Middle East War Escalates: Iran Strikes Gulf States and Israel After US–Israel Attack — UAE, Hezbollah, Airspace, Casualties and Global Impact

• David
• March 2, 2026

The Middle East is witnessing an unprecedented escalation as the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies, drawing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other regional actors. What began as a major military operation has quickly spiralled into a broader regional war affecting civilians, markets, air travel and diplomacy across the globe The crisis escalated sharply after a large-scale coordinated strike by the United States and Israel on Iran earlier this week, targeting key Iranian military installations and leadership figures. This offensive, which the U.S. dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior commanders, according to multiple state and international media reports. Iran launched a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks across the Gulf Arab states and against Israeli territory, signalling a robust and retaliatory campaign. The government in Tehran has stated that its strikes are aimed at U.S. forces and allied infrastructure in the region following what it described as an unjustified assault on Iranian sovereignty. Attacks on the UAE and Gulf States Iran’s campaign has directly impacted several Gulf nations that host U.S. military assets. In the UAE —…