War in Iran: explosions have engulfed almost the entire Middle East. What you need to know

The Middle East is plunging into chaos on an unprecedented scale. The US and Israel have launched a powerful military campaign aimed at completely destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities and leadership. However, retaliatory strikes are already shaking the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, turning the conflict into a global threat. Find out what emergency security measures the Foreign Ministry recommends for Ukrainians

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The Middle East is on the brink of a full-scale regional war. On the morning of 28 February, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated and unprecedented military operation against Iran. However, the conflict has already spread beyond Iranian territory: powerful explosions have been reported in the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.

The scale of the operation and the geography of the strikes

The joint American-Israeli operation began with a series of massive attacks:

▪️ Iran and Lebanon: Strikes were carried out on Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, as well as Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Ministry of Defence stated that the main goal was to eliminate the Iranian regime's security system.

▪️ Escalation in the Persian Gulf: The conflict is rapidly expanding. There are reports of explosions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (including a strike on the elite Fairmont The Palm hotel in the UAE), as well as explosions in Bahrain and Qatar. This indicates that Iran's asymmetric response has already affected neighbouring states.

According to Israeli sources, the first phase of the operation will last four days, but this is only the beginning.

Background: why did the conflict start?

The current escalation is the result of the failure of lengthy negotiations. In June last year, Israel and the US already tried to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities during a 12-day war, but some of the enriched uranium remained deep underground.

Subsequent attempts by the US to negotiate restrictions on Iran's ballistic weapons and an end to its support for militant groups (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) were unsuccessful. Against the backdrop of mass anti-government protests within Iran itself, Washington began to systematically build up its military forces in the region.

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Will the Ayatollah's regime fall?

Iran's command centres are currently being destroyed: ministries, the office of the supreme leader and the high command. The basic scenario is a large-scale war, the course of which will be determined by two factors:

The position of the leadership and society: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been evacuated to a safe place. The regime promises a ‘devastating response,’ but due to the radicalisation of internal protests, the Iranian population is not expected to rally around the government.

US strategy: Further developments depend on whether Donald Trump is prepared for a protracted campaign to overthrow the regime, or whether this is a tough show of force to force Tehran to make concessions.

Important for Ukrainian citizens

Due to the critical escalation of the situation, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry strongly recommends that citizens refrain from travelling to Israel and Iran, and those who are already there should leave these territories immediately.

Those who are in the region must strictly follow the instructions of the local rear command, avoid crowds, find shelter in advance, and always carry their documents with them.

Emergency contact details:

❗️ Embassy of Ukraine in Israel: +972 54 667 67 82 (Viber, Telegram) | [email protected]

❗️ Embassy of Ukraine in Iran: +98 9128 436 681 (WhatsApp) | [email protected]

❗️ Hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (24/7): +38 044 238 1588 | [email protected]

In conditions of armed conflict and mass unrest, health risks increase many times over. We remind you that having a reliable insurance policy is not a formality, but your financial security in an emergency.

You can purchase medical insurance covering a wide range of risks online at the Visit Ukraine portal. This will provide you with access to qualified assistance and support 24/7, which is especially critical when public transport is suspended and roads are blocked.

Reminder! The situation in Mexico has become critically tense: after the elimination of the leader of the largest drug cartel, large-scale clashes began in 19 states of the country. Heavy armoured personnel carriers have appeared on the streets of cities, major airports have ceased operations, and the blocking of key roads has paralysed traffic. Find out what is happening and how to act in such a situation.

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