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Lorestan, the Mehr news agency said, indicating the attacks extended beyond the capital.
Senior Iranian officials were also targetted in the Israeli attack on Tehran, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli Channel 12 said Israel is preparing in the initial phase for four days of intense joint attacks on Iran, citing a security official.
In response, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament National Security Committee, said in a post on US social media company X: “We warned you! Now you have started down a path which end is no longer in your control”.
Sirens also sounded across Israel, which declared a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country that includes a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the US and Israel launched the attack jointly.
The strikes come amid diplomatic efforts between US and Iranian officials for a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, who mediated the talks, met US Vice President JD Vance on Friday. “I am grateful for their engagement and look forward to further and decisive progress in the coming days. Peace is within our reach,” he wrote on US social media company X after the meeting. -AA
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