A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) The African Union has expressed deep concern over military strikes carried out by the United States in coordination with Israel against targets inside the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing the action as a serious escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. In a statement via X issued on Saturday, the Chair...