Iran on February 28 launched retaliatory strikes targeting United States military installations across West Asia, hours after coordinated airstrikes by Washington and Israel hit Iranian targets. The escalation marks a significant widening of the conflict, with missile activity reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.

Bahrain confirmed that the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — based in Manama — was targeted in what authorities described as a missile attack. Officials did not immediately release details regarding damage or casualties, but security forces were placed on heightened alert. The Fifth Fleet plays a critical role in safeguarding maritime routes across the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean, making it a strategically significant asset for Washington’s regional operations.

In Doha, the government of Qatar said its air defence systems successfully intercepted an Iranian missile aimed at U.S. facilities stationed within its territory. Authorities emphasized that no casualties were reported and that the situation remained under control. Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest American military installations in the region, serving as a key hub for U.S. Central Command operations.

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Residents in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates, reported hearing explosions late in the evening. The city houses military facilities used by U.S. personnel, though Emirati officials had not issued a detailed statement at the time of reporting. Meanwhile, AFP correspondents and local sources reported explosions being heard in parts of Kuwait, another country that hosts U.S. forces and logistical bases supporting American operations across the region.

Iran’s retaliatory action followed joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure earlier in the day, which Washington described as “major combat operations.” Tehran had vowed a decisive response, and state media framed the missile launches as a proportional retaliation against American involvement in the initial strikes. Iranian officials said the attacks were aimed exclusively at military targets and warned that further aggression would invite additional responses.

The rapid exchange of strikes has heightened concerns among global powers about a sustained regional war. Several Gulf nations have activated emergency protocols, while commercial aviation routes have been disrupted due to airspace restrictions. With multiple U.S. bases now directly targeted, analysts warn that the conflict could evolve beyond limited retaliatory exchanges into a broader confrontation spanning much of West Asia.

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