On February 28, 2026, one of the most serious military escalations in the Middle East in recent history unfolded as the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. In response, Tehran fired back with a bold missile campaign named “Operation Fateh Khyber.”
Iran launched the first wave of ballistic missiles toward Israel under this operation named “Fateh Khyber,” with Iranian media reporting that between 30 and 75 missiles were fired toward Israeli territory hours after the joint US-Israeli strikes.
The name carries deep historical meaning. “Fateh Khyber” refers to the Battle of Khaybar in 628 CE, a significant event in early Islamic history. By choosing this name, Iran sent a clear symbolic message along with its military response.
Iran also struck back by launching missiles at US military bases in the Middle East, including Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, Al-Salem airbase in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.
Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel as officials confirmed that Iranian missiles were headed toward the country. The Israeli military stated that its air defence systems were actively working to intercept the incoming projectiles.
The strikes that triggered Iran’s response were massive in scale. The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with US President Donald Trump describing them as “major combat operations,” stating the aim was to eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime and destroy its missile capabilities.
Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, and its airspace was closed to all civilian flight as the region braced for further escalation. The world watched nervously as three major military powers clashed in a conflict with potentially far-reaching global consequences.
