{"id":59249,"date":"2026-02-28T05:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T09:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-israel-launch-massive-strikes-on-iran-middle-east-braces-for-full-scale-war\/59249\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T05:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T09:38:20","slug":"us-israel-launch-massive-strikes-on-iran-middle-east-braces-for-full-scale-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/us-israel-launch-massive-strikes-on-iran-middle-east-braces-for-full-scale-war\/59249\/","title":{"rendered":"US-Israel Launch Massive Strikes on Iran; Middle East Braces for Full-Scale War"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Joint US and Israeli forces<\/strong> have launched a massive military operation targeting <strong>Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and high-ranking officials<\/strong>, marking a significant escalation in regional hostilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran\u2019s IRGC<\/strong> has retaliated with a &quot;first wave&quot; of missile and drone attacks against Israel and reportedly targeted a <strong>US Fifth Fleet service center in Bahrain<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Global aviation is facing immediate disruption as <strong>Lufthansa (<a href=\"\/stock\/LHA\">LHA<\/a>)<\/strong>, <strong>Air France-KLM (<a href=\"\/stock\/AF\">AF<\/a>)<\/strong>, and <strong>Japan Airlines (<a href=\"\/stock\/9201\">9201<\/a>)<\/strong> cancel regional flights, while the <strong>UAE and Qatar<\/strong> have partially closed their airspace.<\/li>\n<li>Iran is currently experiencing a <strong>near-total internet blackout<\/strong> according to NetBlocks, as the IDF continues to strike targets across various Iranian cities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>US and Israel Strike Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Israel Defense Forces (IDF)<\/strong> and United States military have initiated a series of coordinated strikes across Iran, targeting <strong>nuclear facilities, defense infrastructure, and civilian infrastructure<\/strong>. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the strikes hit multiple cities and were aimed at <strong>rehabilitating Iran&#39;s missile production processes<\/strong>, which the IDF characterizes as an <em>&quot;existential threat&quot;<\/em> to Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Reports indicate that the first wave of attacks specifically targeted <strong>Iranian political and industrial figures<\/strong>, with Iran State TV confirming that a number of Iranians have been killed. The <strong>U.S. Embassy in Qatar<\/strong> and other regional outposts have issued <strong>&quot;duck and cover&quot;<\/strong> warnings to citizens, signaling that the conflict is expected to widen immediately.<\/p>\n<h2>Iran Retaliates with Missile Waves and Attacks on US Bases<\/h2>\n<p>In response to the strikes, the <strong>Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)<\/strong> announced the launch of a first wave of missiles and drones directed at Israel. Simultaneously, Iranian state-aligned media reported a <strong>missile attack on a US Fifth Fleet service center in Bahrain<\/strong>, prompting the <strong>Bahrain Interior Ministry<\/strong> to activate alarm sirens and urge residents to seek shelter.<\/p>\n<p>The escalation has drawn immediate international reactions, with <strong>Russia\u2019s Dmitry Medvedev<\/strong> criticizing the US administration&#39;s involvement. Meanwhile, <strong>Poland\u2019s President Nawrocki<\/strong> stated that allied channels were pre-warned of the military actions, suggesting a high degree of coalition coordination prior to the commencement of the &quot;aggression.&quot;<\/p>\n<h2>Aviation and Shipping Sectors Face Immediate Shutdown<\/h2>\n<p>The Middle East&#39;s transportation hubs are in a state of paralysis as the conflict spreads to the Persian Gulf. <strong>Lufthansa (<a href=\"\/stock\/LHA\">LHA<\/a>)<\/strong> has cancelled all flights to <strong>Dubai, Beirut, and Oman<\/strong>, while <strong>Air France-KLM (<a href=\"\/stock\/AF\">AF<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Norwegian Air<\/strong> have suspended operations to major regional destinations. <strong>Japan Airlines (<a href=\"\/stock\/9201\">9201<\/a>)<\/strong> also cancelled its Tokyo Haneda to Doha route as <strong>Qatar<\/strong> temporarily halted all air traffic as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n<p>Maritime security is also under threat, with <strong>Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (<a href=\"\/stock\/9104\">9104<\/a>)<\/strong> issuing an emergency alert to its vessels in the area. The <strong>UKMTO<\/strong> has advised all vessels in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf<\/strong> to transit with extreme caution due to <em>&quot;significant military activity.&quot;<\/em> <em>Market analysts expect these disruptions to put immediate upward pressure on global oil prices and insurance premiums for regional transit.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Diplomatic Fallout and Humanitarian Crisis<\/h2>\n<p>Iran has officially called for an <strong>emergency meeting of the UN Security Council<\/strong>, describing the strikes as a violation of sovereignty occurring during an active diplomatic process with the US. Domestically, the country is facing a <strong>near-total internet blackout<\/strong>, severely limiting the flow of information regarding the extent of the damage to <strong>industrial and nuclear sites<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As explosions are reported as far away as <strong>Kuwait<\/strong>, regional neighbors are bracing for a prolonged conflict. The <strong>UAE Interior Ministry<\/strong> has declared a state of readiness for all precautionary measures, while <strong>Norway\u2019s Foreign Minister<\/strong> expressed deep concern that the region is entering a <em>&quot;new, extensive war&quot;<\/em> that could have global economic repercussions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Joint US and Israeli forces have launched a massive military operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and 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