LIVE: Middle East Conflict Escalates; Iran Attacks US Air Bases in Gulf

This is a developing story

Feb 28, 2026 - Middle East conflict escalation following Israel's Operation Epic Fury

6:20 pm: Sirens sounded in Bahrain, massive explosion after drone strike; at least three big blasts heard over Dubai.

6:05 pm: A major explosion is reported on the outskirts of Doha in Qatar. A video footage shows people screaming and scrambling towards safety as an object from the sky falls, leading to a massive explosion; Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov holds talks with Iran's FM Araghchi.

5: 45: UAE has condemned the Iranian missile warning of “grave consequences” if these violations continue; earlier an attack on Abu Dhabi killed a Pakistani national; Iran’s Mehr news agency has reported that at least two students have been killed by an attack that hit a school east of Tehran.

5:40 pm: Advisory for Indians in Israel by Embassy of India - Avoid non-essential travel within Israel; contact Indian embassy in event of an emergency.

5: 30 pm: UAE says it has intercepted new wave of Iranian missiles, no damage caused.

5:15 pm: Hamas has condemned "the US-Israel aggression in Iran"; Iran FM Araghchi issues statement against US saying nations must not allow US to use land; US has said it will continue launching "extensive" air and sea strikes.

5:05 pm: Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi paramilitary group, says it will soon begin attacking US bases in response to the attacks that targeted the group; new blasts heard in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

4:55 pm: Fresh explosions reported in Doha; world leaders have called on the warring countries to exercise restraint; Iran state media is reporting President Masoud Pezeshkian is “safe and sound”; Bahrain’s Interior Ministry says it is evacuating those residing in the Juffair area, where a US naval base is located.

4: 45 pm: Tehran residents have been told to evacuate the city; fresh wave of Iranian missiles hit Israel. At least 36 girl students killed in Israeli strike on a south Iran school in Minab, reports Iran media.

4: 35 pm: Iranian missile hits US Navy's Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain's Juffair. Russia says US actions destabilising world order and that world must respond to irresponsible act. 

4:30 pm: Kuwait and Qatar have vowed response to the Iranian strikes saying "we reserve the right to respond". Loud multiple explosions heard in Abu Dhabi. Iran has claimed that all US and Israel air bases struck in the region.

Earlier, in a counter-attack by Iran to Israel’s strike Saturday (February 28) morning, the country launched on an all-out attack on US air bases in the region including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

Rocket attacks targetted US military base in Iraqi Kurdistan which reportedly killed two fighters. As per unconfirmed reports, one person of "Asian nationality" was killed in Abu Dhabi after UAE intercepted Iranian missiles. The fatality was the first known in the Iranian counterattack.

UAE has called the attack a flagrant violation of sovereignty reserves right to respond. 

Multiple countries in the Gulf — including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain — have partially or fully closed their airspace as a safety precaution amid the hostilities. Many civillian flights have been cancelled or rerouted.