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

This is a developing story

Mar 01, 2026 - Middle East conflict escalation following Israel's Operation Epic Fury

12:30am: Israeli PM claims that senior nuclear officers of the Iranian regime have been terminated. 

12:14am: IDF issues evacuation orders for 'all personnel' in Iran's Isfahan to 'immediately evacuate' as the Israeli army is ready to attack military infrastructure in that zone - reports BBC. Meanwhile, three personnel of Basij, a subordinate force under the IRGC, as per a news agency in Iran. The total count of the dead in the girls school strike is reported at 85.

Feb 28 2026, 11:30pm: Iranian news outlets have reported that so far 201 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive, as per the BBC. Further reports say that a total of 747 have been injured in strikes on 24 out of 31 provinces in Iran.

Feb 28 2026, 11:10pm: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told BBC News that many targets were hit across the country and more than 150 girls have been maimed or killed in an attack on a girls school reportedly near an Islamic Revolutionary Guards base. He said that he is 'not in a position to confirm' whether the senior leadership of Iran is unharmed.

Feb 28 2026, 11:00pm: Dubai airport halts all flights. A drone was filmed landing and then bursting into flames near the Fairmont Hotel in Palm Jumeirah. One civilian reported dead in Abu Dhabi after being hit by flying debris of intercepted missile. Several explosions heard near the airport as reported by Reuters.  As per reports explosion like sounds were heard near Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Sh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina and other high clusters. Burj Khalifa has been reportedly evacuated - as its height could make it vulnerable to falling debris from intercepted missiles. Explosion in a building in Palm Jumeirah was reported and 4 individuals were injured and rushed to hospital as per confirmed reports.

Feb 28 2026, 8: 10 pm: Air raid sirens are heard over Israel with alerts “been activated" in several areas across the country following detection of missiles launched from Iran, said the Israeli military

Feb 28 2026, 8:05 pm: "We are interested in de-escalation", says Iran FM; "If US wants to talk they can reach out"; Middle East nations warn of retaliation.

Feb 28 2026, 7: 55 pm: In its first reaction to the West Asia war, India says it is "deeply concerned".

Feb 28 2026, 7:50 pm:  The Russian Embassy in Iran has advised its citizens to leave Iran via Armenia or Azerbaijan; the US Embassy, too, urged its citizens to leave; UK, Germany and France have strongly condemend Iran's attacks on Gulf nations.

Feb 28 2026, 7:40 pm: A new round of missile interceptions could be seen in Doha; new explosions heard in Dubai, flight operations at Dubai Airport have been suspended with thousands of passengers stranded at the airport.

Feb 28 2026, 7:30 pm: Iranian Defence Minister has been killed in the strikes, as per Reuters news. 

Feb 28 2026, 6:20 pm: Sirens sounded in Bahrain, massive explosion after drone strike; at least three big blasts heard over Dubai.

Feb 28 2026, 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. Qatar is home to the region's largest US military base Al Udeid.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 5: 30 pm: UAE says it has intercepted new wave of Iranian missiles, no damage caused.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 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.

Feb 28 2026, 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. 

Feb 28 2026, 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.