Onslaught over Tehran airport as US–Israel strikes escalate West Asia war

Powerful explosions rocked Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran early February 7, as airstrikes hit the Iranian capital amid a sharp escalation in the widening West Asia conflict following joint military action by the United States and Israel against Iran.

State media reported that the blasts occurred at one of Tehran’s primary commercial aviation hubs, sending shockwaves across the city. Videos circulating on social media showed towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the airport complex shortly after the strikes.

Eyewitnesses quoted by local media said a plane was seen engulfed in flames on the airport’s tarmac following the explosions, though the extent of the damage and possible casualties remained unclear.

The strikes came hours after Israel announced a fresh wave of military operations targeting Iranian assets, signaling an intensification of the ongoing confrontation. Adding to the pressure, US President Donald Trump said that only Iran’s “unconditional surrender” would bring an end to the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East.

Rising aerial threats across the Gulf

The conflict has triggered a surge in aerial threats across the Gulf region, forcing several countries to activate and expand their air defense systems.

According to regional reports, the United Arab Emirates intercepted more than 125 drones and six ballistic missiles over the past 24 hours amid fears of spillover attacks linked to the widening confrontation.

Saudi Arabia also reported a series of attempted strikes. On March 6, Saudi air defenses reportedly shot down five missiles aimed at the Prince Sultan Air Base, along with multiple drones targeting the capital Riyadh and the nearby city of Al-Kharj.

International alarm grows

The escalating hostilities have drawn sharp criticism from several international and regional organizations, raising fears of a broader regional war.

Both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the rising violence. During an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Riyadh on March 1, the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed the right of its member states to defend their territories against what it described as Iranian aggression.

With strikes intensifying and missile threats spreading across the Gulf, the conflict is rapidly expanding beyond its initial flashpoints, deepening fears of a wider and prolonged regional confrontation.