ran Retaliates Against US Bases as Saudi Arabia Denounces
Riyadh/Dubai: The Middle East has entered a perilous new chapter following a series of rapid military escalations. On Saturday, February 28, 2026, Iran launched a massive wave of retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. military installations across the Gulf, following a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
The Flashpoint The escalation began early Saturday when U.S. and Israeli forces targeted several key military and nuclear-related sites within Iran. In immediate response, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired a barrage of missiles and drones toward U.S. bases in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE.
Reports indicate that air raid sirens echoed through Manama and Doha as regional air defenses were activated. While the Pentagon reports minimal American casualties so far, the psychological and economic impact has been immediate, with global oil prices surging and major airlines suspending flights across Middle Eastern airspace.
Saudi Arabia’s Firm Stance In a strongly worded statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the Iranian attacks on Gulf nations in the “strongest possible terms.” Despite a Chinese-mediated detente in recent years, Riyadh described the strikes targeting the capital and the Eastern Province as “unjustifiable and blatant aggression.”
“The Kingdom affirms its full solidarity with its brotherly neighbors,” the statement read, emphasizing that Saudi airspace was not used for the initial strikes against Iran. Saudi officials have signaled that they will take all necessary measures to protect their sovereignty and citizens.
A Region in Lockdown The humanitarian cost is already rising. Iranian state media reports significant casualties following strikes in southern provinces, including a tragic incident at a girls’ school. Meanwhile, in the UAE, state media confirmed one fatality from missile shrapnel.
As President Donald Trump calls for “regime change” in Tehran, the international community, led by the UN and several European nations, is pleading for immediate de-escalation. For now, the “Game of Thrones” in the Middle East has turned into a high-stakes military reality that threatens to reshape global security for years to come.
