Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A new wave of Israeli airstrikes struck the Iranian capital Tehran early Saturday, setting parts of the city ablaze and intensifying a rapidly escalating conflict that has already drawn in the United States and threatens to destabilize the wider Middle East.
Explosions were heard across several districts of Tehran as the Israeli military confirmed it had launched what it described as a “broad-scale wave of strikes” targeting infrastructure linked to Iran’s military and security apparatus. The attacks come roughly a week after the start of a coordinated Israeli-American campaign against Iranian military assets.
Dramatic footage circulating on social media and broadcast by Iranian state media showed large fires burning at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, one of the country’s most historically significant aviation hubs. Flames and thick smoke were visible near aircraft on the tarmac, though it remained unclear whether the airport itself had been directly targeted in the strikes.
Opened in 1938, Mehrabad Airport once served as Iran’s primary international gateway before most global flights were transferred in 2004 to Imam Khomeini International Airport, located outside the capital. Despite losing its international role, Mehrabad remains a critical domestic aviation hub, handling dozens of daily flights to major cities including Mashhad, Ahvaz and Shiraz.
For many Iranians, the airport carries symbolic significance beyond its logistical importance. Frequent travelers recall it as the country’s first major international airport, a place where families gathered to greet relatives returning from abroad or bid farewell to loved ones departing for Europe and the United States. Despite aging infrastructure, the airport remained deeply embedded in the cultural memory of Tehran residents.
The Israeli military said its strikes targeted what it called “terror regime infrastructure,” including facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other security institutions. Israeli officials did not immediately confirm whether Mehrabad Airport itself was a direct target.
Shortly after the strikes in Tehran, Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks toward Israel. Israeli authorities activated nationwide air defense systems and issued instructions for civilians to seek shelter as multiple waves of projectiles approached.
The confrontation has also spread across the wider region. Several Gulf states reported intercepting incoming attacks on Saturday morning, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which said their air defense systems successfully neutralized drones or missiles believed to be linked to the conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States has dramatically expanded its military involvement. The U.S. Central Command said American forces have struck more than 3,000 targets inside Iran since the launch of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, last weekend.
According to Central Command, the targets included ballistic missile launch sites, command facilities of the Revolutionary Guard, and key military communications infrastructure. U.S. forces also claimed to have damaged or destroyed at least 43 Iranian vessels during the operation.
The intensifying campaign reflects a hardening stance from the administration of President Donald Trump, who on Friday declared that negotiations with Tehran would not resume unless Iran accepted what he called an “unconditional surrender.”
Trump said he was not concerned about whether Iran ultimately becomes a democratic state, focusing instead on neutralizing what he described as the country’s military threat.
The conflict has also drawn attention to covert operations targeting Iran’s internal fault lines. Reports that the CIA has been working to arm Iranian Kurdish groups have led to increased strikes against Kurdish militant camps along the Iran-Iraq border. Drone and missile attacks have reportedly targeted several of these camps in recent days, heightening tensions in northern Iraq.
International concern over the spiraling violence is growing rapidly. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the expanding conflict could have catastrophic consequences if it continues unchecked.
“This war could spiral beyond anyone’s control,” Guterres said in a statement urging immediate de-escalation and renewed diplomatic efforts.
Analysts warn that the combination of direct strikes on Iranian territory, retaliatory missile launches, regional spillover and U.S. military involvement marks one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in decades. With both sides showing little sign of backing down, fears are mounting that the conflict could evolve into a broader regional war involving multiple states and armed groups across the region.
