The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with early strikes reported near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media said strikes occurred across the country, and smoke was visible over the capital.
In a video posted on social media, President Donald Trump said the U.S. had begun "major combat operations in Iran." He said Iran continues to develop its nuclear programme and plans missiles capable of reaching the U.S.
The strikes come as the U.S. maintains several military facilities across the Middle East. Key installations include:
Bahrain: The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters is in Bahrain. It covers the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Footage of an Iranian ballistic missile slamming into the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain earlier today. pic.twitter.com/6omkCrLy2u
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 28, 2026
Qatar: Al Udeid Air Base, near Doha, is the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command. The 24-hectare base houses around 10,000 troops and oversees operations from Egypt to Kazakhstan.
Kuwait: Camp Arifjan is the forward headquarters of U.S. Army Central. Ali Al Salem Air Base, 40 km from Iraq, is known as "The Rock." Camp Buehring, set up during the 2003 Iraq War, stages U.S. Army units deploying to Iraq and Syria.
United Arab Emirates: Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, is shared with the UAE Air Force and supports missions against the Islamic State and reconnaissance operations. Jebel Ali Port in Dubai is the largest U.S. naval port in the region and regularly hosts aircraft carriers.
Habibi we came to Abu Dhabi! pic.twitter.com/5I32wRVhTI
— Iran Military Monitor (@IRIran_Military) February 28, 2026
Iraq: Ain Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province supports Iraqi forces and NATO missions. It was targeted by Iranian missiles in 2020 after the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq supports U.S. and coalition training, intelligence sharing, and logistics.
Saudi Arabia: About 2,321 U.S. soldiers were stationed in Saudi Arabia in 2024. Prince Sultan Air Base, south of Riyadh, hosts Patriot missile batteries and THAAD systems to support air and missile defence.
Jordan: Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base in Azraq, 100 km northeast of Amman, hosts the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing of U.S. Air Forces Central. It conducts operations across the Levant.
The U.S. bases form a network that supports regional operations and rapid response. The latest strikes on Iran mark a significant escalation in tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv.