Around 10 am local time Saturday, a series of loud explosions jolted the Iranian capital of Tehran in quick succession, and Xinhua reporters saw thick plumes of smoke rising from several parts of the city.
Soon it turns out that the United States and Israel have launched an attack on Iran, and the latter has responded with counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the Middle East. The war-weary region has found itself once again caught under the dark cloud of war.
As of this report, Tehran and other Iranian cities have already been hit with dozens of missile strikes. In the capital, missiles hit areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
This photo taken on Feb. 28, 2026 shows a view of downtown Teheran, Iran. (Xinhua/Shadati)
TV footage shows massive smoke clouds hovering over a densely populated district in Tehran, and Xinhua reporters saw local residents flock to rooftops to get a better view of the unfolding situation. Some used their phones to capture the thick smoke rising from the distant explosions.
Yet despite the flare-up, daily life in many parts of Tehran seems largely unaffected. Streets are still bustling with traffic, and coffee shops crowded with young customers.
As Xinhua was penning the article, an Iranian friend reached out to ask if everything was okay. “Don’t be scared, my friend,” he said in the message. “This was bound to happen. We saw this coming from a mile away.”
This attack came after the United States and Iran wrapped up their third round of indirect talks earlier this week and agreed to resume negotiations next week. Just a day before the strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he hadn’t made a decision on military action against Iran but promised a “major decision” on the matter.
The latest development is reminiscent of last June when, during negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran. That triggered the “12-day war,” during which the United States bombed Iran’s critical nuclear facilities.
