TEHRAN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced the launch of its first wave of large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the region.

An incoming projectile explodes over the water in the bay of Haifa off of the northern Israeli coastal city on February 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

"In response to the aggression by the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of Iran's large-scale missile and drone attack against Israel has started," the IRGC said in statements published on its official outlet, Sepah News, adding that military and security centers in Israel were the primary targets.

The IRGC said it also struck U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and warned that missile and drone attacks would continue.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement, carried by the official news agency IRNA, that the country's armed forces had begun delivering a "crushing response to the enemy's malicious actions." It advised citizens to move to safe cities if possible, noting that the government had made preparations to meet the population's needs. Schools and universities across the country will remain closed until further notice.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States carried out joint strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities.