• US and Israel attack Iran: The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran Saturday morning after what the Israeli military said was months of “close and joint planning.” Israel said its strikes targeted Iran’s supreme leader, president and head of the armed forces. The US is also planning for several days of attacks.
• Trump calls for regime change: President Donald Trump described the US military campaign as “massive and ongoing,” warned American lives may be lost, and called on Iranians to “take over your government.” He also accused Tehran of working to rebuild its nuclear program after massive US strikes last summer he previously claimed had obliterated the facilities. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
• Iran retaliates: Iran responded to the attacks by launching an unprecedented wave of strikes toward Israel and US targets across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in a number of countries including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.AllCatch UpAnalysis.
Five explosions heard in Dubai, UAE
Five explosions were just heard in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Four of those explosions were very loud.
It is unclear if the explosions were from strikes, intercepts by the UAE’s air defense systems or something else.
Dubai is the UAE’s commercial and tourism hub and is not home to any known US military facilities.
A video shows smoke rising from an area near Dubai’s Jabal Ali port, a major global shipping and logistics hub. A separate video shows what appears to be an explosion from an intercept.
US’ Middle East allies respond after strikes from Tehran
We can bring you more responses now from a number of Arab and Middle Eastern nations in the aftermath of retaliatory Iranian strikes on US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Bahrain following the joint US-Israeli operation that took place within Iran Saturday morning.
As we reported earlier, Qatar characterized the strikes as a “flagrant violation of its national sovereignty,” further suggesting they demonstrate a lack of gratitude from Tehran towards Doha’s continued mediation efforts.
Here are some further regional responses:
Kuwait raised Article 51 of the United Nations Charter in an Arabic-language post on X, confirming that “Kuwait’s air defenses successfully repelled this aggression in accordance with the approved operational procedures and in line with the applicable rules of engagement”.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said he is “dismayed” on X, continuing “I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war.”
Saudi Arabia described Iran’s operation as “treacherous” in an Arabic-language post on X, adding it would be “employing all capabilities at [the impacted nations’] disposal to support them in any measures they take.” The post ended with a call on the international community to follow suit in denouncing the attacks.
Iraq announced it is following the situation with “utmost concern” in an Arabic-language post to X, directing Iraqi citizens within and near strike locations to seek shelter.
