Tel Aviv / Gulf Region / Tehran — The Middle East has been rocked by Iran’s largest strike of the war so far, as Tehran launched a massive wave of missiles and armed drones toward Israel and key U.S.-linked targets across the Gulf, in what it calls a “decisive stage” of its campaign.

Shortly after midnight, early‑warning radars in Israel and across Gulf capitals lit up with hundreds of inbound tracks rising from deep inside Iran and proxy‑held territory in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Sirens wailed from Haifa to Beersheba as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems fired at full capacity, turning the sky above central Israel into a continuous chain of intercept flashes. Despite high interception rates, several heavy warheads slammed near airbases, fuel depots and industrial zones, sparking large fires on the outskirts of Tel Aviv and Ashdod.

At the same time, Patriot and THAAD batteries in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE joined the fight, engaging volleys of cruise missiles and Shahed‑style drones aimed at U.S. airfields, logistics hubs and energy infrastructure. Residents of Manama, Doha and Dubai reported distant explosions and flashes over restricted zones, with some flights diverted or grounded as debris fell near approach paths.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard hailed the barrage as “the night of coordinated punishment,” claiming “dozens of strategic sites were hit” in Israel and at U.S. bases. Israeli and American officials dispute that, saying most incoming weapons were intercepted but acknowledging “localized damage and casualties.”

Analysts warn that by simultaneously striking Israel and the Gulf with its largest mixed salvo yet, Tehran has signaled it is willing to gamble the stability of the entire region — and forced Washington, Jerusalem and Arab capitals to decide how far they are prepared to go in response.