Emergency headquarters established in Karakalpakstan amid Middle East conflict

A 24/7 emergency coordination center has been established in the Republic of Karakalpakstan to assist citizens who are currently abroad and facing difficulties returning home due to the escalating situation in the Middle East. The announcement was made by the Jokargy Kenes (Supreme Council) of Karakalpakstan.

“In order to provide practical assistance to citizens who are abroad and encountering difficulties returning home due to the adverse developments in Middle Eastern countries, a 24/7 headquarter has been established in cooperation with the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan,” the statement said.

Citizens facing difficulties have been advised to contact the штаб via telephone at (61) 222-27-27 or through the Telegram account @nukusshtab.

U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict

On February 28, Israel launched unexpected airstrikes against Iran. The strikes reportedly targeted key facilities, including the presidential residence, government institutions and nuclear sites. Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that the country’s intelligence headquarters in Tehran was also attacked. Preliminary sources indicated that more than 30 missiles may have been launched at Iran.

Shortly afterward, the Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed the attack. The Defense Ministry urged Israeli citizens to seek shelter, and a state of emergency was declared nationwide.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered an eight-minute statement regarding operations against Iran, confirming U.S. involvement in the strikes. He said the military actions were carried out to protect the American people and called on Iranians to overthrow the current regime. Trump also urged Iranian military personnel to surrender in exchange for “immunity,” warning of “inevitable death” otherwise.

Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, also addressed the Iranian people, stating that decisive moments had arrived for the country. He described the confrontation as a final battle in which, he said, the Iranian people would prevail over the Islamic Republic’s system.

Shortly thereafter, Iran began launching strikes toward Israeli territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attacks, stating that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation was aimed at neutralizing the threat posed by what he called Iran’s “terror regime.” In his address, Netanyahu said that over the past 47 years Iran’s leadership had openly threatened Israel and the United States and pursued a policy of violence in the region.

Earlier, Iranian state television reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in strikes carried out by Israel and the United States. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, he was killed at his office on the morning of February 28. Following his death, 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holidays were declared across the country.

During the attack on Iranian territory, four members of the ayatollah’s family — his daughter, son-in-law, grandson and one of his daughters-in-law — were also reported killed.

Following confirmation of the Supreme Leader’s death, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the launch of what it described as “the most intense offensive operation in the history of the Armed Forces.”

Subsequently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that new attacks against Israel and the United States had begun.