The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has accused Iran of launching attacks across multiple nations in the Middle East, warning that the actions will trigger a response from the United States.
CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper said on Friday that Iranian forces had struck 12 countries and were deliberately targeting civilian areas. In a statement, he alleged that drones were recently fired at residential neighborhoods in Bahrain.
Calling the attacks unacceptable, Cooper stressed that they would not go unanswered and said Washington would continue working with regional partners to counter threats to civilians across the region.
Since the conflict began, Iranian missiles and drones have reportedly hit several countries, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. A missile headed toward Turkey was reportedly intercepted by NATO forces.
According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, more than 500 ballistic and cruise missiles and over 2,000 drones have been launched since the war began. About 40 percent were aimed at Israel, while the remaining 60 percent targeted U.S. facilities in the Arabian Peninsula.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi warned that any country that joins military operations led by the United States and Israel would become a legitimate target for Iranian retaliation. Speaking to France 24, he said Tehran had been negotiating “in good faith” with Washington and described the most recent round of talks in Geneva as successful, noting that military action began just two days later.
Takht-Ravanchi also confirmed that Iran had carried out strikes against Kurdish groups in northern Iraq, which Tehran claims are supported by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Mossad, saying the move was necessary to protect Iran’s sovereignty.
In a separate reaction, senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev criticized Persian Gulf countries over the situation, suggesting that Washington exploits them while only safeguarding Israel. Writing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he advised Gulf nations to reconsider hosting U.S. military bases, claiming they pose a threat rather than protection.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense in Saudi Arabia announced that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile heading toward Prince Sultan Air Base.
However, videos circulating on social media early Saturday showed large explosions in western Tehran near Mehrabad Airport and the Ekbatan neighborhood.
