{"id":5179,"date":"2026-02-28T20:35:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T20:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/02\/28\/mapping-us-and-israeli-attacks-on-iran-and-tehrans-retaliatory-strikes\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T20:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T20:35:41","slug":"mapping-us-and-israeli-attacks-on-iran-and-tehrans-retaliatory-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/02\/28\/mapping-us-and-israeli-attacks-on-iran-and-tehrans-retaliatory-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Mapping US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran\u2019s retaliatory strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched<\/a> an attack on Iran, with explosions seen across Tehran and in multiple cities across the country. Tehran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel and towards several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate.<\/p>\n

Iran had previously warned that if it were attacked, it would respond<\/a> by targeting US military facilities across the region. \u201cThis operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,\u201d Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said. All US assets throughout the region are considered legitimate targets for Iran\u2019s army, it added.<\/p>\n

Details of casualties and damage are still being collected.<\/p>\n

US and Israeli attacks on Iran<\/h2>\n

At about 9:27am (06:27 GMT), Iran\u2019s semi-official Fars news agency reported a series of explosions in the capital, Tehran.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera\u2019s correspondent in western Tehran said he heard two explosions, while videos shared on social media showed smoke rising from several parts of the city.<\/p>\n

Tehran<\/h3>\n

Missiles struck several areas of Tehran, including districts where key government ministries and military compounds are located.<\/p>\n

Iranian media reported strikes on the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Parchin military complex.<\/p>\n

Several missiles also hit University Street and the Jomhouri area of the capital, according to the Fars News Agency. Mehr News Agency reported that at least two students were killed in an attack on a school east of the capital.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s National Security Council has advised residents to leave Tehran amid fears of further escalation.<\/p>\n

Minab<\/h3>\n

In the southern city of Minab, an Israeli strike hit an elementary girls\u2019 school,<\/a> killing at least 51 people, state media reported.<\/p>\n

Isfahan<\/h3>\n

While it is not yet clear what was hit, the central city of Isfahan was previously targeted in strikes in 2025 by the US and Israel, when military and nuclear-linked facilities in the area were attacked.<\/p>\n

Isfahan is considered a key hub for Iran\u2019s ballistic missile programme, with production plants and research facilities in and around the city.<\/p>\n

Other locations that were struck include: Kermanshah, Qom, Tabriz, Ilam, Karaj, Lorestan province, Zanjan, Urmia, Bushehr, Damavand, and Shiraz.<\/p>\n

These locations are shown in the map below. Al Jazeera will update it as more information becomes available.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n

Iranian attacks on Israel and US targets in the Gulf<\/h2>\n

At their closest points, Israel and Iran are less than 1,000km (620 miles) apart. The distance from Tel-Aviv to Iran\u2019s capital, Tehran, is about 1,600km (1,000 miles).<\/p>\n

Iran has retaliated by attacking US bases across the Middle East. Most of these attacks have been intercepted.<\/p>\n

\"Interactive_Iran_US_Israel_Feb28_2026-01-1772289284\"<\/p>\n

Israel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Israel has declared a \u201cspecial state of emergency\u201d. Multiple explosions were reported in the skies above northern and central parts of Israel, including in the Tel Aviv area and Haifa, where sirens have been sounding continuously.<\/p>\n

The Israeli army said it was intercepting a new wave of Iranian missiles, prompting people to shelter in bunkers.<\/p>\n

A nine-storey building was hit in northern Israel after Iranian missiles had been intercepted, leaving one man with minor injuries after he was struck by shrapnel from interceptor missiles, according to Israel\u2019s Channel 12 broadcaster.<\/p>\n

Qatar<\/h3>\n

Smoke was seen billowing from a residential area on the outskirts of the capital, caused by falling debris from an intercepted missile.<\/p>\n

Several interceptions were made: The Ministry of Defense says it \u201cthwarted\u201d several attacks on the country.<\/p>\n

UAE<\/h3>\n

A Pakistani national was killed in the UAE after being struck by falling debris, according to the Ministry of Defence. The ministry says it has intercepted a wave of missiles.<\/p>\n

There were also reports of explosions heard in Dubai, which might have been caused by the interceptions.<\/p>\n

Bahrain<\/h3>\n

Bahrain says a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet, which it hosts.<\/p>\n

Kuwait<\/h3>\n

Kuwait\u2019s Ministry of Defence says that Ali al-Salem Air Base came under attack by a number of ballistic missiles, all of which were intercepted by Kuwaiti air defence systems.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n

Loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the AFP news agency reported. Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement standing in solidarity with Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.<\/p>\n

Iraq<\/h3>\n

A drone attack reportedly attempted to target Erbil International Airport, but air defences intercepted it.<\/p>\n

Jordan<\/h3>\n

Missiles have been intercepted over Amman, and flaming debris fell near a house. There were no reported injuries.<\/p>\n

US military presence in the Middle East<\/h2>\n

The US has operated military bases in the Middle East for decades.<\/p>\n

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the US operates a broad network of military sites, both permanent and temporary, across at least 19 locations in the region.<\/p>\n

Of these, eight are permanent bases, located across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.<\/p>\n

As of mid-2025, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 US soldiers in the Middle East, comprising personnel stationed in both large, permanent bases and smaller forward sites across the region.<\/p>\n

The countries with the most US troops include Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These installations serve as critical hubs for air and naval operations, regional logistics, intelligence gathering and force projection.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n

Major US military buildup in the region<\/h2>\n

The US has amassed its largest military presence in the Middle East in decades.<\/p>\n

This historic buildup features two carrier strike groups: the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R Ford off Israel\u2019s coast, supported by more than 150 aircraft and dozens of warships.<\/p>\n

The USS Abraham Lincoln is a 333-metre (1,092ft) long, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that can carry approximately 80 to 90 aircraft, including F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornets, and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early-warning planes.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n

The USS Gerald R Ford, the world\u2019s largest aircraft carrier, was the same vessel that previously supported US military operations in Venezuela, including missions conducted under Operation Southern Spear.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s missile arsenal<\/h2>\n

The exact size of Iran\u2019s ballistic missile arsenal is unclear, but it is widely considered one of the largest and most advanced in the region.<\/p>\n

Iran has developed a range of ballistic and cruise missiles over the past three decades. The graphic below summarises some of Iran\u2019s most prominent missiles and their ranges.<\/p>\n

\"Iran<\/p>\n

How ballistic missiles work and where they can reach<\/h2>\n

Ballistic missiles are long-range weapons designed to deliver conventional or nuclear warheads by following a ballistic, or curved, trajectory.<\/p>\n

Launched using powerful rocket engines, these missiles shoot upwards into the upper atmosphere or even space, travelling at incredibly high speeds. Once their engines are cut off, the missile follows a predetermined path, re-entering the Earth\u2019s atmosphere in a steep descent before striking its target.<\/p>\n

Ballistic missiles travel at extremely high speeds, allowing them to travel thousands of kilometres (miles) in just minutes.<\/p>\n

The speed at which they travel is measured in Mach, a unit equivalent to the speed of sound; for example, Mach 5 means five times the speed of sound.<\/p>\n

Some, usually shorter-range, ballistic missiles reach supersonic speeds (faster than Mach 1, or about 1,225 kilometres per hour or 761 miles per hour), while others, usually longer-range missiles, can travel at hypersonic speeds \u2013 greater than Mach 5 (6,125km\/h or 3,806mph).<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n

What makes ballistic missiles especially dangerous is their combination of long range, high speed, and how difficult they are to intercept.<\/p>\n

Their fast, high-flight path gives defence systems little time to react, and when they re-enter the atmosphere, they descend even faster, making interception even more difficult. Some missiles also deploy decoys or other countermeasures to trick radar and missile defences, making them harder to intercept.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s missile arsenal<\/h2>\n

Israel has an advanced missile arsenal, including long-range and nuclear-capable systems, developed with decades of support from the US. The graphic below highlights some of Israel\u2019s most notable missiles along with their respective ranges.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE_ISRAEL-MISSILE_JUNE<\/p>\n

What are Israel\u2019s air defence capabilities?<\/h2>\n

The Israeli air defence relies largely on what is known as the Iron Dome system, which is equipped with a radar that detects an incoming projectile, as well as its speed and direction.<\/p>\n

Other systems intercept medium- and long-range missiles. The David\u2019s Sling intercepts missiles ranging between 40km (25 miles) and 300km (186 miles). The Arrow System intercepts missiles with a range of up to 2,400km (1,491 miles).<\/p>\n

In addition, the US has two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries deployed in Israel to bolster the country\u2019s defences. The THAAD system is designed to intercept short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n

\"INTERACTIVE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched an attack on Iran, with explosions seen across Tehran and in multiple cities across the country. Tehran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones at Israel and towards several military bases in the Middle East where US forces operate. Iran had previously warned that if … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}