Web Desk, Karachi, Pakistan Explosions and air-raid sirens were reported across parts of the Middle East after Iran launched a missile operation in response to a major military strike by the United States and Israel. The renewed hostilities have raised fears of a broader regional conflict and undermined prospects for diplomatic resolution of Tehran’s nuclear dispute with the West.
Israeli authorities confirmed sirens sounded in northern areas as ballistic missiles were detected, instructing civilians to seek shelter. Reports also indicated explosions in Bahrain and the capital of the United Arab Emirates, while several projectiles were intercepted in Qatari airspace. The developments prompted the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate in Dubai to advise staff and American citizens to shelter in place.
Iran’s parliament security committee head, representing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned in a social media post that the operation marked a dangerous escalation. “We warned you. Now you have started down a path whose end is no longer in your control,” he wrote.
The military confrontation follows repeated US and Israeli warnings regarding Tehran’s missile and nuclear programmes. Defence officials in Israel stated that operations were coordinated with Washington and aimed at neutralising perceived security threats. Israeli authorities reported explosions in multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, though Iranian media suggested the country’s supreme leader had been relocated to a secure site.
In a televised statement, US President Donald Trump declared a “major combat operation” intended to eliminate what he described as imminent threats from Iran. He urged Iranian forces to surrender arms in exchange for immunity and suggested that the Iranian people could seize control of their government. Tehran has not formally responded to the claims.
The escalation comes after months of heightened tensions and stalled negotiations aimed at resolving disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security issues. Analysts warn that continued hostilities could destabilise the broader Middle East and disrupt global energy markets.
