Tel Aviv/Tehran/Doha, Mar 2 (.) The Israel Defense Forces on Monday announced it had begun “an additional broad strike” in central Tehran, targeting government sites, as loud explosions were reported across the Iranian capital.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said multiple blasts were heard in Tehran and claimed the air strike targeted an area near Revolution Square, where demonstrators had gathered to condemn what it described as aggression. Iranian air defenses intercepted the attack over central Tehran, the report added.
The latest escalation comes after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei including senior officials. Iran has since retaliated with attacks across the region, targeting several US-allied Gulf states.
Residents in major Gulf cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, woke to fresh explosions Monday morning. In Doha, missiles were seen being intercepted in the sky, while in Dubai, witnesses reported back-to-back blasts and jets overhead.
In Qatar, the Defence Ministry said two drones struck energy facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed, with no casualties reported. A drone hit a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed, while another targeted a QatarEnergy facility in Ras Laffan.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari told that Iranian attacks had targeted civilian infrastructure, including the international airport. “Such attacks cannot go unanswered,” he said, adding that Doha was not currently engaging with Tehran and reserved the right to retaliate.
In Kuwait, several US military aircraft crashed near a base, according to the country’s defense ministry, which said all crew members survived. Loud explosions were reported as air defenses intercepted hostile drones. A major oil refinery was struck by falling debris, state media said.
Bahrain reported one death and two serious injuries after debris from an intercepted missile hit a foreign vessel in Salman Industrial City, sparking a fire.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed two drones targeting the Ras Tanura oil refinery.
The Israeli military said it carried out strikes in Lebanon, including in Beirut, targeting senior members of Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities reported at least 31 people killed and more than 140 injured.
Hezbollah said it had launched missiles and drones at an Israeli army base south of Haifa in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel said it intercepted a projectile fired from Lebanon, while others landed in open areas.
Iran’s Red Crescent Society said at least 555 people have been killed since the joint US-Israeli strikes began, including 165 in an attack on a girls’ elementary school. At least nine hospitals have been seriously damaged, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency.
US President Donald Trump said American forces had sunk nine Iranian navy ships and largely destroyed the country’s naval headquarters. One vessel struck in the Gulf of Oman is “sinking to the bottom,” US Central Command said.
Trump indicated the conflict could last “four weeks or so,” adding that the United States had “tremendous amounts of ammunition” stored globally.
The UK, Germany and France said they would coordinate with the US and allies in response to Iran’s missile attacks. The UK confirmed it had allowed US forces to use its military bases for operations targeting Iranian missile sites, and said it responded to a suspected drone strike at a British base in Cyprus.
Qatar, one of the world’s largest gas exporters, said it was “gravely concerned” about attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure and had taken steps to secure both onshore and offshore facilities.
With Iran firing fresh barrages of missiles toward Israel and regional powers bracing for further escalation, fears are mounting that the conflict could spiral into a wider Middle East war.
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