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A senior Iranian official declared Saturday that all American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become "legitimate targets" with "no red lines," as Iran launched simultaneous missile strikes against U.S. bases in six countries and the Israeli military confirmed hitting "dozens of military targets" in Iran in a jointly planned operation with the United States.
"All American and Israeli assets and interests in the region have become legitimate targets. After this attack, there are no red lines, and everything is possible, including scenarios that were previously unthinkable," the unnamed senior official told Al Jazeera.
"We were not surprised by the joint American-Israeli attack, and we are providing a comprehensive response with no time limitation," the official added.
Iran launched ballistic missile attacks against U.S. bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia simultaneously, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was struck, with footage showing heavy smoke rising above the facility. A service center affiliated with the Fifth Fleet also came under missile attack, the Bahrain News Agency reported.
Qatar's Defense Ministry said it intercepted an Iranian missile using its Patriot air defense system. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a "shelter in place" advisory for all personnel and urged American citizens to find secure locations.
Explosions were heard in Abu Dhabi, where a base housing U.S. personnel is located. The UAE closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as a precautionary measure.
Iranian attacks expanded to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, meaning at least six countries in the region came under fire.
Sirens sounded in Jordan and Bahrain after Iranian missile launches. Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged citizens to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place" and to "use main roads only when necessary."
The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran followed months of joint planning with the U.S. military.
"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the Israeli army said.
"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the Israeli army and the U.S. military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronization and coordination between the two militaries."
The strikes are part of Operation "Roaring Lion," which the Israeli military said aims to "thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to the State of Israel over time."
In a later statement, the Israeli air force said it was conducting "a broad strike on several military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in western Iran."
Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir conducted a situation assessment with senior commanders, with the military stating that "forces are deployed in forward defense positions in all areas, prepared for offensive operations."
Iranian retaliatory missiles triggered powerful explosions across Israeli skies. Air raid sirens sounded from Tel Aviv to the Lebanese border, southern regions, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Sirens were activated in Haifa, Beersheba, Tel Aviv, Ashdod and numerous other locations.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that a missile struck Haifa but provided no further details.
Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said just before 11:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) that no reports of impact had been received, but teams were dispatched to treat individuals injured on their way to protected areas and people suffering from anxiety.
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