Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls' school in S. Iran rises to 40 -- IRNA

The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai on Saturday issued a shelter-in-place alert for all staff amid heightened security concerns, urging US citizens in the United Arab Emirates to do the same until further notice.

The notice advised US citizens to seek a secure location and remain indoors, urging them to maintain a supply of food, water, medications and other essential items.

It also advised them to monitor local media for updates, keep mobile phones charged, and stay in contact with family and friends.

On the same day, the US embassy in several countries, including Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain, also urged staff and citizens to shelter in place.

Multiple targets are attacked and an explosion occurs in Tehran, Iran on February 28, 2026. Photo: IC

The US and Israel began a wave of strikes against Iran on Saturday morning, with Iran striking back at Israel and US military bases in the Middle East, according to media reports. Notably, the strikes came amid negotiations between the US and Iran over nuclear weapons. Why the US and Israel launched the strikes amid the negotiations? Militarily, how is the conflict unfolding?

In interviews with the Global Times on Saturday, a Chinese international affairs expert said that the US and Israel's intentions have always been regime change, and the negotiations were likely just a diplomatic cover. Meanwhile, a Chinese military affairs expert said that the US is likely focusing on air strikes instead of ground attacks at the current stage, while Iran will likely focus on deploying missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in retaliation against Israel and US bases in the region. 

Intention for regime change

In a pre-recorded eight-minute video message shared on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes and threatened Iran, claiming that Iranians to “take over your government” after the attack.

An incoming projectile explodes over the water as Israel issues a nationwide alert following its strikes on Iran, in Haifa Bay, northern Israel, Saturday, February 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa). Photo: VCG

Several Chinese embassies and consulates in the Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, Iran and Bahrain, on Saturday reminded Chinese nationals in the countries to closely monitor the situation and strengthen safety precautions amid the US and Israel's strikes against Iran, which has retaliated.

The Chinese Embassy in Israel on Saturday reminded Chinese nationals in the country to closely monitor developments and changes in the situation, remain highly vigilant, familiarize themselves in advance with nearby shelters and evacuation routes, and keep communication channels open at all times. 

Israel and the US launched military strikes against Iran on Saturday morning. The Israeli government has issued a nationwide alert, announcing that beginning at 8:00 am on Saturday, all work and school activities will be suspended and all non-essential activities halted and Israeli airspace has been closed, according to a statement published on the WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Israel. The local security situation is extremely severe, the embassy said in the statement. 

The Chinese embassy said all necessary safety precautions must be strengthened and be fully prepared against various forms of attacks, including missiles, rockets, and drones. 

On Saturday, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Iran also reminded Chinese citizens in the country to closely follow developments, remain calm, stay highly vigilant, strengthen security precautions, and be prepared to take immediate emergency shelter if necessary. The embassy described the local security situation in Iran "has become extremely severe and complex" amid attacks.

Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned what it called a "blatant Iranian aggression" and a violation of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the kingdom stood in full solidarity with the affected countries and was ready to deploy all its capabilities in support of any measures they take.

Saudi Arabia warned of serious consequences from continued breaches of state sovereignty and international law, urging the international community to condemn the attacks and take firm action against what it described as threats to regional security and stability.

Iran's official media says Iran's army chief "in good health," dismissing earlier reports of his death

Explosions occurred in the center of Tehran, Iran on Saturday. A Chinese national surnamed Gao takes the photo of the blast.

The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, with explosions rocking Tehran. Missiles hit University Street and the Jomhouri district, Fars News Agency reported, as smoke billowed across parts of the capital, according to Al Jazeera. Some Chinese nationals in the city told the Global Times that the blast site was just a four- to five-minute drive away from them and that communications were temporarily disrupted.

At the time of the blast, Li Zhe, a Chinese student studying Iranian studies at the University of Tehran, was planning to head to an office near a government building in central Tehran to handle paperwork. Photos he sent to the Global Times showed that the explosion site was only a four- to five-minute drive from where he was, with heavy smoke billowing into the air. Li said he could hear a distinct roaring sound of aircraft but could not determine whether it was a plane or a helicopter, along with several explosions.

Another Chinese student in Tehran, surnamed Gao, who is also studying Iranian studies, said he was on the road at the time and observed the situation near his campus. After the bomb fell, many people immediately ran out of buildings. They gathered in open areas, urgently trying to call their families but phone connections soon became unavailable, and for a period of time communication was completely disrupted.

A Chinese national surnamed Li, who resides in Tehran, told the Global Times that she witnessed the outbreak of the conflict on the spot at a square near the Azadi Tower in Tehran on the day. "A number of muffled booms suddenly rang out on the otherwise normal street, followed by plumes of smoke rising. I simply couldn't believe the war had started at that moment," she said. 

She added that many Chinese nationals had been prepared for the escalation of the conflict, as the Chinese embassy had issued repeated warnings through various channels. A large number of Chinese citizens had already returned to China ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival.

US President Donald Trump said early Saturday morning that the US forces are carrying out a "massive and ongoing" attack on Iran to "destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."

"The United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation ...," he said in a video message on his social media platform Truth Social. "We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground."

Sources told CNN that Trump's assertion that Iran was working on missiles that could reach the United States is not supported by US intelligence.

Trump also called on the Iranian people to "take over the government" after US military operations conclude.

Meanwhile, Trump acknowledged that the attack on Iran could result in US casualties. "We may have casualties," he said. "That often happens in war."

Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Photo: VCG

The US and Israel carried out military strikes on targets in Iran early Saturday. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu respectively issued statement on the strikes: Trump threatens Iran, claiming that Iranians to "take over your government" after the attack, which comes after weeks of threats and negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

Trump confirmed the strike in a video message shared on Truth Social saying, "A short time ago, the US military began major combat operations in Iran," NBC News reported. Trump claimed in the pre-recorded eight-minute video message that "when we are finished, take over your government," according to multiple media reports.

Describing the decision to launch a "major" military operation against Iran Saturday morning, Trump said in a video posted to social media that Iran was developing "long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland," CNN reported. 

"They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore," he said, per CNN. 

Explosions heard near U.S. base in Bahrain -- media

The Chinese Embassy in Israel on Saturday reminded Chinese nationals in the country to closely monitor developments and changes in the situation, remain highly vigilant, familiarize themselves in advance with nearby shelters and evacuation routes, and keep communication channels open at all times. 

Israel and the US launched military strikes against Iran on Saturday morning. The Israeli government has issued a nationwide alert, announcing that beginning at 8:00 am on Saturday, all work and school activities will be suspended and all non-essential activities halted and Israeli airspace has been closed, according to a statement published on the WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Israel. 

The local security situation is extremely severe, the embassy said in the statement. 

The Chinese embassy said all necessary safety precautions must be strengthened and be fully prepared against various forms of attacks, including missiles, rockets, and drones. 

Upon hearing an air defense siren, immediately enter a designated shelter, the embassy said, reminding Chinese nationals not hesitate, linger, or take photos or videos, so as to avoid injury from falling debris or legal liability resulting from the disclosure of sensitive information.

Iran launches missiles at Israel, begins counter-attack -- media

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in full health: Mehr news agency

Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.Photo:VCG

The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran Saturday morning, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and two US officials, CNN reported. 

Israel declared a state of emergency across the country as the strikes were launched, in anticipation of Iranian retaliation, according to CNN.

Citing three US officials, CNN reported that the US was carrying out strikes on Iran. One official said the strikes are in progress, describing them as "not a small strike," according to the report. 

Earlier on Saturday, Israel launched a "preemptive" strike against Iran on Saturday morning "to remove threats to Israel," the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

At 2:41 pm, Xinhua reported that apparent strike in Tehran happened near offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At 2:55 pm, Xinhua reported, citing media, that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not in Tehran, and has been moved to secure location.

A plume of smoke rises over Tehran, Iran, after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a preemptive strike on Iran. Photo: IC

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