Senior Iranian officials were killed in the attack, Israel said. The US military reported no American casualties and minimal damage so far.
Israel Strikes Tehran Amid Iran’s Retaliatory Attacks – Day Two
What to Know: US, Israel Strike Iran
The United States has launched what President Donald Trump called “major combat operations” in Iran, saying the objective is to eliminate threats from the regime and ensure Tehran “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump said Iran had rejected chances to curb its nuclear program and urged the Iranian people to rise up against their government.
The strikes followed a third round of U.S.–Iran talks on Feb. 26 that ended without a breakthrough. Tensions have mounted for years over Iran’s nuclear activities, escalating further after U.S. strikes on key sites last year.
Iran’s Supreme Security Council confirmed retaliatory attacks, and the Revolutionary Guard announced a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it was intercepting incoming fire while conducting airstrikes inside Iran.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and Qatar said it shot down several missiles. Reports said the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain had been attacked. The government of Bahrain confirmed that “sites and installations within its borders” were targets of attacks.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, endorsed the U.S. strikes and urged Iran’s security forces to defect.
By Tom Ozimek
Here’s the Latest:
What to Know as US–Israel 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.
Iran Confirms Deaths of Top Officials
Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday the deaths of senior officials within late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime.
A top security adviser to Khamenei and the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed by U.S.–Israeli airstrikes Saturday, state media said.
The Revolutionary Guard’s commander, Mohammad Pakpour, took over after Israel killed its previous leader in the Twelve Day War in June 2025.
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Iranian Security Council and adviser to Khamenei, was the other official confirmed to have been killed by Iran’s state media.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had confirmed their deaths earlier Saturday, along with several other key figures.
“The world is a better place without them,” the IDF said.
By Troy Myers
Iranians Celebrate Khamenei’s Death
Videos coming out of Iran are showing civilians honking, cheering, and celebrating in the streets over news that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed.
The Epoch Times confirmed one video from Iran, in which a man called his country’s former leader “Moosh Ali.”
Moosh is the Persian word for “mouse.” Protesters use the term as a derogatory nickname, purportedly because during and in the aftermath of the Twelve Day War against Israel and U.S. forces in June 2025, critics say he was relocated to secret compounds for safety, hiding underground like a mouse.
More videos were posted from a different Iranian city, showing massive crowds singing, dancing, clapping, yelling, and listening to music.
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued statements about Khamenei’s death from U.S.–Israeli airstrikes Saturday morning.
Iran did not confirm the leader’s death until hours later.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday night Eastern Time that it is readying to launch “in moments” its largest offensive operation in history against Israeli and American bases.
By Troy Myers
Iran Preparing to Strike US, Israel: State Media
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is readying to launch “in moments” its largest offensive operation in history against Israel and the United States.
According to a statement reported by Iran’s state media early Sunday, the country’s armed forces will target American and Israeli bases.
The announcement was made an hour after Iranian media confirmed the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the U.S.–Israeli airstrikes Saturday morning.
By Troy Myers
CENTCOM Releases Missile Strike Footage
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted a video montage of missile strikes against Iranian targets.
“The Iranian regime was warned,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
The video shows missiles being launched by land and hitting several targets.
“CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed,” the Saturday evening post said.
By Troy Myers
Iranians in US Consider Air Strikes as Help to Liberate Their Homeland
Iranian Americans consider U.S.–Israeli military action a big step toward freeing their homeland from an oppressive regime, according to those in multiple U.S. states interviewed by The Epoch Times on Feb. 28, hours after the air strikes on Iran began.
“This is a mission to liberate 90 million people in Iran,” no matter how some media reports might “spin” it, said Sherry Yadegari, who lives in the Atlanta area.
Iranian Americans who spoke with The Epoch Times supported the military strikes. Several mentioned they were hoping for a quick end to the conflict, and lamented civilian casualties. But all expressed hope that Iranian citizens might soon gain the freedom that they have long sought.
People were “dancing in the streets,” Yadegari told The Epoch Times, adding that the people were praising President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their joint operation against Iran.
America’s Operation Epic Fury and Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion launched together, a couple hours after dawn in Iran on Feb. 28. Air strikes hit key targets, including weapons sites and the compound of the supreme leader, killing him and many other top officials.
In the U.S. capital, about 200 supporters waved American and Iranian flags, and shouted thanks to President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A large banner said “Thank you, President Trump,” next to a photo of the president.
During the march from the World War I Memorial Park toward the White House, participants chanted, “USA!” and “Make Iran Great Again.” One sign read, “This is not a war. It’s a rescue mission.”
With this military operation, Trump is fulfilling a pledge he made to help persecuted Iranian protesters on Jan. 13, several interviewees said.
By Janice Hisle and Darlene McCormick Sanchez
By Troy Myers
Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader
Iranian state media confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in the U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Saturday morning.
By Troy Myers
Iranian Leader’s Daughter and Grandchild Killed, Iranian Media Reports
Multiple family members of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei were killed in U.S.–Israeli airstrikes, according to Iranian state media.
Among the relatives killed were Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, Reuters reported.
Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Khamenei was killed earlier Saturday from combined airstrikes.
Several of the Iranian leader’s top advisers were also killed in attacks, the Israeli military said.
By Troy Myers
Dubai Airport, Iconic Hotel Damaged by Iranian Missiles
Dubai’s international airport and its famous coastal Burj Al Arab hotel were damaged by Iranian missile attacks overnight.
According to Dubai’s media office, four people were injured and a concourse sustained minor damage at the airport early Sunday.
“Emergency response teams have been activated immediately, and the incident is being handled,” the media office wrote on X.
Because of contingency plans already in place, most of the airport’s terminals were cleared.
The Dubai media office further confirmed a drone was intercepted, which led to falling debris causing a small fire at the Burj Al Arab hotel. The situation was brought under control, and no injuries were reported.
“The police in the UAE have been repeatedly warning Dubai residents via text messages to stay away from windows at homes to avoid injuries,” a source on the ground in Dubai told The Epoch Times.
By Troy Myers
Israeli Military Begins Another Wave of Attacks
The Israeli military said on Telegram at 7:30 p.m. ET that it had begun an additional wave of attacks against Iran.
According to the post, the Israel Defense Forces is targeting Iran’s ballistic missile array and aerial defense systems.
Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said earlier that it had responded to more than 100 casualties during the first day of strikes against Iran.
By Troy Myers
Israeli Rescue Service Provides Day 1 Summary of Casualties
Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said early Sunday morning in Israel that it had responded to more than 100 casualties during the first day of strikes between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The Israeli military has called the strikes against Iran Operation Roaring Lion. The United States has named its attacks Operation Epic Fury.
Magen David Adom posted a video of one of its paramedics at the scene of a missile strike in central Israel.
“You can see behind me there is a severe, severe missile strike that hit a building complex,” the paramedic said. “We’re still currently working now with the other forces out in the field to make sure we can take out the fire, and we’re still extracting at this moment patients from both buildings you can see behind me.”
The rescue service is requesting blood donations and said it remains on high alert.
By Troy Myers
At Least 133 Civilians Dead, 200 Injured So Far in Iran Strikes: Human Rights Group
Human Rights Activists in Iran, a Washington-based nonprofit that tracks human rights abuses in Iran, estimates that at least 133 civilians have been killed and another 200 have been injured so far during the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
“This estimate represents a minimum figure. In several instances, the occurrence of harm has been documented, but the exact number of injured has not been specified and therefore has not been included in the final tally,” the organization said in a statement, adding that the actual number of civilian casualties is likely higher.
Additionally, a nationwide aggregated count of casualties released Saturday evening reported 201 deaths and 747 injuries, Human Rights Activists in Iran said.
However, the second estimate has not been incorporated with the group’s numbers “due to the possibility of overlap with provincial and local reports,” and to avoid double-counting of injuries and fatalities, the group said.
By Jacob Burg
UN Nuclear Agency to Hold Emergency Meeting on Monday
The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement that its board of governors will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at 9 a.m. local time to discuss the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Russia requested to convene a special session of the board of governors following the attacks on Iran, the agency said. The meeting will take place one hour before a previously scheduled board session, during which Iran was already on the agenda.
Both meetings will be closed to the press.
Earlier on Saturday, the agency said it had so far seen “no evidence of any radiological impact” following the U.S. and Israeli strikes, but will continue monitoring the impacts.
By Jacob Burg
Woman in Tel Aviv Dies From Injuries After Iranian Attack
A woman in her 40s has died after she was critically injured in an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom told The Times of Israel.
Officials did not release further information on the victim’s identity.
The woman’s death is the first one announced in Israel since the attacks began early Saturday.
The ambulance service also reported one man with serious injuries, three people with moderate injuries, and 17 with minor injuries.
By Troy Myers
Son of Iran’s Ousted Shah Says Iranian Regime Has ‘Reached Its End’ With Death of Khamenei
Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi has said Tehran’s clerical regime “has in effect reached its end” after the death of Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
Pahlavi is the son of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the leader of Iran who was ousted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“Any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to fail from the outset,” Pahlavi wrote on social media.
“Whoever they place in his stead will have neither legitimacy nor longevity, and will undoubtedly be complicit in the crimes of this regime as well.”
Pahlavi was an outspoken proponent of mass protests in Iran throughout the last month and a half, encouraging Iranian citizens to take to the streets to challenge the regime. In his post, he told the Iranian people to “remain vigilant and prepared,” suggesting the time for increased presence in the streets is “very near.”
“Together, united and steadfast, we will bring about the final victory, and we will celebrate Iran’s freedom across our beloved homeland,” Pahlavi said.
By Jacob Burg
UAE Fends Off Hundreds of Missiles, Drones
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has intercepted 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones launched toward the country since Iran began its attack, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense announced.
The ministry clarified that 132 of the missiles were destroyed, and the remaining five fell into the sea. Of the 209 drones, 195 were intercepted, and 14 fell within the country’s territories and waters.
Some minor collateral damage to civilian properties was reported from falling missile and drone debris.
“The Ministry condemned this attack in the strongest terms, affirming the country’s categorical rejection of such acts that represent a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the security and safety of civilians and undermines stability,” the UAE’s Ministry of Defense said on X.
Iran’s targeting of the UAE is a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law, the ministry says, adding that the country reserves the right to respond accordingly.
The UAE’s defense forces remain on high alert.
“The safety of citizens, residents, and visitors represents an utmost priority that cannot be compromised,” the Ministry of Defense said.
By Troy Myers
US Says Iranian Claims of US Casualties Are False
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says several claims made by the Iranian regime are false, including reports of casualties and a missile strike.
“The Iranian regime claims to have killed 50 U.S. service members. LIE. There have been no reported U.S. casualties,” CENTCOM posted on X.
CENTCOM also refuted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims of a missile strike on a U.S. Navy ship.
“No U.S. Navy ship has been struck. The Armada is fully operational,” the post reads.
The Iranian regime had announced retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East, and CENTCOM says its claims that they had caused “severe damage” are false.
“Damage to U.S. installations was minimal and has not impacted operations,” the post reads.
Trump Urges Iranian Security Forces to Work With Patriots to Rebuild
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that there are reports Iranian armed forces are seeking immunity, and expressed hopes they will “peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots” to rebuild.
“We are hearing that many of their IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’” he wrote.
“Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves,” he added.
Trump said that process should start “soon” because Iran has been “very much destroyed, and even obliterated.”
Trump and Israeli authorities have said Iranian leader Ali Khamenei is dead.
Trump Says Bombing of Iran May Continue for a Week, or ‘As Long As Necessary’
Trump Says Bombing of Iran May Continue for a Week, or ‘As Long As Necessary’
Trump said on Saturday that the United States will continue “heavy and pinpoint bombing … uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary” to achieve peace in the Middle East and the world.
The comment came at the end of the same social media post where Trump announced that Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the leader of the Iranian regime, had been killed during the U.S. military’s major combat operations on Saturday.
Hours before the president’s post, senior Israeli officials told Epoch Magazine in Israel that Khamenei was killed in a combination of Israeli and U.S. military strikes.
By Jacob Burg
Trump Says Khamenei Dead, Military Seeking Immunity
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iranian leader Ali Khamenei is dead and “pinpoint” strikes in Iran may continue through the week.
“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” he wrote.
Trump said Khamenei was “one of the most evil people in History” and this was justice for Iranians and others “that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
He said this is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.”
Trump said he has heard reports that Iranian military, security, and police forces “no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.”
“As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’”
Israeli Military Says Strikes Killed Top Iranian Officials
Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck key military targets across Iran, killing seven senior Iranian officials, the IDF said on X.
Top defense official Ali Shamkhani was among those who were killed.
Other senior officials killed include the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the minister of defense, the chief of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei’s military bureau, the chairman and former chairman of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, and Iran’s head of intelligence.
“The world is a better place without them,” the IDF said.
U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about reports of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei being killed, told NBC News, “We feel that that is a correct story.”
Trump also told ABC News: “I don’t want to say anything definitively until I see things but we believe he is. And much of their leaders are gone.”
By Troy Myers
US Took Preemptive Action to Prevent Attacks From Iran: Senior US Officials
A senior Trump administration official said the United States “had indicators” that the Iranian regime would use its missiles “preemptively” or, if not, simultaneously to any American action on Iran.
“And the President decided he was not going to sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks from conventional missiles,” the official told reporters on a background call. “We had analysis that basically told us, if we sat back and waited to get hit first, the amount of casualties and damage would be substantially higher,” the official said.
The official added that negotiations with Iran were unsuccessful due to its refusal to address ballistic missiles.
“We are not going to be held hostage by them, and we are not going to let them hit us first, because it would have substantially increased the risk … to our troops in the region and to our allies,” the official said.
The United States has determined that diplomatic efforts were ineffective in reaching a nuclear deal. The regime in Iran refused a U.S. proposal to have a peaceful nuclear program that could be used only for civilian purposes.
“One of the things we offered them was we said we will give you free nuclear fuel forever. And they basically said that didn’t work for them. They needed to enrich uranium,” another senior official said.
“We were reading the Intel, and it was very, very clear to us that they were in the throes of rebuilding all that had been destroyed in the Operation Midnight Hammer attack,” a third senior official said, referring to Iran’s nuclear facilities destroyed by U.S. attacks last year.
By Emel Akan
Trump Speaks With UK, Kuwait, Turkey Leaders
Trump has spoken with the leaders of the UK, Kuwait, and Turkey about the strikes on Iran, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a Saturday afternoon broadcast that the UK has planes in the skies over the Middle East now and is involved in coordinated “regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests, and our allies,” given Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed “sorrow” over the strikes earlier in the day and said he spoke with both Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Trump has also spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump Says US Believes Iran’s Khamenei Is Dead
Asked about Israel’s report that Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has died, President Donald Trump told NBC News that “we feel that that is a correct story.”
Trump also affirmed Israeli announcements that “most” senior Iranian leadership is “gone,” including key decision-makers. “I don’t mean like two people,” he told NBC.
“I don’t want to say anything definitively until I see things but we believe he is. And much of their leaders are gone,” Trump told ABC in a separate interview.
White House Shares Photo of Trump in War Room
The White House shared several photos on X of President Donald Trump and staff in the war room at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday afternoon.
The post said Trump is monitoring the ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles are pictured sitting at a table to Trump’s left in one photo.
What appears to be a map of the Middle East with marked locations is directly behind the president.
Another photo shows Vice President JD Vance sitting at the head of a table in the White House Situation Room with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and other cabinet secretaries.
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the compound of Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, was destroyed. Khamenei was killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes, senior Israeli security officials told Epoch Magazine in Israel.
By Troy Myers
Compound of Iranian Leader ‘Destroyed,’ Netanyahu Says
Joint strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28 “destroyed the compound” of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer,” Netanyahu said during a televised address on Saturday.
That news was confirmed by senior Israeli security officials who spoke with Epoch Magazine in Israel.
“This morning we eliminated senior officials in the ayatollahs’ regime, Revolutionary Guards commanders, senior figures in the nuclear program—and we will continue,” Netanyahu said.
“In the next few days, we will hit thousands more targets of the terror regime.”
By Jacki Thrapp
Iran’s Leader Killed: Israeli Officials
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes, senior Israeli security officials told Epoch Magazine in Israel.
Trump Spoke With Middle East Leaders: White House
President Donald Trump has spoken to Middle East and NATO leaders in the wake of the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“President Trump has spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,” Leavitt said in a statement on X.
Netanyahu Says There Are ‘Many Signs’ That Iranian Leader Is ‘No Longer’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there are “many signs” that Iranian leader Ali Khamenei is “no longer” and called on Iranians to “complete this work.”
“This is an opportunity to do something,” Netanyahu said, addressing Iranians. “Do not sit with your arms crossed, because this moment will come and you will be demanded to go out of the streets in the masses, because you have to complete this work, and you have to bring down and eradicate this regime.”
Netanyahu speculated about Khamenei in a televised address on Feb. 28, just hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were still alive.
“As far as I know, yes, they are alive,” Araghchi said at the time, adding that “one or two” commanders were killed in the strikes.
By Jacki Thrapp
FBI on High Alert as Events in Iran Unfold: Director Patel
FBI Director Kash Patel said bureau personnel are “fully engaged” as events in Iran unfold, adding that he directed the bureau’s counterterrorism and intelligence teams to go on high alert and mobilize additional security support as needed.
Patel said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country are working “24/7” to identify and disrupt any potential threats to the U.S. homeland, while the military focuses on force protection abroad.
He urged the public to report suspicious activity by calling the FBI’s hotline or submitting tips online.
By Bill Pan
Low-Cost One-Way Drones Used for First Time: US Military
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed it employed low-cost, one-way attack drones in its latest strikes on Iran, marking the first time the capability has been used in combat.
CENTCOM established the kamikaze-drone unit, Task Force Scorpion Strike, as part of a broader push to rapidly integrate affordable drone technology across all military services. By December 2025, the command said the task force had already formed a squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones in the Middle East.
According to CENTCOM, the LUCAS drones have extended range, are designed to operate autonomously, and can be launched without fixed runways. Those features mirror Iran’s Shahed-136 one-way drones, which have been used in massed, swarm-style attacks—including Iran’s strikes on Israel and Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian cities.
The operation involved the “largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation,” CENTCOM said.
By Bill Pan
US Military Says Strikes on Iran Aimed to Dismantle Regime’s Security Apparatus
The joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran prioritized targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, according to a U.S. Central Command update on Feb. 28. Strikes focused on targets that “posed an imminent threat,” it added.
Targets included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
“The President ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command.
Following the strikes, Central Command said it defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.
No American Casualties, Minimal Damage: US Military
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Feb. 28 that there have been no reports of American casualties or combat-related injuries in Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
Following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, the U.S. military “defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,” CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM added that damage to U.S. installations was minimal and did not impact operations.
By Jacki Thrapp
Over 200 Killed In Strikes, Iranian Media Reports
At least 200 Iranians have been killed in U.S.-Israel strikes on the Islamic nation on Feb. 28, according to Iranian media, which cited the Red Crescent.
Iranian media said that at least 747 people were injured in the strikes that targeted 24 provinces.
Minab’s Provincial Governor Mohammad Radmehr told the state-run IRNA that an all-girls school—located in Minab in the Hormozgan province—was hit in the strikes.
By Jacki Thrapp
Israel Assessing Which Iranian Officials Killed
While not conclusive, there is a growing assessment that Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, two senior Israeli officials told Epoch Magazine in Israel. They noted that final confirmation is pending.
The officials said these assessments suggest that Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard Commander Mohammad Pakpour, and Ali Shamkhani, Khamenei’s adviser and the official in charge of the nuclear program, were also killed.
Israel military releases video said to show strikes on regime troops in western Iran
Israel Says 200 Jets Took Part in Strikes
Some 200 fighter jets took part in the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) initial attack against a missile array and defense systems in Western and Central Iran.
The strike is part of a joint U.S. and Israeli operation in the area, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the United States and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel.
The move was part of an “extensive attack against the missile array and the defense systems of the Iranian terror regime” in Iran, the IDF said in a statement on Telegram.
The IDF said it dropped hundreds of munitions targeting around 500 objectives.
Included was a target in Tabriz in western Iran, used by the Iranian Surface-To-Surface Missiles Unit, which the IDF said had “planned to launch dozens of missiles toward Israeli civilians’.
No Evidence of Radiological Impact From US-Israel Strikes on Iran: IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog that monitors Iran’s nuclear program, said it is “closely monitoring” developments in the Middle East after a joint U.S.–Israel strike on Iran.
In a statement posted on X, the IAEA urged restraint “to avoid any nuclear safety risks” and said it remains in contact with countries in the region. So far, the agency said it has seen no evidence of any radiological impact.
The IAEA has continued some inspection activity in Iran since the U.S.–Israel attacks on the country’s nuclear sites last year, but it has repeatedly warned that limits on access and monitoring mean it cannot fully verify the status of Iran’s program or account for all nuclear material with the same confidence as before.
In its most recent report, last September, the agency said Iran had accumulated about 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity, close to the 90 percent level that is weapons-grade.
By Bill Pan
Democratic Leaders Call for War Powers Vote
congressional briefing by President Donald Trump following the U.S. strikes on Iran.
“Congress must vote on a War Powers resolution immediately,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wrote on X. He noted deep concern about the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, but said that Trump’s “decision to abandon diplomacy and launch a massive military attack has left American troops vulnerable to Iran’s retaliatory actions.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that “the administration has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat.”
“The administration must brief Congress, including an immediate all senators classified briefing and in public testimony,” Schumer said, calling on the Senate to return to session to “reassert its constitutional duty by passing our resolution to enforce the War Powers Act.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), however, said he is “a hard no,” making public his objection to a war powers vote.
“My vote is Operation Epic Fury,” the lawmaker said on X, referring to the name given to the Iran strikes.
Trump Spoke With Netanyahu, Monitoring Situation in Middle East: White House
President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said, adding that the president will be monitoring developments throughout the day.
“President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago alongside members of his national security team,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.
“Prior to the attacks, Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members,” she said.
“The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day.”
By Emel Akan
UN Security Council to Meet on Saturday
The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to discuss the Iran conflict.
The meeting was scheduled after Russia, China, France, Bahrain, and Colombia requested an emergency meeting following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
“The international community, including the leadership of the UN and the IAEA, must urgently deliver an objective and unbiased assessment of these irresponsible actions, which are aimed at undermining peace, stability, and security in the Middle East,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement on Saturday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes in the Middle East.
“I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation,” Guterres wrote in an X post.
“Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.”
By Jacki Thrapp
UAE Says It Intercepted Iranian Missiles ‘Without Any Significant Material Damage’
The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates announced in a statement that the country’s air defense system “successfully intercepted” a new wave of Iranian missiles and drones, and that the intercepted missiles caused debris to fall on several areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“UAE air defenses successfully intercepted a new wave of Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the country, handling them with high efficiency and without any significant material damage,” the statement read.
No injuries have been reported, according to the statement.
The ministry called the attack “a blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law” and said it reserves the right to take “all necessary measures.”
“The Ministry urges the esteemed public to obtain information from official sources in the state and to avoid circulating rumors or unverified information,” the statement read.
By Emel Akan
Thune Supports Iran Strikes as Jeffries Condemns Iran, Decries Trump’s Lack of Congressional Approval
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) spoke in support of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in a Feb. 28 statement on X.
Thune said Iran’s years of “relentless nuclear ambitions” and “expanded ballistic missile inventory” as well as its “unwavering support for terror groups in the region,” constituted an “unacceptable threat” to the United States.
Thune lauded President Donald Trump’s actions, saying that “despite the dogged efforts of the president and his administration, the Iranian regime has refused the diplomatic off-ramps that would peacefully resolve these national security concerns.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said that “Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region.”
However, the Democrat objected to the lack of congressional oversight for the move, saying that aside from “exigent circumstances,” the president “must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.”
Trump “failed to seek Congressional authorization prior to striking Iran,” Jeffries said, adding that the action “has left American troops vulnerable to Iran’s retaliatory actions.”
Kuwait Says It Intercepted Iranian Missiles Targeting Ali Al-Salem Air Base
Kuwait said it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Ali Al-Salem Air Base, as Tehran continues to target U.S.-linked sites across several Gulf states in retaliation for a joint strike by the United States and Israel.
In a statement shared on the Kuwaiti military’s official X channel, a Defense Ministry spokesperson said air-defense units shot down the missiles, with “fragments and debris” from the interception falling near the base. The spokesperson did not report casualties and urged residents to avoid touching or approaching any suspected debris and to notify authorities immediately.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, meanwhile, confirmed it was striking multiple locations in the Gulf region, including targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where U.S. assets are hosted.
By Bill Pan
Iran Says It’s Interested in De-Escalation Talks With US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country does not want to go to war with the United States.
“We are not, we are not the one who starts this aggression,” Araghchi told NBC News on Feb. 28.
“It was the United States and Israel who started this aggression. So there is no limit for us to defend ourselves, but once the aggression is stopped, we would also stop our self-defense.”
Araghchi said there is “no communication right now” with the United States.
“If Americans want to talk to us, they know how they can contact me,” Araghchi said.
“We are certainly interested for de-escalation.”
Turkey Says US Not Allowed to Use Its Airspace for Iran Attacks
Turkey issued a statement confirming that Ankara has not supported the joint Israel-US attacks on Iran. The United States has a military base, the Incirlik Air Base, in southern Turkey, near Adana.
Turkey “does not permit any of its air, land, or maritime assets, including its airspace, to be used for operational purposes in any conflict or war to which it is not a party,” Turkey’s Center for Combating Disinformation stated.
The response came after rumors circulated on social media that Ankara supported the attacks on Iran.
The claims “are entirely unfounded and constitute disinformation aimed at misleading the public,” the center said.
By Emel Akan
Iranian Foreign Minister Says Supreme Leader Is Alive ‘As Far As I Know’
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are still alive after Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“As far as I know, yes, they are alive,” Araghchi said during a Feb. 28 interview on NBC News.
Araghchi said all high-ranking officials survived the attacks, including the head of the judiciary, the parliament speaker, and the secretary of the country’s National Security Council.
“So everybody is now in its position, and we are handling this situation, and everything is fine,” the foreign minister said.
“We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem,” Araghchi added.
By Jacki Thrapp
Russian Foreign Ministry Condemns Strikes on Iran
The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in a Feb. 28 statement.
It stated that the actions leading up to the strikes “leave no doubt that this is a deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state.”
The ministry called the strike a “direct violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law.”
The statement also called on the international community to “urgently deliver an objective and unbiased assessment of these irresponsible actions, which are aimed at undermining peace, stability, and security in the Middle East.”
Starmer Condemns Iranian Regime, Calls for It to Relinquish Power
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a video message following strikes by the United States and Israel on sites in Iran, which prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks across the region.
“The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes,” Starmer said. “But we have long been clear—the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent.”
Starmer said the regime should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“I condemn Iran’s attacks today on partners across the region, many of which are not parties to this conflict,” he said.
Starmer called on the Iranian regime to relinquish power and allow the Iranian people to determine their future.
By Emel Akan
Saudi Arabia Says Iran Attacked Riyadh
Saudi Arabia said Iran launched attacks on its capital, Riyadh, and its eastern region on Feb. 28.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks that targeted the Riyadh Region and the Eastern Province,” the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X Saturday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Iranian attacks were “successfully intercepted.”
“These attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way whatsoever, and they came despite the Iranian authorities’ knowledge that the Kingdom had affirmed it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran,” the ministry added.
By Jacki Thrapp
Iran Warns Persian Gulf Countries May Be Targete
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a warning to Persian Gulf countries in a Telegram post on Feb. 28.
Araghchi told neighboring countries not to participate in “aggressive acts” while he was on a briefing call with officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
The foreign minister said it was the responsibility of regional countries to prevent the United States and Israel from carrying out “aggressive operations against Iran,” according to his statement.
Araghchi said Iran maintained its “right of self-defense” and warned it would use all military capabilities to defend the country’s sovereignty.
By Jacki Thrapp
UAE and Qatar Residents Express Concern
Residents of the UAE and Qatar remain on high alert after Iran targeted U.S. assets across the Gulf Arab states.
In Dubai and Doha, observers report that streets are quiet as many residents are staying indoors for safety. Outside, loud noises can be heard as incoming Iranian missiles are intercepted.
In Doha, the increased frequency of warning sirens and emergency alerts has heightened public unease. Airspaces in both the UAE and Qatar are currently closed, major roads are largely empty, and families are closely monitoring news updates.
In Doha, officials have said that schools will be closed on Sunday.
By Emel Akan
Iran’s High-Ranking Officials Are Still Alive, Foreign Minister Says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said all high-ranking officials in the regime survived the strikes by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.
“Almost all officials are safe and sound and alive,” Araghchi told NBC News on Saturday morning.
“We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem.”
Araghchi, who shared clips from his NBC News interview on his Telegram account, said Iran was attacking American bases in the act of self-defense.
“We cannot just sit and watch,” Araghchi said.
By Jacki Thrapp
Is Regime Change Trump’s Primary Goal? Analysts Weigh In
Amy Mitchell, a former senior official at the Departments of War and State, said the risks of the attack outweigh its potential benefits.
“This is definitely a chance that we’re taking,” she told The Epoch Times. “There’s no clear end game, and it’s not as though we were provoked.”
Her primary concern is the absence of a viable successor to the current Ayatollah-led regime capable of governing a nation of 90 million people. A key indicator to watch, she said, is whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would shift its allegiance.
“They have a massive structure throughout the country,” she said. “The IRGC knows the levers of government and knows how to use them.”
Alex Gray, a former senior national security official in the first Trump administration, disagrees.
In his view, the president’s goal is not regime change, but preventing nuclear proliferation by Iran.
Trump said during his video address earlier today, “This terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon,” citing rounds of failed negotiation attempts to achieve the objective. He also urged the Iranian people to “take over your government.”
As in the case of Venezuela, Gray said the U.S. president has left the question of regime change to the Iranian people themselves. For that reason, Gray said that the current military action should not be conflated with what he called “misguided American regime change efforts” of the past.
Gray said Iran has made a “horrific strategic miscalculation” by attacking U.S. allies in the region while “failing to achieve any remotely significant tactical objectives.”
“They’ve essentially united the entire Arab world in the region against them. And that’s an extraordinary miscalculation,” he told The Epoch Times.
By Terri Wu
Senate Armed Services Chair Praises Trump’s ‘Decisive Action’
The action against Iran was a “pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Wicker praised President Donald Trump for taking “decisive action.”
“Without the use of military force against them, Iran’s ayatollahs would simply continue to grow their ability to threaten Americans and our interests, working in concert with the Chinese Communist Party, the Russian dictator Putin, North Korea, and other terrorist allies,” he said.
By Eva Fu
Canadian PM Says He Supports US Efforts to End Iran’s Nuclear Program
amid strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” Carney wrote in a statement on Saturday morning.
Carney said Canada and international partners have repeatedly called on Iran to end its nuclear program.
“Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups,” Carney said.
He added that Canada supports the “Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran’s oppressive regime.”
All Canadians in Iran were urged to shelter in place on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes.
By Jacki Thrapp
Macron Says Iranians Should Decide Their Own Future
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement on Saturday calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. He said the Iranian regime is disqualified to run the country.
“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities,” Macron wrote on X.
“The Iranian people must also be able to freely build their future. The massacres committed by the Islamic regime disqualify it and demand that the voice be returned to the people.”
He noted that France stands ready to support partners in the region if needed.
By Emel Akan
Flights Canceled Across Middle East as Countries Close Airspace
Flights were abruptly halted across the Middle East due to the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran on Feb. 28.
Saturday’s strikes prompted airspace closure in Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
All Middle-Eastern flights provided by Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, and Air India were suspended.
Oman Air canceled all flights to and from Moscow, Amman, and Khasab until further notice. The airline also temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, and Kuwait.
Emirates airlines also temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai.
Turkish Airlines announced it would allow all passengers traveling to or from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria to change their reservations or receive a refund.
By Jacki Thrapp
Israeli Strikes Targeted Iran’s Supreme Leader, President, Official Says
The Israeli attacks on Iran had targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, an Israeli official told The Epoch Times.
The official confirmed that top officials and military leaders were also targets.
The outcome of the strikes remains unclear.
Iran’s state news agency earlier reported that the country’s president was “safe and sound.”
According to local media, Khamenei’s compound has been destroyed, and the Iranian leader has been moved to a “secure location.”
By Eva Fu
Iran Warns Persian Gulf Countries May Be Targeted
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a warning to Persian Gulf countries in a Telegram post on Feb. 28.
Araghchi told neighboring countries not to participate in “aggressive acts” while he was on a briefing call with officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
The foreign minister said it was the responsibility of regional countries to prevent the United States and Israel from carrying out “aggressive operations against Iran,” according to his statement.
Araghchi said Iran maintained its “right of self-defense” and warned it would use all military capabilities to defend the country’s sovereignty.
By Jacki Thrapp
UAE Condemns Strike, Warns of Consequences
The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates condemned Iranian attacks on its territory, warning there would be consequences if such strikes continue.
The ministry said the attacks are part of a repeated pattern of Iranian violations.
The country’s defense ministry said falling debris killed one civilian of Asian nationality.
The U.S. Air Force maintains a major presence at the Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi.
Israeli Military Says Another Wave of Missiles Launched From Iran
The Israeli air force said Iran has launched another barrage of attacks.
“The IDF spokesman reiterates not to publish or share locations and documentation of casualties,” the statement reads, adding that the country’s “air defense system constantly identifies and intercepts threats.”
By Eva Fu
Israeli Military Says Another Wave of Missiles Launched From Iran
The Israeli air force said Iran has launched another barrage of attacks.
“The IDF spokesman reiterates not to publish or share locations and documentation of casualties,” the statement reads, adding that the country’s “air defense system constantly identifies and intercepts threats.”
At Least 40 Students Killed After Strike in Southern Iran, State Media Says
At least 40 students enrolled in an all-girls school in southern Iran have died after the United States and Israel attacked the country, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Minab’s Provincial Governor Mohammad Radmehr told IRNA, an Iranian state run media, that Shajareye Tayabeh school—located in Minab in Iran’s Hormozgan province—was hit in the strikes. The Epoch Times cannot independently verify the report.
At least 45 others were allegedly wounded in the attack.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has a base in the city.
Neither the United States nor Israel has offered any details on the incident so far.
By Jacki Thrapp
Kuwait Says It Repelled Iranian Attack
Kuwait’s air defenses prevented what it called a “heinous Iranian attack” on Feb. 28, according to Kuwait’s national news agency.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Feb. 28 attack a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, airspace, international law, and charter of the United Nations.
Kuwait added that it had the right to take all steps to defend its territory, people, and residents, the news agency reported.
Kuwait Airways confirmed in an X post on Feb. 28 that all inbound and outbound flights have been suspended due to the situation.
By Jacki Thrapp
Iran Claims Strikes on Regional Targets
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it struck several U.S. and Israeli-linked facilities in retaliation for recent American and Israeli attacks, launching what it called the first phase of “Truthful Promise 4.”
In a statement, the Guard said it targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet command in Bahrain, U.S. bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and military sites in Israel. It said missile and drone attacks were ongoing.
The Israel Defense Forces said missile alerts were activated across multiple areas after launches from Iran, with air defenses intercepting incoming threats.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry said it repelled a second wave of Iranian missiles targeting several areas, while its foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of sovereignty.
The UAE defense ministry said its systems intercepted several ballistic missiles, though debris struck a residential area, causing material damage and one civilian death. Authorities said the security situation remains stable.
Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s strikes on Gulf states, pledging full support and warning of serious consequences for further sovereignty violations.
By Tom Ozimek
World Leaders React to Strikes on Iran
Reactions from world leaders to the strikes on Iran were varied early in the aftermath of the joint U.S.–Israel operation.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country supports the United States keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and preventing Iran from “continuing to threaten international peace and security.”
He added that Australia “stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.”
EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, meanwhile, didn’t directly state whether the bloc supports or condemns the strike, instead saying that the latest development in the Middle East is “perilous.” She also suggested that the EU has supported diplomacy, and that Iran posed a “serious threat to global security.”
Kallas said priority will be the protection of civilians, adding that the EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea is on red alert to help “keep the maritime corridor open.”
Japan’s Sanae Takaichi kept her post-strike comments focused on ensuring Japanese nationals in the area remain safe. Both Spain and Switzerland urged respect for international law.
Multiple Casualties Reported Across Middle East
Nations across the Middle East reported casualties on Feb. 28 as Iran retaliated against the attack by Israel and the United States.
The United Arab Emirates said at least one person was killed as a result of what its Ministry of Defense described as a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles.”
“The fallen debris … resulted in one civilian death of an asian [sic] nationality,” the ministry said in a post on social media.
Abdulla R. Al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States, also confirmed attacks on the country, describing them as “a blatant violation of sovereignty.” In a post to social media, he said that the country successfully intercepted several missiles detected in its airspace.
Israel’s rescue service reported one man was lightly wounded in Northern Israel, local media said. State-run media in Iran said that 24 students were killed in the city of Minab in southern Iran.
By contrast, Qatar’s interior ministry said on social media that no damage had been reported. “No casualties or material damage were recorded in residential areas,” it added.
By Sam Dorman
What to Know: US, Israel Strike Iran
The United States has launched what President Donald Trump called “major combat operations” in Iran, saying the objective is to eliminate threats from the regime and ensure Tehran “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump said Iran had rejected chances to curb its nuclear program and urged the Iranian people to rise up against their government.
The strikes followed a third round of U.S.–Iran talks on Feb. 26 that ended without a breakthrough. Tensions have mounted for years over Iran’s nuclear activities, escalating further after U.S. strikes on key sites last year.
Iran’s Supreme Security Council confirmed retaliatory attacks, and the Revolutionary Guard announced a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it was intercepting incoming fire while conducting airstrikes inside Iran.
Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and Qatar said it shot down several missiles. Reports said the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain had been attacked. The government of Bahrain confirmed that “sites and installations within its borders” were targets of attacks.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, endorsed the U.S. strikes and urged Iran’s security forces to defect.
By Tom Ozimek
Iran Operation May Have American Casualties, Trump Says
President Donald Trump says the strike on Iran may result in casualties among American armed forces, adding that it’s part of armed conflict.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future,” Trump said in a video address announcing the strike on Iran in the early hours of Feb. 28.
“We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran.”
Congress Reacts to US Strikes on Iran
Lawmaker reactions began to surface in the hours following the U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, as supporters praised the move as necessary. At the same time, critics questioned its legal basis and long-term consequences.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) praised President Donald Trump for executing “Operation Epic Fury,” calling it necessary and predicting it would be “violent, extensive and … successful.” He said the operation could hasten the fall of Iran’s ruling clerics amid a shifting geopolitical environment in the Middle East that could also see the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“The demise of the ayatollah’s regime with American blood on its hands is necessary and more than justified,” Graham wrote.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also backed the move, saying Trump had been willing “to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”
Senate Republicans collectively offered prayers for U.S. forces and the Iranian people.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans said Trump’s demand was simple: “No nuclear weapon in Iran.”
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) said the administration was taking action after diplomacy failed.
Opposition emerged from both parties.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) warned against “young working-class kids” dying in another war “that hasn’t been explained or justified to the American people.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called the strikes an act of “war unauthorized by Congress.”
By Tom Ozimek
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Condemns Attack
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the strike on Iran violates the United Nations Charter and amounts to an “act of armed aggression.”
The ministry added in its Feb. 28 statement in Persian that it will respond in kind.
“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will use all their capabilities and resources to confront this criminal aggression and repel the enemy’s hostility,” the ministry said, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
“All member states of the United Nations, especially regional and Islamic countries, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and all governments that feel responsible for international peace and security, are expected to strongly condemn this act of aggression and to take urgent and collective action to confront it, which has undoubtedly placed regional and global peace and security under an unprecedented threat.”
Iran Confirms Retaliatory Attacks
Iran’s Supreme Security Council has confirmed retaliatory attacks while Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, signaling that additional attacks could follow.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, adding that air defense systems were operating to intercept the threats.
“The IDF will continue to act to thwart any threat forming against the citizens of the State of Israel anywhere and at any time,” an IDF spokesperson said in a video address. “Even at this moment, the Air Force continues to strike across Iran based on precise intelligence. The operation will continue as long as required.”
Qatar’s defense ministry also said the nation shot down several missiles, “in accordance with the pre-approved security plan,” the Associated Press reported.
A statement from Iran’s security council said that schools were ordered to close and warned Iranians to stay away from targeted zones. It also said banks would continue to operate.
By Tom Ozimek and Sam Dorman
Iraq, UAE Close Airspace
Officials from Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced respective airspace closures following a series of strikes in the Middle East.
Iraq’s Transportation Ministry made the decision early Saturday.
US Navy Fleet Attacked in Bahrain
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is headquartered in Bahrain, has reportedly been attacked. The Fifth Fleet, which reports to U.S. Central Command, participated in exercises with Israeli forces in December and Saudi Forces earlier this month.
Bahrain has so far not released further details on the reported attack.
A security alert from the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain warned of an “imminent drone/missile attack.” Citing “reported threats of missiles/drones over Bahrain,” the embassy urged people to shelter in place.
“Be aware that even if the incoming missile or drone is intercepted, falling debris represents a significant risk,” it said.
On social media, the Bahrain Ministry of Interior urged people to seek shelter. “The Ministry of Interior confirms to all citizens and residents that the concerned authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain are exerting maximum efforts to address the current situation,” it said.
“It calls on everyone to exercise calm, enhance community cohesion, and avoid spreading or circulating rumors.”
Explosions were also heard in the skies over Syria and Lebanon. They were apparently caused by Israeli defenses intercepting missiles, according to the Associated Press.
By Sam Dorman
