Iran's Retaliation: Missiles on Israel, US Bases, and Gulf States

Iran's Retaliation: Missiles on Israel, US Bases, and Gulf States

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a devastating coordinated strike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dismantled key elements of Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure. Within 48 hours, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched its most significant retaliatory operation in the country's history, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at targets across the Middle East.

This article breaks down the Iranian retaliation, the targets hit, the damage caused, and why this escalation has pushed the world closer to a broader regional conflict.

The First Wave: Ballistic Missiles on Israel

Iran's retaliation began in the early hours of March 2, 2026, when the IRGC's Aerospace Force launched an estimated 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel. The arsenal reportedly included Emad, Ghadr, and Sejjil-2 missiles, some capable of carrying warheads over 1,500 kilometers.

Israel's multi-layered missile defense system, comprising the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow systems, intercepted the vast majority of the incoming projectiles. However, the sheer volume overwhelmed certain sectors of the defense grid. Reports indicate that several missiles struck areas near Haifa and the Negev desert, causing structural damage and civilian casualties.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed 14 fatalities and over 200 injuries in the initial barrage. Sirens blared across the country for hours as successive waves of missiles arrived in what military analysts described as a "saturation attack" designed to exploit gaps in Israel's defenses.

US Bases in the Gulf Under Fire

Simultaneously, Iran targeted American military installations across the Persian Gulf. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the forward headquarters of US Central Command, came under fire from a combination of ballistic missiles and Shahed-series drones. Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait also reported incoming fire.

The US military's Patriot and THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems engaged the threats, and the Pentagon confirmed that the majority of projectiles were intercepted. However, at least two missiles reportedly penetrated defenses at Al Udeid, damaging aircraft hangars and injuring dozens of service members.

The attack on US bases in allied Gulf states created an immediate diplomatic crisis. Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait had not authorized their territories to be used as launchpads for Operation Epic Fury. Finding themselves caught in the crossfire of a war they did not sanction, these nations issued furious diplomatic protests to both Washington and Tehran.

Gulf States: Caught in the Crossfire

Beyond the direct attacks on US bases, Iran's retaliation extended to critical infrastructure in Gulf states perceived as enabling American military operations. Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura oil terminal, one of the largest oil shipping facilities in the world, came under drone attack. While Saudi air defenses intercepted most incoming threats, the psychological impact on global oil markets was immediate.

Brent crude, already surging past $100 per barrel following the Strait of Hormuz closure, spiked to $120 within hours of the retaliatory strikes. Energy traders feared that sustained attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure could remove millions of barrels per day from global supply, an outcome that would trigger an energy crisis not seen since the 1970s.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, also reported missile activity near its territorial waters. The small island kingdom, with a significant Shia population sympathetic to Iran, faced both external military threats and internal security concerns.

Iran's Proxy Network Activates

Iran's retaliation was not limited to direct military strikes. The country's extensive network of regional proxies mobilized almost immediately after Operation Epic Fury.

Hezbollah, Iran's most powerful proxy in Lebanon, launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel, forcing the evacuation of communities near the border. The Houthis in Yemen intensified their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, effectively threatening a second critical maritime chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq's Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) launched rocket and drone attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone and on Ain al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq. Syria-based Iranian forces also fired rockets toward the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

This multi-front activation demonstrated what military strategists had long warned about: Iran's "ring of fire" strategy, where proxies across multiple countries create simultaneous threats that stretch adversaries' defensive capabilities to the breaking point.

The Damage Assessment

As of mid-March 2026, the cumulative toll of Iran's retaliatory operations is significant:

• Israel: 14 killed, 200+ injured from direct missile strikes; additional casualties from Hezbollah rocket attacks in the north
• US Military: At least 3 service members killed and 47 injured across Gulf bases
• Gulf States: Damage to oil infrastructure, civilian casualties in areas near military installations
• Iran: Over 1,500 Iranians killed in the initial Operation Epic Fury strikes, with the death toll continuing to rise
• Global Economy: Oil prices doubled from $67 to $120 per barrel; stock markets lost trillions in value worldwide

India's Stake in the Escalation

For India, the retaliatory strikes carry enormous implications. Over 1 crore (10 million) Indian nationals live and work in the Gulf region, primarily in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The missile attacks on Gulf states have placed these communities directly in harm's way.

The Indian government activated emergency protocols, with the Ministry of External Affairs setting up 24-hour control rooms in embassies across the Gulf. Air India and other carriers prepared contingency plans for mass evacuations reminiscent of the 1990 airlift from Kuwait, which remains the largest civilian evacuation in history.

Indian crude oil imports, 90% of which come from overseas with a substantial portion transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, faced immediate disruption. The combination of the Hormuz closure and attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure threatened to choke India's energy supply at a time when the country's strategic petroleum reserves held only about 25 days of import cover.

LPG prices, already elevated to Rs 913 per cylinder, faced further upward pressure as the conflict intensified. With 330 million Indian households dependent on cooking gas, the economic pain from the conflict was being felt in every kitchen across the country.

International Response

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session, but meaningful action was blocked by competing vetoes. China and Russia condemned Operation Epic Fury as unprovoked aggression, while the US and its allies characterized Iran's retaliation as disproportionate and reckless.

European nations, many of whom had opposed the initial US-Israel strike, found themselves in an uncomfortable position. France and Germany called for an immediate ceasefire, while the UK offered cautious support to the United States.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that the conflict had effectively ended any possibility of diplomatic engagement on Iran's nuclear program for the foreseeable future, potentially accelerating proliferation risks in the region.

What Comes Next

Military analysts warn that the cycle of escalation shows no signs of abating. Iran's retaliation, while significant, was widely seen as a calibrated response, devastating enough to demonstrate capability but restrained enough to avoid triggering a full-scale American ground invasion.

The critical question is whether the US and Israel will accept this exchange as a new equilibrium or respond with further strikes. Any additional attacks on Iranian territory could push Tehran toward more extreme measures, including potential attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz permanently using mines and anti-ship missiles, which would trigger an unprecedented global energy crisis.

For the 8 billion people watching this conflict unfold, the stakes could not be higher. The Iran war of 2026 has already reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The retaliatory strikes have demonstrated that this will not be a one-sided conflict, and the reverberations will be felt across the globe for years to come.

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