The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Tehran as Iran widened retaliatory strikes across the Gulf after the killing of Khamenei.
At Least 31 Killed by Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon
At least 31 people were killed and 149 people were wounded from Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said on Monday. The news came after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on X that it was striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in response to projectile fire toward northern Israel.
“Hezbollah is operating on behalf of the Iranian regime, opening fire against the Israeli civilians, and bringing ruin to Lebanon,” the IDF said.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strikes but also said Hezbollah’s rocket launches “target all the efforts and endeavors exerted by the Lebanese state to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region.”
By Sam Dorman
Iranian Official Refuses to Negotiate With US
A top national security official in Iran has rejected any negotiations with the United States.
“We will not negotiate with the United States,” Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani said in a Monday post translated on X.
“Trump plunged the region into chaos,” Larijani said in another series of posts. “Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression.”
Iran has launched missile strikes into multiple nations across the region in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
By Joseph Lord
Trump Says Attacks on Iran Could Last 4 to 5 Weeks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 1 that the U.S.–Israeli military operation against the Iranian regime could last up to five weeks and shared his views about how the country’s future leadership might be after the deaths of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States and Israel launched major attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 after U.S.–Iran nuclear talks ended without a breakthrough. Trump has said the operation’s goal is to eliminate threats from Iran and ensure the regime “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Iran retaliated with a series of attacks on Israel and its neighboring Gulf nations, targeting U.S. and Israeli military bases in the region.
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British Officials Confirm Drone Attack on British Base in Cyprus
British officials have confirmed that a drone has hit its military base at Akrotiri, Cyprus.
According to Britain’s Defense Ministry, there were no casualties from the attack, which occurred around midnight local time. A spokesperson for the Republic of Cyprus said the strike “caused limited damage.”
The base, RAF Akrotiri, is Britain’s main airbase for operations in the Middle East and is sovereign British territory.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced hours earlier that his government had accepted a U.S. request to use British bases in the Gulf region to strike Iranian missile launchers.
“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose,” Starmer said. “We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region.”
By Joseph Lord
Iraqi Shiite Militia Claims Responsibility for Attack on US Troops
An Iraqi Shiite militia group on Monday local time claimed responsibility for a drone attack that targeted U.S. troops in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. No casualties were reported.
The group, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, is one of several Iran-backed Shiite militias that have operated in the country since the U.S.-led invasion of the nation in 2003.
The attack was carried out as part of retaliatory attacks against U.S. and Israeli troops following military activity by the two nations that killed Iranian Ayatollah Ali Kamenei. Most retaliation has stemmed from Iran, which has launched retaliatory missile strikes across the Middle East, as well as its proxies in the region like the Houthis and Hezbollah.
The United States or Iraq did not immediately comment publicly about the claim from Saraya Awliya al-Dam.
The Iraqi government has condemned the U.S. and Israeli action, declaring a three-day period of mourning for Khamenei’s death.
By Joseph Lord
Iran’s Military Units Acting Independently, Foreign Minister Says
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested his country’s military units are acting independently.
He clarified that they are somewhat isolated and striking based on general instructions given in advance of the outbreak of the conflict.
“What happened in Oman was not our choice,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera, referring to an Iranian drone strike on the Duqm port there March 1.
“We have already told our armed forces to be careful about the targets they choose.”
The foreign minister also said in a March 1 post on X that bombing Tehran has no impact on Iran’s ability to conduct war.
“We’ve had two decades to study defeats of the U.S. military to our immediate east and west,” Araghchi said in the post. “We’ve incorporated lessons accordingly.”
By Troy Myers
Exiled Iranian Prince Wants to Serve as Transitional Leader
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi said he wanted to lead his country through transitioning to a new government, but said he didn’t intend to run for office.
“They trust me as a transitional leader, not as the future king or future president or future whatever,” he said during a “60 Minutes” interview with correspondent Scott Pelley.
On building a new Iran, Pahlavi identified four core principles to focus on. Those included Iran’s territorial integrity, a clear separation of region from state, equality of all citizens, and a democratic election system.
He also said that he thought Iran’s nuclear weapons program “should be totally dismantled.”
The exiled prince compared celebrations in the streets of Iran over news of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei being killed to the infamous photograph of a lone Chinese student standing in front of a group of tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
When asked about what he would say to President Donald Trump, Pahlavi said he would echo the thank yous from millions of his compatriots for taking out the Iranian leader.
“[Trump] will go down in the annals of Iranian history as the most-celebrated foreign leader that changed the ballgame and changed the world as a result,” Pahlavi said.
By Troy Myers
US Updates Travel Advisories for Middle Eastern Nations
The U.S. State Department on Sunday evening released updated travel guidelines for several Middle Eastern nations, warning Americans in some to shelter in place.
Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon were designated Level 4—the most dangerous category—and Americans are advised against traveling to the nations for any reason.
Americans already in Iran were warned to shelter in place, and the advisory noted the absence of a U.S. embassy; Americans in Iraq are advised to “Exercise caution, limit movements, shelter in place as needed”; Americans in Lebanon were advised to depart via commercial travel options.
Five other nations—Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and Pakistan—were given a Level 3 advisory, and Americans were advised to reconsider travel plans to the region. Americans already in those nations were told to shelter in place. Those in Pakistan were advised to avoid large gatherings. The State Department noted an additional warning for Pakistan, as some areas are designated Level 4.
Five other nations were designated Level 2, in which Americans were advised to exercise increased caution when traveling there. These include Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Americans who are already in those countries are advised to shelter in place or exercise caution.
Dangers for Americans in the region have increased in the wake of U.S. and Israeli military activities in Iran, including missile strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On Sunday, six Middle Eastern nations joined the United States in a statement condemning “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks against sovereign territories across the region.”
Signatories included Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
They said that Iranian strikes “targeted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations, and
damaged civilian infrastructure.”
By Joseph Lord
Trump Says Strikes on Iran Could Last Up to 5 Weeks
President Donald Trump said sustained military operations on Iran are intended to last “four to five weeks.”
“It won’t be difficult,” Trump told The New York Times on March 1 in a phone interview. “We have tremendous amounts of ammunition. You know, we have ammunition stored all over the world in different countries.”
He also said it would be up to the Iranian people whether they want to overthrow the current government.
“I don’t make a commitment one way or the other; it’s too early,” Trump said. “We have work to do and we’ve done it very well. I’d say we’re quite ahead of schedule.”
Israel Urges Lebanese Civilians to Evacuate
The Israeli military is urging people across Lebanon to evacuate ahead of potential strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The warnings were issued after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the terrorist group had launched projectiles toward its country. Several fell into open territories, according to a Telegram post by the Israeli military.
IDF retaliated and said it had successfully struck several top Hezbollah officials in the Beirut and southern Lebanon areas.
Attacks against Hezbollah were made as Israel continued to fend off Iranian missile fire, as well as began another wave of strikes “at the heart of Tehran.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said U.S. military operations against Iran could last up to five weeks.
By Troy Myers
Israel Successfully Strikes Hezbollah Terrorists
The Israeli military “precisely” hit senior Hezbollah terrorists in the Beirut area, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) post on Telegram.
Another key Hezbollah terrorist was struck in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
The IDF began striking the Iran-backed extremist group after it first launched projectiles at Israel, a previous Telegram post said.
Further details will follow on the top Hezbollah terrorists killed, the IDF said.
By Troy Myers
Israel Begins Additional Wave of Attacks
The Israeli military has begun launching more strikes against Iran.
“The Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF [Israel Defense Forces] intelligence, has begun an additional wave of strikes against the Iranian terror regime at the heart of Tehran,” the IDF said in a Telegram post at 6:51 p.m. ET.
By Troy Myers
Trump Arrives at White House
President Donald Trump has returned to the White House from Mar-a-Lago. He did not take questions from members of the press gathered on the lawn.
Oil Prices Up in First Trades Since Before Iran Strikes
Crude oil futures prices were up more than 8 percent in the first trades since before the U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Iran began over the weekend.
Analysts expect crude oil and gasoline prices to spike once trading resumes March 2.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) previously warned that the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which more than 20 percent of the world’s oil is exported from the region, is “effectively closed.”
“Due to the insecure conditions around the strait resulting from the U.S. and Israeli military aggression and Iran’s responses, passage through the strait is currently unsafe,” the IRGC said in a statement on Feb. 28.
At least two oil tankers and a port in Oman have been attacked during the ongoing conflict. Tanker ships began stacking in the Arabian Sea instead of risking the trip through the 100-mile strait into the Persian Gulf.
By Troy Myers
UK Accepts US Request to Use British Bases in Middle East
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a video statement Sunday, accepting a U.S. request to use British bases in the Gulf region to strike Iranian missile launchers.
The basis of Starmer’s decision, he said, is the collective self-defense of longstanding allies and the protection of British lives.
“The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots,” Starmer said.
“The United States has requested to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose,” he said.
Accepting the U.S. request is in line with international law, the prime minister said.
Starmer also reaffirmed his country’s military was not involved in strikes against Iran.
“We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region,” Starmer said.
“We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now.”
By Troy Myers
Gulf States Have ‘Right to Respond’ to Iranian Aggression: Joint Statement
Foreign ministers from a coalition of Persian Gulf countries, known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning the “heinous” Iranian attacks on their territories, adding they have the “legal right to respond.”
Foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait held an extraordinary virtual meeting to discuss Iran’s aggression.
The council reviewed the extensive damage “from the treacherous Iranian attacks on these countries, which targeted civilian facilities, service sites, and residential areas, causing significant material damage, threatening the safety and lives of citizens and residents, and spreading fear among the population.”
Iran’s attacks constitute a clear violation of the Persian Gulf states’ sovereignty, the principles of good neighborliness, and international law, the foreign ministers said.
According to the joint statement, the council discussed next steps and coordinated efforts to restore security, stability, and peace to the region.
The council stressed that “the security of GCC member states is indivisible, and that any attack against any member state constitutes a direct attack against all GCC countries,” the statement said.
By Troy Myers
President Donald Trump Gives Update on Operation Epic Fury
Operation Will Continue Until All Objectives Achieved, Trump Says
President Donald Trump said in a March 1 video address that strikes on Iran will “continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
“We have very strong objectives,” he said.
America will deal a crushing blow to those who have “waged war against civilization itself,” he said. “Our resolve and likewise, that of Israel, has never been stronger.”
“An Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American,” Trump said, adding that it was the duty of the U.S. military to resolve the threat.
“These actions are right and they are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats,” he said.
“For almost 50 years, these wicked extremists have been attacking the United States while chanting the slogan, ‘death to America’ or ‘death to Israel,’ or both. They are the world’s number one state sponsor of terror. We are the world’s greatest and most powerful nation, so we can do something.”
Trump Says He Fulfilled Promise to Iranians, ‘Rest Will Be Up to You’
President Donald Trump called on “Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country,” in a March 1 video address.
“America is with you. I made a promise to you, and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, but we’ll be there to help,” he said, echoing statements he made weeks ago in support of Iranian protestors standing up against the regime.
On Jan. 13, the president had posted to Truth Social, “KEEP PROTESTING—TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
Trump Says Iran Operation ‘Duty and Burden of a Free People’
President Donald Trump said in a March 1 video address that it was the “duty and burden of a free people” to do good with the military might of the United States.
“We are now using that military for good. We want to have it for a good purpose. We’re undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us many, many years ago,” Trump said.
He said that Ali Khamenei, the second Supreme Leader of Iran’s Islamic regime, who died in yesterday’s strikes, had the “blood of hundreds or even thousands of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless thousands of innocent people all across many countries.”
Trump: US ‘Will Avenge’ 3 Fallen Service Members
In a Sunday afternoon video address, President Donald Trump mourned the loss of three American service members and said the United States would “avenge their deaths.”
“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen,” he said. “And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.”
“We’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case, but America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization,” Trump said. “They have waged war against civilization itself.”
The Iranian regime ordered missile strikes on several targets in the Middle East following the deaths of several key regime leaders. U.S. Central Command earlier on March 1 announced the three American casualties and are withholding details until their families have been notified.
Trump Suggests Fighting in Iran Could Last Weeks
President Donald Trump suggested a timeline for how long he believed fighting may last.
“We figured it will be four weeks or so,” Trump first told the Daily Mail in an exclusive phone interview Sunday.
“It’s always been about a four-week process, so, as strong as it is—it’s a big country—it’ll take four weeks—or less.”
Three American service members, who Trump described as “great people,” have been killed in the conflict.
Further details on their identities have not been released.
“You know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately,” Trump told the Daily Mail.
By Troy Myers
UK, France, and Germany Ready to Work with US, Partners to Stop Iran’s Retaliatory Attacks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement on March 1 condemning Iran’s “reckless” retaliatory strikes on their allies, which were threatening their citizens and service members in the area.
“We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source,” the statement read.
“We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter.”
By T.J. Muscaro
US Military Lists Assets Used, Targets Hit in First 24 Hours of Operation Epic Fury
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a day one summary of Operation Epic Fury, detailing American military assets used and Iranian targets struck in the ongoing effort to dismantle the “regime’s security apparatus.”
Assets employed include:
- B-2 stealth bombers
- LUCAS drones
- Patriot interceptor missile systems
- THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems
- F-18 fighter jets
- F-16 fighter jets
- F-22 fighter jets
- A-10 attack jets
- F-35 stealth fighters
- EA-18G electronic attack aircraft
- Airborne early warning and control aircraft
- Airborne communication relay
- P-8 maritime control aircraft
- RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft
- MQ-9 reapers
- M-142 high mobility artillery rocket systems
- Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers
- Guided-missile destroyers
- Counter-drone systems
- Refueling tanker aircraft
- Refueling ships
- C-17 globemaster cargo aircraft
- C-130 cargo aircraft
- Assets also included “special capabilities we can’t list here,” the CENTCOM update said.
- The types of Iranian targets hit include:
- Command and control centers
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) control headquarters
- IRGC aerospace forces headquarters
- Integrated air defense systems
- Ballistic missile sites
- Anti-ship missile sites
- Military communication capabilities
- Navy ships
- And navy submarines.
Trump on Operation Epic Fury: ‘We Expect Casualties’
President Donald Trump said he and his team expected casualties when launching the ongoing military strikes, called Operation Epic Fury, against Iran’s Islamic regime.
“We expect casualties with something like this,” Trump said.
“We have three, but we expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world,” he added in a phone interview with NBC on March 1.
U.S. Central Command announced earlier on Sunday that three U.S. service members were killed in action, five others were seriously wounded, and several other troops were being evaluated before returning to duty after suffering minor shrapnel wounds and concussions.
By T.J. Muscaro
UK Shoots Down Iranian Drone
The UK military said it intercepted an Iranian drone headed toward Qatar on Sunday.
“The Typhoon jet was conducting a defensive air patrol and used an air-to-air missile to shoot down the drone, ensuring the security of Qatar’s airspace and British interests in the region,” the UK Ministry of Defense said.
Jordanian Police Say 5 People Injured by Falling Shrapnel
Five people were injured by falling shrapnel in Jordan as a result of Iranian projectiles being intercepted in the kingdom’s airspace, according to the country.
Trump Speaks to Leaders in Middle East
President Donald Trump spoke with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE on March 1, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The U.S. Central Command said Iran has targeted a series of countries in the region including in residential areas in Israel, Bahrain, and Qatar and airports in Dubai, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Leavitt mentioned Trump was also briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas, in which at least two people were killed and 14 others injured.
The FBI is investigating the shooting in Texas as a potential act of terrorism.
US Says Over 1,000 Targets Struck in Iran
U.S. Central Command said the military has struck more than 1,000 targets inside Iran in the first 24 hours since launching its attacks on Saturday.
The Pentagon said these targets include the joint headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian navy ships, Iranian navy submarines, integrated air defense systems, and command and control centers.
At Least 22 Killed as Protesters Tried to Storm US Consulate in Pakistan
At least 22 pro-Iran demonstrators were shot and killed during clashes with security forces in Pakistan as protesters attempted to storm the U.S. Consulate in the city of Karachi on March 1.
The demonstrators were responding to Operation Epic Fury, which killed Iranian Islamist leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of the country’s senior commanders.
“Death to Israel, death to America,” they shouted during the incident.
Over 120 others were injured, and some remained in critical condition on Sunday.
All U.S. government personnel in the area were directed to restrict their movements until further notice.
By Jacki Thrapp
Israel Details Opening Strikes That Killed Khamenei, Top Iranian Leaders
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said on Saturday that the Israeli and U.S. militaries were able to kill Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials by seizing on an operational opportunity and “striking simultaneously two different gatherings of senior regime officials.”
The IDF struck a meeting of senior officials who had convened at the Iranian Defense Ministry compound in Tehran, and a second meeting of the “top echelon” of Iran’s “Ministry” that served as the nation’s central intelligence office.
In a Telegram post on Sunday, an IDF spokesperson said Khamenei was killed in “the leadership compound in the heart of Tehran where he was staying along with other senior officials.”
The post included a map with a satellite image of the “leader’s office,” which is comprised of three compounds: the military office, the presidential compound, and the “Leader’s compound.”
The IDF spokesperson’s unit told The Epoch Times that the leadership compound where Khamenei was killed was bombed in the same opening strike that targeted Iran’s Defense Ministry compound and its “Ministry” compound.
By Jacob Burg
Oil Prices Expected to Spike as Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz ‘Effectively Closed’
Crude oil and gasoline prices are expected to spike when trading resumes Monday as Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic slows to a trickle amid warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that the vital waterway, where more than 20 percent of the world’s oil is exported from the Persian Gulf, is “effectively closed.”
“Due to the insecure conditions around the strait resulting from the U.S. and Israeli military aggression and Iran’s responses, passage through the strait is currently unsafe,” the IRGC said in a Feb. 28 statement.
As of 1 p.m. ET on Sunday—9:30 p.m. in Iran—at least two oil tankers and a port in Oman have been attacked, prompting ships to stack in the Arabian Sea rather than risk transiting the narrow 100-mile waterway and entering the Persian Gulf.
By John Haughey
Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq Strike American Base Airport
Iran-backed militias in Iraq struck an American base near Irbil airport.
The umbrella group, which calls itself the Islamic Resistance, said it launched drone attacks in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
It issued another statement saying it attacked another base with a rocket.
There was no immediate report of casualties.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have vowed to respond in solidarity with Iran.
NATO Says It is Following Developments
NATO has been following developments in Iran and the Middle East in general, according to a spokesperson for the alliance.
U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, “continues to speak actively and regularly with military leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, and with NATO’s Secretary General,” Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesperson for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, said in a statement provided to media outlets.
The top commander “has and will continue to adjust NATO’s very strong force posture to ensure the security of its 32 member nations and to defend the Alliance from potential threats, such as ballistic missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles, emanating from this or other regions,” he added.
Thousands of Flights Disrupted Across Middle East Amid Conflict
One day after the U.S. and Israeli militaries hit Tehran in a coordinated series of strikes to topple the Iranian regime, thousands of flights were canceled or delayed on March 1 across many of the busiest airports in the Middle East.
Large portions of the region’s airspace remain closed after the U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials on Saturday. Israel said it had launched a second wave of strikes on Iran on Sunday.
Critical transport hubs, including Doha in Qatar and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been closed or face significant disruptions after Iran retaliated with a series of attacks on its neighboring Gulf nations.
By Jacob Burg
Trump Says 48 Leaders Killed in Strikes on Iran
President Donald Trump said that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in the strikes.
“It’s moving along. It’s moving along rapidly. This has been this way for 47 years,” he told Fox News. “It’s moving along rapidly. Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot.”
US Calls Out Iranian Attacks on Civilian Locations
The United States on Sunday called out Iran for claiming that it has only targeted U.S. assets and bases.
In a post on X, U.S. Central Command gave a list of places Iran has targeted. They include Dubai International Airport, Kuwait International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Dubai, Erbil International Airport in Iraq, the Fairmont Palm Hotel in Dubai, the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bahrain, the Port of Dubai, the Haifa Oil Refinery, and residential areas in Israel, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Trump Says 9 Iranian Navy Ships Have Been Sunk
The United States has sunk nine Iranian naval ships and “largely destroyed” the regime’s navy headquarters, according to President Donald Trump.
“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest— They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”
B-2 Stealth Bombers Struck Iran’s Ballistic Missile Facilities: Pentagon
U.S. B-2 stealth bombers dropped 2,000-pound bombs on Iran’s hardened ballistic missile facilities overnight, according to the Pentagon. The reinforced structures—often called “missile cities—are designed to protect ballistic missiles and are typically underground.
Central Command commented on the attack, saying, “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve.”
State Department Authorizes Departure of Non-Emergency Personnel from Qatar
Non-emergency diplomats and their family members have been authorized to leave Qatar due to safety risks, according to a newly released travel advisory from the U.S. State Department.
Trump Mum on Whether There Are Renewed Threats Against US Since Iran Strikes
President Donald Trump declined to say whether there have been renewed threats against the United States since the U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran.
“I don’t want to tell you that,” he told The Atlantic in an interview.
Trump Noncommittal on Prolonging Strikes on Iran
When asked by The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer if he would prolong strikes on Iran to support an uprising if one occurs, President Donald Trump was noncommittal.
“I have to look at the situation at the time it happens, Michael. You can’t give an answer to that question,” he said.
Trump Agrees to Talk to New Iranian Leadership
President Donald Trump said that he has agreed to a request from the new leadership in Iran to talk.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner,” he told The Atlantic on Sunday. “They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”
Following procedures set out in the country’s constitution, Iran on Sunday established a council to take over national leadership and fulfill the responsibilities previously held by Khamenei.
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced the creation of the council.
The council includes current Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei, who will “temporarily assume all leadership duties.” Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi was named as the third member. The 66-year-old cleric, appointed by Khamenei to the Guardian Council in 2019, has previously played a key role in the nation’s governance.
Israel Calls Up 100,000 Reserve Soldiers
Israel has called up 100,000 reserve soldiers amid the current conflict with Iran, an Israeli military spokesperson told Reuters.
Top Iranian Diplomat Says the Country’s Military is Intact
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says “nothing has changed in our … military capability,” following the attacks on his nation.
Araghchi told ABC’s “This Week” on March 1 that hours after Iran was struck, the nation retaliated against Israeli and American bases and that they have “continued to do so.”
“Our military is in place,” the diplomat said. “They are capable enough to defend our country.
“Even more, they are more prepared and capable than [in the] previous war,” he went on, referencing the 12 Day War with Israel that took place in June 2025.
When asked for his response to President Donald Trump’s warning that the Iranians should not retaliate against the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Araghchi called the U.S. strikes “an act of aggression,” while calling Iran’s actions an “act of self-defense.”
“There are huge differences between these two,” he said. “So, one should tell … the president of the United States, do not attack.”
Democratic Congressman: War Powers Resolution on Iran is ‘Going to be Very Close’
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said that the vote on the war powers resolution regarding Iran is “going to be very close.”
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Khanna said the vote “is going to be very close, but I believe we will have every Democrat.”
Khanna went on to say, “I can’t believe there’s going to be a Democrat who wants to vote for another war in the Middle East.”
He made the case that there are Republican members of Congress such as Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) who he said would vote for the resolution.
In the Senate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) will offer a war powers resolution, requiring the president to get approval from Congress to take further military action against Iran.
US–Israeli Attacks Enter Second Day: What to Know
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) says the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran targeted Iran’s “vast missile arsenal.”
Cotton told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that Iran’s missiles were a danger to American troops: “We’re stopping a lot of them from being fired before Iran can fire them. It’s much easier to kill the archer on the ground than it is to shoot his arrows out of the sky,” he said in the March 1 interview.
Cotton said that Iran had “Many more missiles than the United States and Israel have air defenses combined, as well as the missile launchers and its missile manufacturing capability.”
US Aircraft Carrier Not Hit, Contrary to Iran’s Claim, Pentagon Says
Iran did not strike the USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, contrary to Iran saying otherwise, according to the U.S. Central Command.
“The missiles launched didn’t even come close,” Central Command said.
The Lincoln is one of two U.S. aircraft carriers deployed to the region.
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Calls Khamenei’s Death ‘Game Changer’
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called the death of Ayatollah Khamenei a “game changer.”
“There’s no question that this is the game changer we’ve been waiting for all this time,” he said on Fox News.
“The jubilation of Iranians at home and abroad shows how much people were hoping for this moment,” he continued. “And I join millions of Iranians thanking President Trump for taking this into action and delivering on his promise.”
Pahlavi said this is “the beginning of the very end of the regime.”
Pahlavi said he is leading a transition, which he said would take a couple of years.
US Strikes Iranian Ship
An Iranian Jamaran-class corvette was struck by U.S. forces during the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, according to U.S. Central Command.
The ship is sinking in the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile, contrary to Iran’s claim, the USS Abraham Lincoln was not hit by ballistic missiles, according to U.S. Central Command.
3 Americans Killed, 5 Seriously Wounded
Three U.S. service members were killed in action and five others were seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury, according to United States Central Command.
The command said several additional troops suffered minor shrapnel wounds and concussions and are being evaluated before returning to duty. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” the military said in a statement.
U.S. Central Command added that the situation remains fluid.
New Iranian Leadership Council ‘Has Begun Its Work’
Iran’s newly minted leadership council “has begun its work” after the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s comments on Iranian state television.
The temporary council took over after the death of Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.
U.S. President Donald Trump called on the people of Iran to throw off the regime, tying U.S. interests in the region to leadership change.
Pezeshkian is one of three officials on the council. The other officials are Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei, head of the judiciary, and Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi.
The council will “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”
Senate Intel Chair Says Strikes Targeted Iran’s Missile Arsenal
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) says the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran targeted Iran’s “vast missile arsenal.”
Cotton told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that Iran’s missiles were a danger to American troops: “We’re stopping a lot of them from being fired before Iran can fire them. It’s much easier to kill the archer on the ground than it is to shoot his arrows out of the sky,” he said in the March 1 interview.
Cotton said that Iran had “Many more missiles than the United States and Israel have air defenses combined, as well as the missile launchers and its missile manufacturing capability.”
During an earlier interview with Fox News, Cotton said that Iran’s leadership has spent the last 47 years calculating that they could “cross every red line” without being stopped by America.
“After 47 years, they finally miscalculated,” the lawmaker said. “I commend [President Donald Trump], and I commend our brave and skillful troops.”
Casualties Reported in Iranian Retaliatory Attacks on Kuwait, UAE
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry said on March 1 that Iranian attacks in Kuwait killed one person and injured 32.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded three deaths following Iranian attacks over the weekend.
Iran launched 165 ballistic missiles at the UAE, but the nation’s military was able to destroy 152 of them while another 13 fell into the sea, its defense ministry said.
Iran also targeted the UAE with 541 bomb-carrying drones. The UAE’s military managed to destroy 506, while 35 struck the nation, wounding 58 and killing three people from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
By Jacob Burg
Death Toll in Iranian Strike on Central Israel Rises to 6
The death toll in an Iranian strike on central Israel on March 1 has risen to 6, with another 23 injured, Israel’s rescue service said.
After the U.S. and Israeli joint strikes on Iran Saturday, Tehran retaliated by launching dozens of rockets, hitting targets in Israel and American military bases throughout the Middle East.
By Jacob Burg
State Department Tells Americans, Diplomatic Staff Throughout Middle East to Shelter in Place
Amid a second day of joint military strikes from the United States and Israel across Iran, U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the Middle East instructed employees and American citizens to shelter in place.
American citizens either living or traveling in Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Pakistan were advised by their embassies to take the precautions.
“Please remain vigilant, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran. Qatari airspace is closed. All non-essential personnel should avoid all military installations,” the U.S. embassy in Qatar said in a security alert on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department warned Americans abroad to follow similar measures in its “worldwide caution” alert.
“Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” the alert said.
By Jacob Burg
Israeli Defense Minister Says ‘Nonstop Air Train’ of Strikes Will Hit Iran
“stand-in” operations over the skies of Tehran “in a powerful attack on regime and repression targets.”
“From now on, a nonstop air train will operate for a powerful attack on tornado targets in Tehran,” he wrote on social media, in an English translation from Hebrew.
By Jacob Burg
40 of Iran’s Commanders Have Been Eliminated: Israel
Israel said on Sunday that it had eliminated dozens of Iranian leaders. “The [Israel Defense Forces] struck & eliminated 7 members of the top Iranian security leadership in Tehran and 40 senior commanders,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a post to X on March 1.
A separate, translated post from the Israeli Air Force said 40 commanders were “eliminated in one minute” and included an apparent illustration of the strikes. The air force also posted video footage, describing it as “documentation” of the destruction of the regime’s headquarters in Tehran.
The posts came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Persian language post on X said he would strike “thousands of targets of the terrorist regime.” In the post, Netanyahu urged Iranian citizens to overthrow their leaders.
By Sam Dorman
Fallout From Iranian Retaliatory Strikes Continues
The fallout from Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes widened Sunday, disrupting air travel, damaging infrastructure, and sending civilians across the region into shelters.
Global aviation remained heavily affected as airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar stayed largely closed.
Major hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha were shut or restricted, stranding aircraft and crews and forcing thousands of flight cancellations worldwide.
The UK ambassador to the UAE said hundreds of missiles and drones had been intercepted over Abu Dhabi and Dubai, urging British nationals to shelter in place amid ongoing disruption.
In Israel, residents in Tel Aviv took refuge in underground train stations after a fresh wave of missiles from Iran. Gulf states reported additional interceptions, while damage from debris and drone strikes was recorded at airports and port facilities.
Shrapnel from a drone intercepted by air defense units fell at a tower in Abu Dhabi, injuring a woman and her child.
Authorities in Oman said an oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz came under attack, wounding four mariners on board.
By Tom Ozimek
Nine Dead in Pakistan After Protesters Storm US Consulate
At least nine people have died, and 25 were wounded, following an incident in which protestors attempted to storm the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
The incident came hours after Iranian officials confirmed that Iranian leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in airstrikes in Tehran.
Local officials dismissed reports that any part of the embassy building itself had been set on fire, but acknowledged that arson efforts were recorded at a police post outside the building.
Shiites also held a rally near the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province, according to police. An attempt to demonstrate outside the building was prevented.
By Joseph Lord
Iran to Form Interim Leadership Council
Veteran Iranian politician Ali Larijani said on March 1 that a temporary leadership council would be formed after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.
Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that the interim council will exercise authority until Khamenei’s successor is elected, the Iranian Embassy in New Zealand said.
A former Revolutionary Guards member and parliament speaker, Larijani previously served as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and has a reputation for pragmatism, including regarding U.S. demands that Iran give up its nuclear ambitions.
“In my view, this issue is resolvable,” Larijani told Oman state television in February, referring to nuclear talks with the United States. “If the Americans’ concern is that Iran should not move toward acquiring a nuclear weapon, that can be addressed.”
President Donald Trump has said the objective of the U.S. operation against Iran is to eliminate threats from Tehran and ensure the regime “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump told CBS News in an interview on Feb. 28 that he believes the strikes and the killing of Khameini have opened a pathway to diplomacy.
He said “there are some good candidates” to lead Iran in the wake of Khameini’s demise, but did not elaborate further.
By Tom Ozimek
Israel Says It Targeting ‘Heart’ of Tehran
A major explosion was reported in Tehran on March 1 as Israeli military officials said that they were targeting the “heart” of the Iranian capital city.
The target of the blast, which created a plume and caused the ground to shake, wasn’t immediately clear but seemed to have been centered in a neighborhood containing the country’s police headquarters. The headquarters of IRNA, Iranian state television, was also located in that neighborhood.
Israeli officials said the military was striking targets in central Tehran after clearing the path to the capital.
In an automatically translated post on X, the Israeli Air Force said, “For the First Time in Operation ‘Roar of the Lion’: IDF Strikes Targets of the Iranian Terror Regime in the Heart of Tehran.”
“The Air Force, guided by Military Intelligence, has now launched a broad wave of strikes against targets of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran. Over the past day, the Air Force conducted extensive strikes to achieve air superiority and open the path to Tehran.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post in the Persian language on X that Israel plans to “strike thousands of targets of the terrorist regime … in the coming days.”
“We will create the conditions for the brave people of Iran to free themselves from the chains of tyranny,” Netanyahu continued, repeating previous U.S. and Israeli calls for the Iranian people to throw off the Islamic revolutionary regime.
By Joseph Lord
Middle East Airport Closures Strand Thousands of Travelers
Airspace closures across the Middle East have stranded tens of thousands of travelers after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks and widespread disruptions.
Airports in Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and parts of the United Arab Emirates shut down, forcing more than 1,800 flight cancellations and diverting at least 145 aircraft, according to flight tracking data.
Major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha—normally handling about 90,000 passengers daily—suspended operations, leaving travelers stuck across Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.
Dubai International Airport reported four injuries after what authorities described as a ballistic missile attack, while Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport said one person was killed and seven injured in a drone strike.
As far away as Indonesia, more than 1,600 tourists were stranded in Bali after flights to Gulf destinations were canceled.
By Tom Ozimek
Protests Erupt in Pakistan, Iraq After Khamenei’s Death
Following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death, about 500 Shiite Muslims stormed a U.S. consulate in Pakistan and many took to the streets in Baghdad.
Authorities attempted to disperse crowds in both locations. At least six people were killed in clashes as the consulate was stormed.
By Sam Dorman
Iran Launches Missiles at Israel, Others
Iran fired another round of missiles towards multiple countries in the Middle East on Sunday after vowing retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“The [Israeli Defense Forces] identified that a short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,” the Israeli Air Force said in a translated message on Sunday local time, or 1:50 a.m. ET. In another translated post, it said that air raid alerts were activated in several areas following the detection of missiles.
It added that “the Air Force is operating to intercept and strike wherever required to remove the threat.”
Attacks were also reported by Qatar, while the U.S. Embassy in Jordan directed Americans to stay indoors. It cited reports of missiles, drones, and rockets in the Kingdom’s airspace.
Also on Sunday, Dubai’s media office said that two injuries resulted from debris from the new attacks. “Authorities confirmed that debris from drones intercepted by air defences fell in the courtyards of two homes in Dubai, resulting in two injuries,” the media office said in a translated post to social media.
By Sam Dorman
Iran’s Defense Minister Killed in Airstrike
Iranian state media said on Sunday that Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in an airstrike targeting a defense council meeting.
Gen. Abdol Rahim Mousavi, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, was also killed. It’s unclear which strike killed the men but the news followed extensive attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces. Two senior Israeli officials previously told Epoch Magazine that their assessments indicated Nasirzadeh and others had died.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, including top defense official Ali Shamkhani, have been killed as well.
By Sam Dorman
Qatar Says 8 People Wounded in Iranian Attacks
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said that Iranian attacks on the country on Sunday wounded eight people, bringing the total number of wounded by Iran in the Gulf state to 16.
The ministry said the attacks caused “limited” material damages, though the Qatari government has warned locals to remain indoors. Residents have been told to only go out in case of emergency, in part in order to keep the roads open for ambulances.
It comes amid threats by Iran to escalate what has quickly become a regional conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran against any such action, vowing strong U.S. retaliation.
The Gulf Cooperation Council—comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain—alongside Jordan and Syria also condemned Iran’s actions, and vowed to defend their sovereignty.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for “de-escalation and prioritizing diplomacy” to avert “comprehensive chaos” in the Middle East.
By Joseph Lord
Trump Warns Iran Against Launching Counterattack
President Donald Trump early Sunday warned Iran against launching any further counterattacks or offensive actions in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes in the region.
“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before,” he added, in all capital letters.
It comes after the semi-official Fars News Agency said members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard corps vowed revenge against the United States and Israel following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in air strikes in the region.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament on Sunday called U.S. and Israeli leaders “filthy criminals,” saying they would face “devastating blows” for the ongoing attacks.
By Joseph Lord
Warning Sirens Sound Across Israel
For the 20th time in 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces said, millions of Israelis have been forced to seek shelter from Iranian missile attacks.
The Israeli military is alerting its citizens in central Israel of further airstrikes.
Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran remain high as the conflict enters day two.
Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials early Sunday morning. The announcement was made hours after U.S. and Israeli officials issued statements on Khamenei’s death.
It remains unclear who will succeed Khamenei.
By Troy Myers
What to Know as US–Israeli Attacks Enter Day 2
- Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in major strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
- President Donald Trump called his death the “greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.
- “The United States and Israel launched a massive attack on Iran on Feb. 28, targeting military and governmental sites.
- Iran has retaliated with strikes targeting Israel, Gulf states, and U.S. bases in the region.
- Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” will continue for days, or as long as necessary to achieve peace in the Middle East.
- Iranians inside the country and around the world are celebrating news of Khamenei’s death.
