Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Feb 28: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced that it had detected ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, urging residents to immediately seek shelter in safe rooms and other protected spaces.
The alert comes amid rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East, following coordinated strikes earlier in the day by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation with serious geopolitical and economic consequences.
According to the IDF, warning sirens were expected to sound across multiple regions within minutes of the detection. Citizens receiving alerts were instructed to enter designated protected areas without delay.
In a statement posted on X, the military said it had identified missiles fired from Iran toward the State of Israel and that defensive systems were actively working to intercept the threat. The IDF added that the Home Front Command had issued precautionary instructions directly to mobile phones in affected areas.
Authorities stressed that strict adherence to official guidance is critical. Residents were directed to remain inside protected spaces until further notice and to exit only upon receiving explicit instructions. The IDF underscored that compliance with Home Front Command directives is essential to saving lives.
The military further stated that the Israeli Air Force was engaged in ongoing operations to intercept incoming projectiles and neutralise threats where necessary.
As the situation remains fluid, security forces continue defensive operations while closely monitoring developments.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had launched what he described as “major combat operations in Iran” earlier in the day. His remarks signalled a sharp escalation in hostilities, marking the second time in eight months that direct conflict has reached Iranian territory and intensifying concerns of a broader war in a region critical to global security and energy markets.