The US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a security warning to civilians in Iran on Sunday, accusing the regime of launching military operations from densely populated areas and endangering civilian lives.
CENTCOM said Iranian forces are using “densely populated” cities, including Dezful, Isfahan and Shiraz, to launch drones and ballistic missiles in one direction. US forces urged civilians in Iran to stay home and warned that sites used for military purposes could lose their protected status under international law and become legitimate targets.
“Iran’s terrorist regime is blatantly ignoring the lives of civilians by attacking Gulf partners while endangering the security of their own people,” Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement.
CENTCOM said the U.S. military is taking “every feasible precaution” to minimize harm to the civilian population but cannot guarantee security near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes.
Missiles fired from Iran towards Israel streak through the sky over the West Bank city of Hebron on March 7, 2026. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
CENTCOM’s announcement said Tehran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones since the start of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, although launch rates have declined as U.S. and partner forces have focused on Iran’s military capabilities.
Iran has attacked civilian airports and hotels in the Middle East as part of retaliatory strikes against several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain.
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The debris of a missile fired into Israel from Iran lies in the Beni Zeid area near Ramallah in the West Bank on March 7, 2026. (Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The UAE Ministry of Defense on Sunday released images of air defenses intercepting and destroying Iranian drones.
The ministry said 17 ballistic missiles were detected, 16 of which were destroyed and one fell into the sea.
The air defense also detected 117 drones, of which 113 were intercepted, while four fell on the country’s territory.
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Plumes of smoke rise after reported explosions in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2026. (Sohrab/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
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Since the Iranian attacks began, the UAE says it has intercepted 221 ballistic missiles and 1,342 drones, along with eight cruise missiles.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed on X that Iran has not attacked “friendly and neighboring countries,” saying its attacks targeted US military bases and installations in the region.
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