A temporary council has taken over the leadership of Iran and “has begun its work” after leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of the country’s senior commanders were killed in a major joint U.S.–Israeli military operation that started on Feb. 28.
On the second day of attacks, Israel conducted broad strikes on central Tehran. Iran retaliated, launching strikes on a widening list of targets in Israel and its Arab neighbors. Several people have been killed in Israel, the UAE, and Kuwait.
Here’s what to know as the conflict stretches into its second day.
American Fatalities
U.S. Central Command said on March 1 that three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury.
The names of the three Americans have not yet been released, according to the U.S. Central Command.
“The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified,” the U.S. Central Command wrote in an post on X.
Several other service members sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions but are in the process of being returned to duty.
Israel Strikes Tehran
As the U.S. and Israeli joint strikes on the regime entered its second day, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz told Tehran to prepare for “a nonstop air train” of attacks.
Iran’s capital of Tehran experienced a massive explosion near government buildings on March 1, per the Israeli military.
It was not immediately clear who the target was.
The IDF confirmed it hit 500 Iranian targets on the first day of attacks, which included aerial defense systems and missile launchers.
Iran’s Retaliation
Top Iranian officials killed include Minister of Defense Aziz Nasirzadeh, Chief of Military Bureau Mohammad Shirazi, the Advisor for Security Affairs and Secretary of the Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, Chairman of the SPND Hossein Jabal Amelian, former Chairman of the SPND Reza Mozaffari Nia, and Head of Intelligence of Khatem Alanbeigh Command Saleh Asadi, according to the IDF.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to launch its largest offensive operation in history against Israel and U.S. bases in the surrounding region.
“You have crossed our red line and must pay the price,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said during a televised speech on Sunday.
“We will deliver such devastating blows that you yourselves will be driven to beg.”
President Donald Trump warned Iran to back down in an overnight post on Truth Social.
“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before,” Trump wrote.
“They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before!”
Attempted retaliatory attacks have been reported by Israel, Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. There have been multiple fatalities.
Israel’s rescue service says nine people died after a strike in central Israel.
The UAE said three people have been killed in Iranian attacks.
One person was killed, and 3 others were injured in Kuwait.
The ongoing attacks have closed air spaces in the region, disrupted flights, and issued shelter-in-place warnings. [Notice and airspace closures and Flights]
“Please remain vigilant, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran,” the U.S. Embassy in Qatar warned in a notice posted on March 1.
The U.S. Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, confirmed on Sunday that it moved all government personnel from hotels after the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the city was struck, resulting in injuries.
“We advise U.S. citizens in Bahrain that hotels might be a target for future attacks, and encourage U.S. citizens to avoid hotels in Manama,” U.S. Embassy officials in Bahrain urged.
Despite reports that Dubai’s popular luxury hotel Fairmont The Palm was hit and set on fire by a missile, an official told the Epoch Times in a statement on March 1 it was open.
“We would like to confirm that Fairmont The Palm remains open and fully operational,” the hotel said.
The hotel declined to comment on if it was hit by a missile; however, it added that it “established safety and security protocols are firmly in place” and is not having any impact on bookings.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed a separate incident in the area.
“Debris from drones intercepted by air defences fell in the courtyards of two homes in Dubai, resulting in two injuries,” the Dubai Media Office wrote in a post on X.
“The injured have received the necessary medical care. Authorities also clarified that the sounds heard across the emirate were the result of successful interception operations.”
British nationals were advised by their government to shelter in place in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE.
Protests
Videos showed Iranians across the country celebrating in the streets while protests erupted in Pakistan and Iraq in the hours after Khamenei’s death.
One protest turned deadly in the Pakistani city of Karachi as nearly 500 Shiite Muslims tried to storm the U.S. consulate, shouting phrases such as “Death to Israel“ and ”Death to America.”
Police attempted to disperse the crowd with batons and tear gas. At least nine people were killed in clashes at the consulate as 34 others were hurt.
Hundreds of others took to the streets in Baghdad, where the U.S. embassy is located, to show support for Iran.
Police also fired tear gas and stun grenades to make the protesters disperse.
Interim Leadership in Iran
After the United States and Israel took out Khamenei, a temporary council was formed with the help of Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council (SNSC).
Members selected for the council included sitting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the nation’s judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei.
Pezeshkian and Mohseni-Ejei will “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”
Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi, who served as a cleric on Khamenei’s Guardian Council, was named as a third member of the leadership council.
Even though Iranian leaders seem determined to continue their reign in power, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Iranians to “complete this work” that the U.S. and Israel started on Feb. 28.
“This is an opportunity to do something,” Netanyahu said.
“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.”
Over 32,000 Iranian demonstrators were killed since December 2025, Trump revealed during a speech on Feb. 20.
But efforts for citizens to take back power may be an uphill battle because the regime allegedly shut down the internet to stop demonstrators from organizing, the Institute for the Study of War reported.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
By Jacki Thrapp
