Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
US President Donald Trump escalated the confrontation with Iran on Saturday, confirming that the first wave of joint American-Israeli strikes targeted sites near Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as Tehran retaliated with missile attacks on US bases and Israeli territory.
The operation marked a dramatic widening of hostilities, with explosions and alerts reported across multiple Middle East countries, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social that the United States had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, vowing to “raze their missile industry to the ground.” He also warned Iranian forces to lay down their arms or face “certain death.”
Iranian media reported strikes in at least five cities, with one of the first explosions occurring near offices associated with Khamenei in Tehran. The outcome of the reported targeting of Iran’s top leadership remained unclear.
Israel confirmed it launched its part of the campaign under the name Operation Lion’s Roar and declared a nationwide state of emergency.
Tehran quickly responded. Iranian missiles targeted the US Fifth Fleet service center in Manama, Bahrain, according to regional media and video footage showing a large plume of smoke over the city. A US official later said there were no reported American casualties from the strike.
Iran also claimed to have targeted American military sites elsewhere in the region, including in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Explosions were reported in and around Doha, where the al-Udeid US air base is located, though damage assessments were not immediately available.
In the UAE, authorities said ballistic missiles struck Abu Dhabi, with air defenses intercepting several incoming projectiles. Emirati officials reported that one person was killed and condemned the attack as a dangerous escalation and a violation of national sovereignty.
Inside Israel, air raid sirens sounded repeatedly as Iran launched what Israeli officials described as a third wave of missile attacks. Residents were instructed to remain in bomb shelters while the Israeli military worked to intercept incoming threats.
Meanwhile in Iraq, rockets reportedly targeted US forces stationed near Erbil airport, further widening the geographic scope of the confrontation.
The intensifying conflict also triggered political backlash in Washington. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie criticized the strikes, writing that the attacks were “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.”
International governments moved quickly to warn their citizens. The United Kingdom issued an urgent advisory telling British nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE to shelter in place and advising against all travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
US officials indicated the military campaign could continue for days rather than hours, signaling the potential for sustained hostilities.
With missiles exchanged across several countries, airspace closures spreading and regional militias signaling possible involvement, analysts warn the situation is entering a highly volatile phase that could rapidly expand if diplomatic channels fail to contain the escalation.
