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Rabat – Tensions in the Middle East sharply escalated on Friday after the United States and Israel launched major strikes on Iran, prompting swift retaliation that has shaken the region.
US President Donald Trump announced that “major combat operations” had begun, saying the joint US-Israeli attacks aimed to eliminate what he described as “imminent threats” from Iran. He said the objective was to destroy Iran’s missile industry, weaken its navy, and ensure that Tehran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were meant to remove an “existential threat” to Israel. He called on Iranians to “remove the yoke of tyranny” and suggested the operation could create conditions for change inside Iran.
Shortly after the attacks, Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and US-linked targets in several Gulf countries. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and northern Israel as air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles. A nine-storey residential building was hit in northern Israel after interceptor missiles exploded nearby.
Read also: No Deal Met in US, Iran Nuclear Talks as Threat of War Looms Large
Iranian missiles were also fired towards Gulf states hosting US military bases, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Smoke was seen rising in Doha over residential areas after debris from intercepted missiles fell from the sky. Bahrain began evacuating residents from areas near a US naval base, while Kuwait and Qatar strongly condemned the attacks and said they reserve the right to respond in accordance with international law.
Inside Iran, state media reported that an Israeli strike hit an elementary girls’ school in Minab, in the southern province of Hormozgan. The reported death toll from that attack rose to 51. Iranian authorities also advised residents of Tehran to leave the capital if possible due to the security situation.
International reactions quickly followed. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the escalation has “grave consequences for international peace and security” and called for it to stop. Russia urged an immediate halt to the attacks and a return to diplomacy. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized what he called “unilateral” military action by the US and Israel, while also rejecting Iran’s actions.
Airlines, including Emirates, suspended flights in parts of the region as airspace closures spread.
