TEHRAN & GULF REGION — Residential neighborhoods across Iran were struck early on Wednesday March 11, 2026, amid a renewed wave of military attacks by Israel and its allies, while Tehran said it has launched its “most intense and heavy” military operation of the ongoing war — targeting Israel and several Gulf states.
The strikes come more than a week into the widening conflict that began with a highly coordinated naval and aerial campaign against Iran by the United States and Israel. Iranian officials reported explosions in multiple urban areas, including residential districts where civilians reside, as part of the escalating clashes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it had launched what it described as the most intense operation since the war began, with ballistic missiles and drones fired toward Israel and Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Officials in the Gulf reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones by air defense systems, and explosions were heard near major cities. In the UAE, two drones reportedly fell near Dubai International Airport, injuring several people, according to local media and government sources.
The Iranian military statement emphasized the scale and duration of the offensive, which authorities said involved coordinated attacks across multiple fronts, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.
Several strikes on Iranian cities damaged residential buildings and critical infrastructure, prompting widespread alarm among civilians. Witnesses described shockwaves and structural damage in neighborhoods of cities like Tehran, where sirens and loud blasts rattled homes into the early morning hours. According to Iran’s UN ambassador, more than 8,000 homes and thousands of civilian sites have been hit since the conflict began, contributing to significant displacement and fear among the population.
The broader conflict has seen Iran striking a variety of targets beyond its borders, including commercial ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and facilities in Gulf states. In one reported incident, a cargo vessel was hit near the strait, forcing crew members to evacuate.
At the same time, Israeli forces continued airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, sustaining the intensity of the conflict. In neighboring Lebanon, Israeli operations also hit southern cities and urban centers, contributing to a rising civilian toll.
The escalation has raised serious humanitarian concerns. Iran’s UN ambassador has accused U.S. and Israeli forces of targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, labeling the attacks as war crimes — charges denied by Washington and Tel Aviv, which maintain their operations are directed at military and strategic targets.
Global energy markets have also been destabilized, with fears that prolonged conflict could disrupt oil exports through the Gulf — a critical artery for a significant portion of the world’s energy supplies.
As both sides intensify operations, the risk of further civilian casualties and regional spillover remains high. Diplomatic efforts to halt the violence have so far failed to yield a ceasefire, and international calls for de-escalation continue to grow amid fears of a wider Middle East war.