The Iran war begins: US and Israel strike targets inside the country
Coordinated airstrikes on the night of 28 February open a new conflict that will reach every corner of the Gulf.
United States and Israeli forces have struck dozens of sites inside Iran in a coordinated operation that began late Saturday, in a conflict that will become known as the 2026 Iran war. The first waves included targets in Natanz, Isfahan and around the Gulf approaches; Iran has responded with missile and drone salvos against bases in the Gulf region.
The Maldives, a small oil importer sitting astride one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, is immediately exposed on every front — to fuel, to freight, to tourist arrivals. The Ministry of Finance has convened a special cabinet subcommittee; the foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning the strikes and calling for restraint on all sides.
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