Tel Aviv: Israel and the United States have launched large-scale, coordinated pre-emptive strikes across Iran. In return, Iran launched ballistic missiles to hit cities in Israel and also attacked US bases in the Middle East.
All the Iranian missiles launched until February 28 in the afternoon to hit cities in Israel have been intercepted by the Israeli multi-tiered air defence system. One civilian was slightly injured from debris of a ballistic missile.
The pre-emptive attack was launched by the massive US forces that have been deployed in recent weeks in the region and the Israeli Air Force. The targets have been allocated to each force and the attack began simultaneously. The first targets that have been attacked were “government sites” in Tehran, including the private houses of the commanders of the IRGC.
Additional strikes were reported in Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and the port city of Bushehr, with indications of hits on IRGC bases and missile-related facilities. There are unconfirmed reports that sites near the Bushehr nuclear reactor were also targeted.
Israeli sources described the attack as a pre-emptive move to neutralise launch sites and infrastructure Iran could use for attacks on Israel, including ballistic missile systems and associated launchers.
US officials confirmed the attack is a joint US–Israel operation conducted by air and sea, with a substantial American air and naval presence committed in the theater.
President Donald Trump has publicly declared that “major combat operations” are underway, calling the campaign “massive and ongoing” and stating that US goals are to obliterate Iran’s missile arsenal and industry, prevent nuclear weapon acquisition, and ultimately bring down the current regime.
Iran has shut its airspace, issued NOTAMs, and is reporting explosions in major cities while activating air defenses and emergency procedures.
Israeli sources told Raksha Anirveda that most of the weapons used were highly accurate ones to avoid hitting uninvolved civilians.
According to the IDF, the first attack was performed by 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft of many types. Later, the Israeli Air Force and the US forces performed a large number of attacks on Iranian launch sites and IRGC camps.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
