US-Iran War Erupts Across Middle East in Coordinated Strikes

51 dead in an elementary school strike. 40,000 US troops under attack across the Middle East. The scenario that defense analysts have long dreaded became reality on February 28, 2026, as the United States and Iran plunged into full-scale warfare.

Tehran Burns, Schools Become Targets

At 9:27 AM local time, explosions rocked Tehran as US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes across Iran. The targets were surgical yet devastating: Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Defense, Atomic Energy Organization, and the Parchin military complex—the nerve centers of Iranian power.

But it was the strike on a girls' elementary school in Minab that crossed every red line. At least 51 people died when an Israeli missile hit the building, transforming classrooms into crime scenes. The attack shattered any pretense that this would remain a "limited military operation."

Iran's response was swift and comprehensive. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that "this operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated," launching waves of missiles and drones at US military installations across the region.

A Regional War Unfolds

The Iranian retaliation targeted America's sprawling military presence across 19 Middle Eastern locations. In Qatar, interceptor debris fell on residential areas. In the UAE, falling missile fragments killed a Pakistani national. Bahrain's US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters came under direct attack.

Kuwait's Ali al-Salem Air Base faced a barrage of ballistic missiles, all intercepted by Kuwaiti air defenses. Even Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh heard explosions as the conflict spread like wildfire across the Gulf.

Israel, meanwhile, declared a "special state of emergency" as Iranian missiles rained down on Tel Aviv and Haifa. A nine-story building was hit in northern Israel, though most strikes were intercepted by the country's sophisticated defense systems.

The Largest Military Buildup in Decades

The scale of forces now engaged is staggering. The US has assembled its largest Middle Eastern military presence in decades: 40,000 to 50,000 troops backed by two carrier strike groups. The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford carry over 150 aircraft between them, including F-35C stealth fighters and advanced early-warning planes.

Facing them is Iran's formidable missile arsenal—one of the region's largest and most advanced. Developed over three decades, these weapons include hypersonic missiles traveling at Mach 5 or faster, making interception extremely difficult even for Israel's multi-layered defense systems.

The technical challenge is immense. Iran's ballistic missiles follow high-altitude trajectories before plunging toward targets at incredible speeds, giving defense systems mere minutes to respond. Some deploy decoys and countermeasures, further complicating interception efforts.

Why Full War, Why Now?

This escalation reflects years of mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear program, regional influence, and support for proxy forces. From Washington's perspective, Iran's growing capabilities posed an unacceptable threat to regional allies and US interests. From Tehran's view, decades of sanctions and military pressure left no choice but decisive action.

The involvement of Israel—with its own existential concerns about Iranian nuclear ambitions—added a combustible element. When Israeli missiles struck Iranian government buildings and nuclear facilities, Tehran likely calculated that its very survival was at stake.

What's particularly alarming is how quickly the conflict has engulfed neutral parties. Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia issued a joint solidarity statement, recognizing that this war threatens the entire Gulf region's stability and economic prosperity.

The Stakes Beyond Military Victory

This conflict transcends traditional warfare. Oil markets are already volatile, shipping lanes face disruption, and global supply chains hang in the balance. The targeting of civilian infrastructure—particularly schools—signals that both sides have abandoned restraint.

For regional allies, the choice becomes stark: remain neutral and risk Iranian retaliation, or support the US and become legitimate targets. For global powers like China and Russia, this presents both risks and opportunities to reshape Middle Eastern influence.