Washington and Tel Aviv say broad strikes on Iran are underway as regional air travel is disrupted

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published February 28, 2026

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Airlines across the Middle East and beyond canceled or suspended flights after the United States and Israel said they carried out wide-ranging strikes inside Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, targeting military sites, infrastructure, and senior figures. Israel also shut its airspace and tightened public restrictions as the region braced for potential escalation.

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, called the operation pre-emptive, while U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes were intended to remove what he described as imminent threats and to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran condemned the attack as illegal and vowed retaliation. Reuters reported missiles were fired toward Israel and toward several Gulf states hosting U.S. forces as tensions intensified.

Aviation authorities warned carriers to avoid affected airspace, including guidance from the EU’s aviation regulator. Russia said its airlines suspended flights to Iran and Israel due to airspace closures and wider reroutings.