The Attacks by Israel and the USA trigger a chain reaction in the Middle East. Iran has launched counterattacks that not only affect Israel. Concerns that the war could spread to the entire region appear to be increasingly confirmed. Who attacks where and why? Here you can read who is fighting against whom. And where.

This is how Israel and the USA attack Iran

• Since Saturday More than 2,000 targets in Iran were attacked.
• Targets include military infrastructure such as missile launch pads and anti-aircraft positions, military leadership headquarters, bases and the political leadership.
• The Iranian navy in the south of the Persian Gulf was also attacked.
• The capital Tehran, with its around 15 million inhabitants, is the target of heavy bombing for the third day in a row.
• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials were killed.
• More than 550 people have already died in the attacks. According to Iranian information, this includes 165 students from a primary school.
• Israel feels its existence is threatened by Iran’s missile and nuclear program. The USA also points to the threat posed by the Iranian leadership.

This is how Iran attacks Israel

• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the country’s powerful elite force, say they have already fired ten waves of ballistic missiles at Israel in response.
• Combat drones are also in use to weaken Israel’s modern missile defenses.
• At least eleven people have died in Israel since Saturday.
• Several houses and a synagogue were destroyed.
• There are constant rocket alarms in the country, and millions of people have to repeatedly go to shelter because of the attacks.

Iran is attacking in the Gulf region

• In response to attacks by Israel and the USA Iran attacks targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, among others.
• Hundreds of missiles and drones were counted, and the countries’ air defenses intercepted the majority of the attacks.
• The main targets are US military bases.
• There are deaths, damage and fires in the affected countries.
• Several US military aircraft crashed in Kuwait, according to the US military, due to “friendly fire”, presumably while defending against Iranian attacks. The crews survived, according to the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry.
• In cities such as Dubai (UAE), Doha (Qatar) and Manama (Bahrain), hotels, residential buildings and airports were hit.
• The attacks hit the Gulf states’ reputation as stable and safe locations for investors and tourists.
• The Gulf states are under pressure to respond militarily but do not want to be drawn into a larger war.
• There are also concerns about oil facilities as a central source of income, for example in Saudi Arabia, where a fire broke out at an oil facility in the east following a suspected drone attack.

Which countries have already been drawn into the war?

The US has some allies in the Middle East. There are US bases and US military installations in many countries in the region.

• Headquarters of the US 5th Fleet

Iraq

• US Al-Asad Air Force Base
• US Air Force Base Erbil
• numerous other US military installations

Jordan

• Muwaffak al Salti air base with Fighter Group 332 of the US Air Force

Qatar

• Al-Udeid Air Base: is headquarters in the region, one of the most important in the Middle East
• Special forces operate from here

Kuwait

• Camp Arifjan, headquarters of the ground forces of the Centcom military command for the region
• Ali al-Salem Air Base, Reaper drone base
• also an important supply warehouse

Saudi Arabia

• Prince Sultan Air Base
• other military facilities

Türkiye

United Arab Emirates

• Al Dhafra air base with ten squadrons and training center

In addition, the two are Aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln on site.

Bases of US allies

Several Western allies have bases in the region.

• Diego Garcia Air Force and Naval Base on the Chagos Islands: may be used by the USA for the Iran attacks
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases on Cyprus
• Mina Salman Naval Base in Bahrain

France

• Base in the United Arab Emirates
• French soldiers are also stationed in Syria and Lebanon as part of operations with partners.

Italy

• Base in Kuwait
• Italian troops are also deployed in operations against IS in Iraq and Syria and in Lebanon

Hezbollah militia attacks Israel

• The Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia said on Sunday it was taking part in Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel and the US.
• Hezbollah fired several rockets at Israel.
• The reason: retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• There had previously been a ceasefire with Israel there since November 2024.

Israel attacks targets in Lebanon

• In return, Israel launched attacks on the Lebanese capital Beirut and other areas of the country.
• The targets are Hezbollah’s weapons depots and infrastructure as well as high-ranking members of the militia, explicitly including leader Naim Kassim.
• According to Lebanese information, around 30 people were killed and around 150 injured. People are afraid of a new war, families have fled the Beirut area.

Will Germany take part in the Iran war?

• Germany has no plans to take part in the war against Iran. This is what several government sources told various media outlets. Foreign Minister Wadephul also reiterated this.
• This decision remains in effect until the Bundestag orders an operation with a qualified majority. There are currently no such plans.
• Nevertheless, the federal government will send charter planes to pick up Germans stuck in the region.