The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran moved into its second day on Sunday, March 1, with Iran launching more than 25 waves of retaliatory strikes against American military installations and civilian infrastructure across the Middle East, according to reporting by The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
Iran targeted U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, and Jordan, while also striking the Fairmont hotel in Dubai and a skyscraper in Bahrain. Kuwait City's airport was also struck. In Israel, one person died and 25 were injured in an attack on Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. No U.S. military fatalities have been reported as of Sunday morning.
The San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the region, according to Times of San Diego. For East County families with loved ones serving in the Navy or stationed at nearby MCAS Miramar, the escalating conflict is a source of deep concern. Hundreds of thousands of active-duty military personnel, veterans, and defense workers live in San Diego County.
President Donald Trump, who has framed the operation as aimed at regime change in Iran, acknowledged that U.S. lives may be at risk. The U.S. State Department is advising all Americans abroad to "exercise extreme caution." Air travel disruptions have already spread globally.
Congress is divided. Rep. Darrell Issa, who represents portions of East County, posted on X: "May God bless and protect our brave service members as they carry out their duties and their mission." Rep. Sara Jacobs, whose district includes parts of San Diego County, condemned the strikes as "one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in American history" and warned of an "endless war."
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on Saturday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned both the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency has urged restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks in the region.
Residents are encouraged to monitor official government alerts and check on neighbors with family members serving overseas.