Jerusalem/Tehran, Feb 28 (EFE).– Israel launched a preemptive attack against Iran on Saturday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, as several Iranian media outlets reported at least three explosions in Tehran.
“The State of Israel has launched a preemptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Katz said, declaring an “immediate state of emergency throughout the entire country.”
According to Israeli media, sirens sounded across Israel as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command warned civilians to remain close to bomb shelters.
The Defense Ministry said the nationwide state of emergency will remain in effect for 48 hours.
Simultaneously with the announcement of the operation, an emergency alert was sent to mobile phones across Israel urging residents to seek nearby shelters and avoid non-essential movement. A similar alert was issued in June 2025, when Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the so-called 12-day war.
The message instructed civilians to ensure they know the location of the nearest protected shelter and to avoid unnecessary travel.
“A missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Israel Defense Forces added that the “proactive alert” was intended to prepare the public for the possibility of missile fire toward Israeli territory.
In cities such as Jerusalem, where aircraft were heard overhead in the morning, air raid sirens were activated.
The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions following weeks of US threats of potential military action against Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported at least three explosions in central and northern Tehran on Saturday.
“Columns of smoke have risen in some parts of Tehran after several explosions were heard,” the Iranian state television said before its signal was cut off.
The Fars news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, also reported at least three explosions in the capital.
EFE correspondents in northern Tehran heard a loud blast and observed a column of smoke rising into the sky.
The escalation comes amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. The latest round of talks took place Thursday, with another meeting scheduled for Monday.
The negotiations are unfolding under mounting military pressure from Washington, which has warned it could attack Iran if no agreement is reached.
The United States has carried out its largest military deployment in the Middle East since 2003.
The current confrontation follows last June’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran, during which Israeli forces carried out daily strikes on military, nuclear and civilian targets, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran responded with ballistic missile attacks that killed about 30 people in Israel. EFE
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