Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital of the United Arab Emirates killed one person on Saturday, according to state media, marking the first confirmed death reported in Iran’s counteroffensive following major US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The state-run WAM reported the fatality, describing it as the initial known casualty linked to Iran’s retaliatory missile campaign. Officials have not yet released further details about the victim or the circumstances of the impact.

The attack comes amid a dramatic escalation in the region after the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes targeting sites across Iran earlier in the day. US President Donald Trump announced that “major combat operations” had begun, while calling on the Iranian people to “take over your government” in an extraordinary public appeal.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint military campaign aimed to eliminate what he described as an “existential threat” posed by Iran.

Hours after the strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, vowing retaliation against further attacks.

Missile alerts were activated across Israel, with explosions reported as air defence systems worked to intercept incoming fire. Hospitals moved patients to underground facilities as emergency protocols were activated.

The escalation quickly expanded beyond Iran and Israel. Explosions were reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE, while several countries — including Iraq and the UAE — closed their airspace as a precaution. Sirens were also heard in parts of Jordan.

U.S. embassies in Qatar, the UAE, and Israel advised staff to shelter in place and urged American citizens in the region to follow similar precautions.

Iranian media reported strikes across the country, including explosions in Tehran. Witnesses said roads leading to the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were closed following blasts heard in downtown areas. State television acknowledged explosions but did not provide immediate details on casualties or damage.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement, declaring that the country “will not hesitate” in responding and that the time had come to defend the homeland.

Reason behind the war: Nuclear tensions and wider concerns

The strikes come amid ongoing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has maintained it has the right to enrich uranium, while rejecting broader negotiations on its missile program and regional influence.