Iran Escalates Regional Offensive With Missile and Drone Strikes Across Multiple Nations

Iran Launches Fresh Wave of Attacks Across the Region

Iran intensified its ongoing military campaign on Thursday, unleashing a new barrage of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against multiple targets across the Middle East and surrounding region. The escalation came amid rising tensions following a dramatic U.S. naval strike that sank an Iranian warship, and Tehran's vow that Washington would "bitterly regret" the action.

Israel Targeted as Air Raid Sirens Sound in Major Cities

Israel reported several incoming missile attacks throughout the day, with air raid sirens piercing the skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as residents scrambled for shelter. The Israeli military confirmed it was actively intercepting projectiles launched from Iranian territory, continuing its defensive posture amid the broader regional conflict sparked by the launch of Operation Epic Fury.

Azerbaijan Condemns Iranian Drone Strike on Civilian Infrastructure

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense announced that Iran deployed UAVs in an attack on Nakhchivan International Airport and other civilian sites within Azerbaijani territory. Authorities stated they were investigating the full scope and technical capabilities of the drones involved.

"The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against civilian infrastructure on the territory of Azerbaijan in the absence of any military necessity. The Islamic Republic of Iran bears the entire responsibility for the incident," the official statement read.

Despite Azerbaijan directly attributing the strikes to Tehran, Iran has yet to publicly acknowledge conducting any operations against its northern neighbor.

Qatar and Abu Dhabi Report Incidents Linked to Iranian Strikes

In Qatar, authorities evacuated residents near the U.S. Embassy in Doha after the country's Ministry of Defense confirmed it had been subjected to a missile attack. Qatari air defense systems successfully intercepted the incoming threat. Officials urged citizens to remain calm and rely only on verified information from government sources.

Separately, Abu Dhabi reported falling debris in the ICAD 2 area of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. Six individuals — identified as Pakistani and Nepali nationals — sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate as a result of the incident.

U.S. Sinks Iranian Warship, Killing Dozens of Sailors

The latest wave of Iranian strikes came just one day after the United States Navy torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters, killing at least 87 Iranian sailors. Sri Lanka's navy confirmed that 32 survivors were rescued from the wreckage and admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the operation during a Pentagon briefing, framing it as a historic military milestone.

"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo — Quiet Death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win," Hegseth stated.

Iranian Leaders Issue Fierce Condemnations and Calls for Retaliation

Senior Iranian officials responded with outrage. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing "an atrocity at sea," while Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli made a rare and incendiary appearance on state television, calling for violence against Israeli and American leaders — including former U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders," Javadi Amoli declared, in an unusually explicit call to arms from a senior figure within the Shiite Islamic clergy.

How the Conflict Began: Operation Epic Fury

The current hostilities were ignited on the previous Saturday when the United States and Israel jointly launched Operation Epic Fury — a sweeping military campaign that targeted Iran's top leadership. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Additionally, significant portions of Iran's missile arsenal and nuclear infrastructure were destroyed in the coordinated offensive, fundamentally altering the regional balance of power and triggering the retaliatory campaign now unfolding across multiple countries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.