2026 Iran conflict
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_conflict
The attack began with strikes in the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. Several Iranian government officials were killed, including Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani[45] as well as Khamenei, whose compound was destroyed.[46] As explosions were observed, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz confirmed an attack by the Israel Defense Forces. Trump announced in a video posted on Truth Social that the United States had launched strikes on Iran alongside Israel. In retaliation, Iran launched dozens of its drones and ballistic missiles throughout the Persian Gulf in addition to targeting Israel[47] as well as US military bases[47] in Jordan, Kuwait,[48] Bahrain,[48] Qatar,[48] Iraq,[49] Saudi Arabia,[50] and the United Arab Emirates.[51] Iran was reported to have launched strikes on civilian aviation facilities, including international airports, in Kuwait and the UAE.[52][53][54] Iran's attacks killed and injured civilians in Israel, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, and the Straight of Hormuz. The Yemen-based Houthis announced that they would resume their attacks in the Red Sea.[55][56] Closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the disruption of global oil and gas shipment.[57] The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the military had partially lost control over its units.
Trump declared that the objective of the operation was to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ultimately topple the regime.[58] On 1 March, Trump stated that the operation would take one month or less for these objectives to be completed.[59] Several analysts have questioned whether these objectives, themselves subject to change, could be completed in that time frame.[60][61][62] The United Nations and several uninvolved countries condemned the initial strikes for undermining the stability of the Middle East; others condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes on US allies in the region.[63] Critics of the operation also described it as "illegal" under domestic US law and a violation of Iran's sovereignty[64] under international law, which US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz strongly denied at a UN Security Council emergency meeting.[65][66] Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Enqelab Square, the centre of Iran's capital, following the confirmed killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[67] Other reactions to Khamenei's death included many people across the Iranian diaspora around the world holding large-scale celebratory rallies, along with heightened anti-government protests in Iran.[68][69][70] Trump officials have reported that in an update to Congress, Pentagon briefers undercut a White House claim and said there was no intelligence Iran was planning a preemptive attack against the US.[71][72]
Background
Since Iran became an Islamist theocracy in 1979, it has adopted an anti-American stance[73] and called for Israel's destruction,[74] secretly developed a military nuclear program (active at least until 2003, according to the IAEA),[75] and supported anti-Israeli and anti-American proxies across the Middle East.[76] The United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018[77] led to the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran and a turn towards the use of force rather than diplomacy in relations between the US and its allies and Iran. The first Trump administration adopted a "maximum pressure" strategy.[78]
The re-imposition of US sanctions severely impacted Iran's economy. The Iranian rial fell by 20%,[79] from 35,000 to the dollar to 42,000 in 2021.[80] International banks that traded with Iran paid heavy fines.[81] All major European companies abandoned doing business with Iran out of fear of US punishment.[82] Sanctions drove millions of Iranians into poverty and reduced their purchasing power with respect to imported essential goods such as food and medicine[83] while fuelling inflation, unemployment and infrastructure deterioration.[84]
Tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel have increased since the 7 October attacks on Israel and the onset of the Gaza war in 2023 in which Israel has weakened Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza,[h] Hezbollah in Lebanon, and others. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes in April and October 2024, and were engaged in a brief war in 2025 that included an American airstrike aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear facilities.[87]
Anti-government protests in Iran and initial US deployments
Beginning in late December 2025, massive nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Iran, driven largely by economic crisis, the collapse of the rial, and rising prices. The protests, which included calls for regime change, became the largest in scale since the 1979 revolution,[88] spreading to over 100 cities across the country.[89] The Iranian government responded with violent repression, including massacres of protesters, with the deadliest incidents occurring on 8 and 10 January 2026.[90]
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated the death toll at 7,000, the Iranian government said the death toll was 3,117, while Donald Trump and others said the death toll was 32,000 people.[91][92] AP News reported that the government's overwhelming use of violence had caused despair among the Iranian public and had given rise to hopes among some citizens for an American attack.[93] Several scholars have argued that the Iranian government now faces a fragile state that could lead to its demise.[94]
On 13 January 2026, US president Donald Trump expressed support for Iranian anti-government protesters,[95] and later, on 23 January, Trump announced that a US "armada" was heading to the Middle East, including the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), and several guided-missile destroyers.[96][97]
US and European officials said Washington had presented Iran with three core demands: a permanent end to all uranium enrichment, strict limits on Iran's ballistic missile programme, and a complete halt to support for regional proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.[98] The planning for a proposed series of attacks also started in co-ordination with Israeli intelligence agencies.[99]
Nuclear negotiations and US buildup of military presence
US President Donald Trump briefly discusses the United States' relationship with Iran with the press on 27 February, one day before the strikes.
On 6 February 2026, Iran and the US held indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman's capital, Muscat. Iran emphasized that progress depends on consultations back in capitals.[100] A second round of nuclear talks is scheduled in Geneva.[100] Between 15 and 20 February, Iran increased its oil exports to 3 times normal rate, and reduced oil storage.[101] Just before the strikes began, on 27 February 2026, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said a "breakthrough" had been reached and Iran had agreed both to never stockpile enriched uranium and to full verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);[102] furthermore, Iran had agreed to irreversibly downgrade its current enriched uranium to "the lowest level possible". Al-Busaidi said peace was "within reach".[103][102]
In early February 2026, the US also deployed a second aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran.[104] On 11 February 2026, the 47th anniversary of the 1979 revolution was marked by pro-government rallies and strong anti-American rhetoric.[105] On 13 February 2026, Trump stated that regime change in Iran would be "the best thing that could happen".[106] A day later, on 14 February, US officials told Reuters that the US military was preparing for a broad campaign involving weeks-long, sustained operations against Iran that could target its state and security infrastructure.[107]
By 19 February the US buildup was described as the largest in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[108] On 24 February 2026, during a State of the Union speech, Trump accused Iran of reviving efforts to build nuclear weapons, condemning these alleged ambitions as "sinister" and claiming that Iran had also developed increasingly advanced missile capabilities that could threaten the US, Europe, and US bases overseas. He warned that the US was prepared to act if necessary.[109] The Gang of Eight, a group of eight leaders in the US Congress who are commonly briefed on classified intelligence matters, was briefed on the attack prior to its commencement.[110] Also at the time, Bloomberg News claimed NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) craft were surveilling Iran out of Konya Airport,[111] though Turkey later denied reports it was aiding US and Israeli strikes on Iran.[112]
Carrier Strike Group 3 sails in formation in the Arabian Sea during the 2026 United States military buildup in the Middle East, 6 February 2026
By the end of February, the Trump administration had made numerous unproven claims that Iran had restarted its nuclear programme, had enough nuclear material to build a bomb within days, and was developing long-range missiles that would soon hit the United States.[113][114] These statements were disputed by American and European government officials, international weapons monitoring groups, and American intelligence agencies.[113] According to an anonymous US source, Trump authorized the strike after the US received intelligence that Iran was planning to preemptively launch missiles.[115][116] The administration did not provide any evidence that Iran was planning to preemptively strike American assets,[117] and administration officials reported that the Pentagon told Congress in closed-door briefings there was no intelligence suggesting Iran was planning to attack US forces first.[71][72]
The Defense Intelligence Agency had previously concluded it would be at least a decade before Iran would be able to gain the technical skill to produce missiles to reach the United States;[33] the United States Department of Defense estimated Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by two years following earlier strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.[118] However, it was reported on 27 February that the IAEA discovered that Iran had hidden highly enriched uranium in an underground facility that was undamaged in the previous round of fighting,[119][120] and IAEA said that they could not be sure that Iran's nuclear programme was "exclusively peaceful".[121]
Before the attack, JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, defended striking Iran. When asked about whether he would support a regime change in Iran despite previously criticizing the Iraq war, he said that life "has all kinds of crazy twists and turns".[122] The Washington Post reported that US president Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran came after Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Israeli government lobbied him repeatedly to make the move.[50]
The Guardian reported a few days before the attack that the decision would be determined by the outcome of a meeting in Geneva, in which the US will be led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Charles Wald, a former Air Force general and deputy commander of US European Command who now works at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, stated that bringing the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier to the Middle East would help defend Israel from Iran. He also stated that if US-Iran negotiations do not end well, that "it's going to be twice as bad as when Obama didn't do anything in Syria for the chemical weapons."[123] However, according to Royal United Services Institute, there was no evidence of an imminent attack by Iran.[124]
Prior to the attack, Khamenei, through his speech addressed to his followers in early February as released by the website of Supreme Leader of Iran, warned the United States that "if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war".[125][126][127]
On the morning of the attack, some of Iran's top military and intelligence leaders, including Khamenei, were gathered together in the national security council offices for a meeting. A New York Times analysis stated that this was a mistake, an even bigger one than their actions during the twelve-day war. However, it is still unknown how US and Israeli leadership was aware exactly where they would be at.[128]
Hostilities
28 February
Initial Israeli and American strikes
Strikes launched from US ships Airstrikes on Iran began around 9:45 a.m. IRST (1:15 a.m. EST) on Saturday, 28 February; Saturday is the first day of the week in Iran and a regular work day.[129] A combination of US missiles, drones, and Israeli fighter jets was used in the strikes.[130] Low-cost one-way attack drones of Task Force Scorpion Strike were employed for the first time in combat.[131] US warships launched Tomahawk missiles, while the US Army used HIMARS launchers.[130] Undisclosed long-range standoff weapons were also used.[130] Explosions were reported as Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed an Israeli attack.[132][133][134]
The Times of Israel reported that Katz had labelled the strikes a "pre-emptive attack" intended to "remove threats to the State of Israel".[135] Among the targets was the Pasteur Street district in Tehran where Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei normally resided; also home to the presidential palace and National Security Council.[136] Early reports suggested that at least seven missiles had been confirmed to have struck the area.[137] American officials confirmed that the strikes were coordinated with the US.[138]
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said that it had struck 500 military targets in western and central Iran, including air defences and missile launchers, using approximately 200 fighter jets, in the largest combat sortie in its history.[139] The opening strikes were codenamed by Israel "Operation Genesis" (Hebrew: מטס בראשית).[140][141] Israel also hit Iran with cyberattacks that targeted media and phone apps with messages calling on Iranians to rise up against their government, according to The Wall Street Journal.[142]
Damaged residential area in Lamerd, southwest Iran, following a reported missile attack targeting local infrastructure
Israel subsequently declared a state of emergency, citing expectation of an Iranian attack.[135] Sirens blared in Israel as the government warned its citizens to remain in protected areas.[143] US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee encouraged US citizens in Israel to take immediate action upon hearing the siren,[144] and US president Donald Trump warned that US lives may be lost.[145] The Israeli Ministry of Health moved its hospitals underground.[146] According to Iran International, Israeli military Persian-language spokesman Lt. Col. Kamal Penhasi issued an urgent warning to Iranian civilians residing near military industries and infrastructure to evacuate immediately, stating "Your presence in these areas puts your life at risk."[147]
According to a US official, dozens of US strikes were carried out by planes based around the Middle East and from one or more aircraft carriers.[148] Reuters reported that strikes were carried out by air and sea.[149] Israeli military officials said months-long planning preceded their strikes, allowing them to pinpoint their targets, attain "tactical surprise", and gain US support.[150] Attacking during the morning, rather than at night which was when most of Israel's previous attacks on Iran took place, added to the element of surprise. Israeli weapons included the usage of the newly developed Black Sparrow Air-launched ballistic missiles, fired from Israeli F-15s[128] Israel later stated its initial strikes used over 1,200 bombs in 24 hours.[151] Iranian naval vessels were also targeted.[152] The US military stated that it used B-2 stealth bombers to strike fortified ballistic missile facilities inside Iran.[153]
The Fars News Agency and CNN reported more explosions across other cities in Iran, including Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj.[154][155] In Tehran, missile strikes were reported to have occurred on University Street, in the Jomhouri area, and in the northern Seyed Khandan area.[156] Communication services across Tehran were impaired following the attacks,[157] and a near total internet blackout was reported by Netblocks.[158][159][160] According to the BBC, the office of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the presidential office of Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran were hit during the strikes.[158] Channel 12, citing unnamed Israeli sources, said Israel assessed that there were "growing indications" that Khamenei was likely killed in the strikes, or that he was "hurt at the very least".[161] Reuters quoted an unnamed Israeli official who stated that Khamenei's body had been found, confirming death.[162]
A spokesperson for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces said that two of its fighters had been killed while three more had been injured during strikes in Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad.[163] According to Iran International, quoting the Iranian Students' News Agency, thousands of IRGC personnel, including several senior officials,[164] were killed or wounded as several military bases were attacked.[147] It reported that the port city of Bushehr had also been struck; however, it was unclear whether the nuclear reactor had sustained any damage.[147] Rafael Mariano Grossi, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief stated that no evidence has been found that nuclear facilities[165] have been hit from these attacks. CNN reported that the timing of the attacks is symbolically meaningful in Judaism as it was done ahead of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim on 2 March.[166]
20,000 reservists are mobilized in Israel, in addition to the 50,000 reservists who are on duty.[167]
Israeli and American leaders' statements on their aims
US president Donald Trump announcing the strikes in a video statement
At 2:30 AM EST on 28 February, US president Donald Trump released an 8-minute video statement, saying that the purpose of the US strikes in Iran was effectively regime change. Trump said that Iran's "menacing activities" endangered the US and its allies. He cited the Iran hostage crisis, support for proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah, its killings of protesters, and its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. He asserted that in the conflict, "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war".[168]
He urged members of the IRGC to "lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death". Addressing the Iranian public, he said: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." He added: "For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it ... So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force", concluding: "Now is the time to seize control of your destiny ... This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."[33][58][169]
Shortly after, Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement saying Israel and the United States had launched strikes against Iran "to remove the existential threat" posed by what he called "the terror regime in Iran". Netanyahu accused Iran's leadership of decades of hostility, saying that "for 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called out 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America'", and described it as a "murderous terror regime" that "must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons". He said the joint US-Israeli action would "create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands", and called on the people of Iran to "cast off the yoke of tyranny".[170]
Iranian response and missile attacks in the Persian Gulf theatre
Iranian forces reacted within hours by launching missiles against targets in Tel Aviv and Haifa as well as the US military bases in the Persian Gulf region. The quicker response relative to that of the Twelve-Day War suggests a change in Iran's command structure.[171]
Iran targeted multiple US military bases throughout the Persian Gulf region.[172] Bahrain activated air-raid sirens to warn of an Iranian attack on US military bases within the nation, with Arabic media saying explosions and smoke were seen in the capital, Manama.[173][174] Bahrain later confirmed the strikes and said that the US Fifth Fleet headquarters had been targeted.[175] Explosions were also reported at Kuwait International Airport and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.[176][177] Following the missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, its Foreign Ministry summoned Mohammad Toutounchi, Iran's ambassador in Kuwait.[178]
The IRGC said that Iran had targeted four US bases in the Middle East: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait (which also hosted Italian soldiers),[179] Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and a video was posted in which smoke could be seen rising from the direction of the base in Bahrain.[180] Saudi Arabia confirmed that there had been Iranian attacks on Riyadh and its Eastern Province.[181] It claimed to have successfully intercepted Iranian attacks aimed at those areas and said that the Kingdom will "take all necessary measures" to defend itself, "including the option of responding to aggression".[182]
The UAE stated that it had successfully intercepted a number of Iranian missiles and that one Asian national had been killed by interceptor debris which had fallen on a residential area.[158][183] Qatar said that it had intercepted at least two waves of missile attacks, stating that no casualties or property damage had been reported.[184] In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iranian aerial attacks targeted infrastructure hosting US military and civilian personnel, including Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate General in Erbil. However, according to local media reports, most missiles and drones had been intercepted.[185]
A nine-storey building was hit by missiles in northern Israel, injuring one person.[163] Strikes were reported in Haifa and Tel Aviv.[186] A strike on a residential area in Tel Aviv killed a woman and injured 27 others.[187] Reports claim missiles from Iran had hit Jordanian territories and the capital Amman.[188][189] Jordan said that its armed forces had shot down two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting its territory[158] and that it had handled 54 reports of falling debris that caused material damage but no casualties.[190]
Residential areas of Dubai in the proximity of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina and the Dubai Palm were hit by strikes, setting the Fairmont The Palm hotel on fire,[191] causing four injuries,[192] as well as a residential building on the outskirts of Doha.[193][184][194][195] Local sources say Iran used Shahed drones, that are one of the deadliest weapons used by the regime as well as its proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.[196]
The UAE said that it had intercepted a "new wave" of Iranian missiles and that "fragments from the interceptions" had fallen in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing damage to Burj Al Arab.[197][198] Strikes on Kuwait International Airport caused several undefined injuries.[191] In Bahrain during the evening a tower in a residential area was reported to be hit by an Iranian drone.[192]
Later in the day Israel said that it had begun another wave of attacks on Iranian aerial defence and missile launchers in central Iran.[199]
According to an analysis in Reuters, by sending missiles at Gulf states, Iran has caused the Gulf states to realize that Iran poses a threat to them, and could thus cause them to support the US-Israel strikes.[200]
1 March
US and Israeli strikes
On 1 March, Israel executed another wave of strikes against Iranian targets, as part of its ongoing campaign,[201] aiming at the centre of the capital. Iranian media outlets reported potent blasts.[202] Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever been hit before. They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before!"[201] The USAF flew B-2 Bombers and to attack hardened ballistic missile facilities with 2,000 pound bombs. USN F/A-18s and F-35s, aided by Tomahawk missiles were also employed along with Lucas drones.[203][204] CENTCOM declared that it was instructed to "dismantle the Iranian regime's security apparatus."[205] The IDF said that it bombed an F-4 and an F-5 fighter jet preparing to take off from a runway.[206] The HQ-9B system around Tehran was also inactivated.[207]
Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, announced a temporary leadership council and accused the US and Israel of trying to dismantle Iran. He warned "secessionist groups" of severe consequences if they take action.[201] Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, threatened Trump and Netanyahu, saying they had crossed a red line and would "pay for it."[201]
People search through rubble from the 2026 Minab school airstrike
The Tehran Revolutionary Court was bombed and its building was destroyed.[208] Casualties of the 2026 Minab school airstrike rose to 148 deaths, per Iranian state media.[209] Explosions were reported near the Azadi Stadium, Azadi Square, and Milad Tower.[209] The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported explosions near hospitals in Tehran, as well as near its Peace Building.[209] The IDF also declared it had levelled the "General Staff of the internal security forces", along with the Thar-Allah Headquarters.[210] US–Israeli strikes also impacted state radio and television headquarters, according to Iranian media.[211]
Officials killed in strikes included Mohammad Baseri, an official in the ministry of intelligence, and Gholamreza Rezaian, the head of the intelligence department of FARAJA police.[209] Trump relayed to NBC News that "a large amount of leadership" in Iran had been killed.[212]
Iranian retaliation
On the morning of 1 March, reports confirmed Iran launched missiles and drones on Israel, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.[213][214][215] Later reports noted missiles from Iran fired at Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.[216][214][215] Witnesses saw smoke from missile intercepts over Dubai and dark plumes rising from the Port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.[201] An explosion occurred near the Erbil Airport following an attack by Iraqi militia drones.[209] UK defence secretary John Healey stated that Iran had fired two missiles towards British bases on Cyprus, but added that he did not believe they were under attack.[217][218] However, Defence Minister of Cyprus Vasilis Palmas later denied that missiles were launched at Cyprus, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed that.[219]
During drone operations in the Strait of Hormuz the port of Duqm was reportedly hit by two drones, injuring one expatriate worker,[220] and Oman's Maritime Security Centre confirmed that an oil tanker which was Palau-flagged, named Skylight, had been targeted 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of the port of Khasab, causing four injuries amongst the Indian-Iranian crew present on the vessel.[221] Another vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MKD VYOM, was damaged after being struck off the coast of Oman, killing one crew member.[222][28] As a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, 150 freight ships, including many oil tankers, are stalled behind the strait.[223]
Riyadh was again hit by direct strikes.[224] An Iranian missile managed to breach Israeli defences and hit a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people, leaving 11 missing and injuring 51 others.[2][225] An Iranian drone hit the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, causing a fire.[226][227] In Abu Dhabi a drone was intercepted in the proximity of the Etihad Towers complex, near to the Israeli embassy, and upon being intercepted its debris damaged the towers and caused minor injuries to a woman and her child.[228] Iranian attacks killed one person and injured 32 in Kuwait.[229]
The IRGC claimed that it struck the USS Abraham Lincoln with four missiles,[230] which was later denied by a US official.[2] The French naval base Camp de la Paix in Abu Dhabi was also reportedly struck by an Iranian missile or drone.[231] Two Iranian drones targeted a warehouse at Al-Salam Naval Base in Abu Dhabi, causing a fire in two containers storing general materials.[232]
Around 04:30 PST (12:30 GMT), according to Amazon, an Amazon Web Services data center within the UAE was "impacted by objects that struck" it, resulting in "sparks and fire". Reuters reported that this resulted in a complete power cut and shutdown of the centre with the involvement of local fire department crews, leading to a temporary connectivity outage of the availability zone impacted.[233]
Around 15:30 GMT Saudi Arabia stated that they had managed to intercept various missiles attempting to target Prince Sultan Airbase and King Khalid International Airport.[234] A Saudi oil refinery was closed after being targeted by Iranian drones. An analyst stated this "marks a significant escalation".[235] UK military officials said an RAF Typhoon shot down an Iranian drone bound for Qatari airspace.[236] Iranian missiles and drones also struck a US military base near Erbil and a Bundeswehr field camp in eastern Jordan, injuring one American soldier.[237]
Towards the end of the day, a ballistic missile strike managed to hit an area of Jerusalem, causing property damage in the surrounding road, damaging a civilian vehicle and wounding six people.[238] Debris of an Iranian missile fell in Ain Tarma, Syria.[239]
Diplomatic developments
Saudi response
CNN reported that Crown Prince Salman, with US backing, vowed to employ military force against further Iranian incursions, calling Iranian strikes "cowardly" due to Saudi airspace being closed to US and Israeli attackers.[240]
E3 response
To avert further Iranian strikes, the E3 (the UK, France, and Germany) resolved to back, if needed, "proportionate military defensive measures" against drones and ballistic missiles, signaling the potential for direct involvement.[241] British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that US can use British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iran.[242]
Negotiations
On 1 March, Trump announced that the US had agreed to continue negotiations with Iran.[243] Trump later outlined a four-week timetable for the war in an interview with the Daily Mail.[244] After Trump agreed to continue negotiations, however, Ali Larijani subsequently ruled out talks.[245][246]
2 March
US and Israeli strikes
The strikes centered on targets in Tehran and Sanandaj, as well as hitting military and strategic locations including command centers and missile sites.[247] Iran stated that Natanz nuclear site was hit by US-Israeli airstrikes.[248] The Khatam-al-Anbia and Gandi hospitals in Tehran were hit by strikes, as reported by Iran and verified by BBC Verify.[249]
In response to Hezbollah's attacks, the IDF proceeded with a series of strategic bombings on Beirut and the Beqaa Valley.[250] Strikes also hit southern Lebanon.[251] Soon after the Israeli air force begun operations in Tehran.[252] The USAF hit military aircraft and drone launchers, including multiple F-14 Tomcats at airbases across Iran.[253] The IDF claimed it killed the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters Hussein Makled in the strikes.[254][255]
In the context of hostilities towards Hezbollah, the IDF struck three southern Lebanese towns, including Haris, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and Mayfadoun, and later issued an evacuation order in fifty adjacent communities.[256][257] Saudi media outlet Al Hadath reported that Hezbollah political leader and member of the Lebanese Parliament Mohammad Raad was killed in an airstrike.[258] Israel warned Lebanese people who fled from their homes not to return, and multiple people said they do not know how they will access food or water after the sun comes down.[259]
Iranian retaliation and Hezbollah offensive
Three US F-15 fighters were shot, reported by friendly fire, in Kuwait. Meanwhile, smoke rose from the US embassy in Kuwait.[260]
Around midnight local time, the Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was targeted by a suspected drone strike, setting off air raid sirens across Akrotiri and Dhekelia.[261] Five drones were reportedly intercepted although one managed to hit the airfield, causing minor damage.[262][263] The British military automated alert system stated that there was an "ongoing security threat",[264] and the Ministry of Defence claimed that "the base has responded" to the attack. This was later confirmed by Cypriot authorities.[265] The launching preceded the UK allowing the US to use its military bases for operations against Iran.[266] Iran also claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.[267]
Israeli sources reported projectiles being launched from within Lebanon toward its territory in the early hours of 2 March, setting off sirens across Haifa and the Upper Galilee.[268][269] The IDF said that it intercepted a rocket, while others hit open areas.[270] Israeli intel believes the attack was the result of an order from Tehran, and the IDF spokesperson issued an emergency statement stating that the attack is to be considered "an official declaration of war by Hezbollah", vowing to "neutralize" the threat.[250]
Hezbollah confirmed its responsibility, claiming it attacked an IDF base in Haifa in response to Khamenei's killing.[271] Two drones targeted the U.S. Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport, one of which reportedly struck the base.[256] There were reports of explosions in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.[272] A pro-Iran group called the "Guardians of the Blood Brigade" stated they were behind these two attacks, and claimed they were in retaliation for Khamenei's assassination.[273] An Iranian strike targeted Mina Salman port in Bahrain causing a fire.[274] Falling debris from an intercepted missile on a "foreign ship" in Salman industrial zone resulted in the death of a worker and serious injuries to two others.[23] A refining facility was damaged in Aramco's Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, causing a contained fire. It was initially believed to be caused by a drone attack but Saudi officials stated it was debris from an intercepted Iranian missile[275][276]
CNN reported explosions in major cities of the Gulf region. Explosions were reported in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. According to state run Kuwait News Agency, an oil refinery was hit by shrapnel. In Saudi Arabia drones targeted the Ras Tanura refinery. In Bahrain the Ministry of Interior stated sirens sounded across the country.[277]
Message (in Greek) from the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides following first Iranian strikes on Cyprus on 2 March 2026
In Cyprus Paphos International Airport was evacuated upon the detection of a foreign unidentified object in the sky,[278] and at the same time sirens sounded once again at Akrotiri base upon the detection of a possible threat.[279] Later on the Cypriot government confirmed that the objects were two drones which were intercepted without causing any damages.[280] Following the incident Greece announced that they would deploy frigates and F-16s to defend Cyprus from any further strikes by Iran.[281] Later in the day IRGC general Sardar Jabbari commented that there was a US presence on the island of Cyprus and that Iran planned to strike the island "with such intensity that the Americans will be forced to leave".[282][283]
Later in the day Iran carried out attacks targeting energy infrastructure in Qatar. Iranian drones hit Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, causing a halt in production. In addition missiles and drones were launched at sites in Qatar, including the Al Udeid Air Base and industrial facilities. Qatari forces said they intercepted many of these.[284][285] US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative was hit by projectiles off Bahrain, causing a fire that was extinguished.[286]
Strikes and casualties
Iran
Assassination of Ali Khamenei
Khamenei on 12 February 2026, 16 days before his assassination
Shortly before midnight in Iran on 28 February, an unnamed Israeli official said that Khamenei had been killed in the air strikes and his body had been recovered and identified by intelligence sources.[287] Netanyahu stated that there were signs that Khamenei might have been killed,[288] though the Iranian foreign ministry contested his claim.[289] According to Israeli officials, Khamenei's body was found in rubble.[290] Iranian sources later suggested he was "commanding the field".[291]
Several Western and Iranian news outlets, citing Israeli government sources, reported that Khamenei was deceased.[292][149][293][294] President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu both indicated they believed he was dead before his death was acknowledged by Iran, with Iranian officials initially denying this.[291][295]
Trump later wrote on Truth Social that "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead [...] He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems."[296] CIA assessments suggested that a hardliner from the IRGC would replace Khamenei.[297]
Early on 1 March, Iranian state media announced that Khamenei had been killed.[298] Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, announced that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law had also been killed in the strikes.[299][300][301] The state declared 40 days of mourning.[302]
Military and officials
Reuters reported several commanders in the IRGC may have been killed, but could not confirm this report.[287] It later reported, citing Israeli military and regional sources, that defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour had likely been killed by Israeli airstrikes.[303] Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged but downplayed the losses, deeming them "not such a big problem".[304]
Iran International reported that Defence Council head Ali Shamkhani had been killed,[305] along with four top Ministry of Intelligence officials.[306] The IDF later stated that it had confirmed the deaths of seven Iranian security leaders, including Shamkhani, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour.[307]
Additional senior officials allegedly confirmed to have been killed are Salah Asadi, head of intelligence for Iran's emergency command, Mohammad Shirazi, head of the military office of Ali Khamenei, head of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) Hossein Jabal Amelian and former head of SPND - Reza Mozaffari Nia.[147] On 1 March, chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were confirmed by Iranian state media to have also been killed by strikes.[308][309]
CBS News reported that "an intelligence source and a military source told CBS News Saturday evening [28th February 2026]" that 40 Iranian officials had been killed in the strikes but that they were not "clear whether these officials were in one location or multiple locations".[310][311]
The United States said it had sunk an Iranian military vessel identified as a IRIS Jamaran, a Moudge-class light frigate.[312] Iran's Foreign Ministry stated the military has lost control over several units, that are operating according to old general instructions.[313]
Civilians
At around 17:30 CET of the first day of strikes, the Red Crescent reported that 201 civilians had been killed and 747 injured in Iran.[194] Two students were killed in a strike in Tehran.[15] A further 20 civilians were killed in Tehran's Niloofar Square on 2 March.[314]
Minab school airstrike
The aftermath of an airstrike on Shajareh Tayyebeh school
According to sources in the Iranian government, a girls' elementary school was hit in the Israeli and American attacks on Minab.[315] Reports stated that 148 students had been killed and 95 had been wounded in the strike.[14] Several sources reported there was no independent confirmation of the number killed,[316][317] although The Washington Post and The New York Times verified footage taken immediately after the attack.[318][319] A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry called the strike a crime.[320]
Lebanon
At least 31 people were killed[259] and 149 were wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon.[18]
Israel
The first connected Iranian airstrike targeted a building in Israel, leaving one Israeli civilian injured.[321] Magen David Adom reported that Iran's initial attacks had left 89 injured, with three directly wounded and the rest indirectly.[322] On 28 February, a direct hit in Tel Aviv killed a woman and injured 22 others, one seriously.[323] On 1 March, an Iranian strike hit a synagogue and residential buildings in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people and injuring 49 others.[324]
Iraq
In Iraq, two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed and three injured in an Israeli attack.[325] A later report from The New York Times claimed three dead.[326]
United States
On the first day of the conflict, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) initially stated that it had suffered no casualties, noting that light damage to its facilities had not disrupted its operations and that it had neutralized several hundred Iranian drone and missile strikes.[327] At 9:30 a.m. ET on 1 March, CENTCOM confirmed that three US service members were killed and five others were seriously injured during the operation.[2] On 2 March it was announced that US casualties had risen to 4, with 4 others seriously injured.[328]
United Arab Emirates
By 1 March, the UAE reported that three foreign nationals were killed and 58 other people were injured by Iranian attacks.[329][330] Two tankers were targeted off the UAE, including one that was struck by a projectile 17 nautical miles northwest of Mina Saqr, causing a fire that was extinguished. The other was undamaged.[331]
Bahrain
On 2 March, falling debris from an intercepted Iranian missile on a "foreign ship" in Salman industrial zone resulted in the death of an Asian worker and serious injuries to two others.[23]
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
The British Akrotiri Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Overseas Territory on Cyprus was hit by a drone.[332]
Earlier, two missiles had been fired in the general direction of Cyprus, but government sources in the UK and Cyprus said at the time that it did not appear that Cyprus was a target.[333]
Strait of Hormuz
An Iranian drone killed a seafarer and damaged three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.[334][335]
Oman
Two Iranian drones struck a commercial port in Oman and injured a foreign worker.[336][337]
Kuwait
An Iranian drone struck Kuwait International Airport.[338]
On 2 March , Kuwait shot down 3 American F-15Es in an incident of friendly fire while the crew members were left sound. The United States embassy in Kuwait was likely hit by an Iranian missile strike. [339]
Impact
State of emergency in Israel
Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying that the strikes on Iran were the largest that it had ever launched.[135][340] Israel Katz issued a statement saying "Under my authority pursuant to Section 9C(b)(1) of the Civil Defence Law, 5711-1951, and after being convinced that there is a high probability of an attack on the civilian population, I hereby declare a special state on the home front throughout the entire territory of the country."[341] Israeli schools and workspaces were closed and public gatherings were cancelled.[342]
Because of the strikes, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories closed multiple aid crossings in the Gaza Strip.[343]
Renewed internet blackout and suppression of civilians in Iran
Amid the renewed "near total" internet blackout in Iran, NetBlocks reported that internet connectivity in Iran dropped to 4% of ordinary levels.[158][159][160] As news of Khamenei's death broke, Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration, though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets.[344][345]
Airspace closures
Iran's airspace was largely empty of civilian aircraft following the strikes as regional states closed airspace.[346][347] Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE closed their respective airspace following the attacks, with multiple airliners being redirected to other destinations.[348][349][350] International airlines like Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air suspended services to the Middle East in view of the conflict, as did airlines based in the region, including Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways.[351][352][353][354]
According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean a "catastrophe" for Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE.[355]
Strait of Hormuz
A Reuters report cited an Operation Aspides official who said that the IRGC had closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, according to maritime VHF radio announcements. A European Union official reported that vessels have been receiving messages stating that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz".[356][357] Late on 28 February, outgoing traffic was heavy, while ingoing traffic was light.[358] Many vessels stayed outside the area, but some continued through. Three vessels were struck by projectiles, with partial damage.[359]
Reactions
Iran
Government
Iran's Foreign Ministry vowed a response as Iranian forces struck US bases across the Persian Gulf.[172][360] The Supreme National Security Council said Iran was targeted by a "brutal air operation" carried out by the US and Israel, saying: "This occurred once again during negotiations, and the enemy imagines that the resilient Iranian nation will surrender to their petty demands through these cowardly actions."[361] Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called the attacks "wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate".[353]
Following the assassination of Khamenei, Ayatollahs Naser Makarem Shirazi and Hossein Noori Hamedani, one of Iran's most senior ayatollahs issued a fatwa for jihad against America for Muslims to avenge his death, saying vengeance was "the religious duty of all Muslims in the world so that the evil of these criminals is eradicated from the Earth".[362]
Civilians
A holistic picture of civilian reactions in Iran is somewhat difficult to obtain due to the government's control over the circulation of information, the renewed internet blackout, and the ongoing heated nature of the conflict.[363] The Daily Telegraph and Iran International posted videos of some people inside Iran celebrating the attacks, hopeful that they will bring forth an end to the ruling government.[364][365] The New York Times, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published photos of some Iranians during pro-government rallies waving the Islamic Republic flag holding portraits of Ali Khamenei while demonstrating against the US and Israeli attack.[366][367][368][369]
Some blamed the regime for the outbreak of the war, and some were concerned it would survive.[370] There was some panic in areas with strikes.[369] As news of Khamenei's death broke out, Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration in an expression of "joy, shock and disbelief",[371] though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising along with a renewed internet blackout.[372][344][160]
Despite the internet blackout, videos of people celebrating Khamenei's death in Karaj, Qazvin, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Sanandaj were circulated,[371] with security forces opening fire on some celebrants.[345] On 1 March 2026, in southern Iran, a monument dedicated to the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was toppled by a crowd.[373]
Diaspora and opposition
The Lion and Sun flag is widely used as a symbol of opposition to the ruling Islamic government that the strikes are aiming to overthrow.[374]
Following the American-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Iranians living abroad showed support for regime change in Iran. Celebratory rallies were held worldwide by the Iranian diaspora, where Iranians gathered waving anti-regime symbols, including the Lion and Sun flag.[375][69][376]
Exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi is aligned with Israel and the United States and has prepared a transitional government that is ready to take over should the Islamic Republic be overthrown.[89][377]
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based exiled son of the former Shah of Iran, urged Iranians inside Iran to prepare to resume protests as the Islamic Republic "collapses", called on the military and security forces to side with the public rather than the ruling government, and described US action against Iran as a "humanitarian intervention" while urging Trump to avoid civilian harm.[379] Pahlavi put forward the Iran Prosperity Project, an initiative affiliated with the US-based National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), which outlines plans for the first 180 days of Iran's governance following the potential collapse of the Islamic Republic, including measures for economic stabilization and institutional reconstruction.[377]
Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the France–Albania based National Council of Resistance of Iran, which is the political wing of the Islamist–Marxist organization People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, announced the formation of a rival transitional government and rejected both the Islamic Republic and the Iran Prosperity Project.[380]
United States
President Donald Trump confirmed that the US military have begun "major combat operations" in Iran,[381] describing it as "a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America".[382] In a video posted to Truth Social, he reaffirmed that "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people", adding: "For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries."[383] Trump said that talks with Iran will be easier following the assassination of Ali Khamenei.[147]
American lawmakers have had mixed reactions. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham supported the action, along with other members of his party, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, as well as some Democrats, including Senator John Fetterman and Representative Josh Gottheimer.[384] Other Republicans opposed the operation, including Representative Thomas Massie and former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.[385][386]
Democratic politicians tended to be more withdrawn. Representative Jim Himes stated, "Everything I have heard from the administration before and after these strikes on Iran confirms this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame."[387] Senator Tim Kaine called for a check on Trump's power to engage in war without the support of Congress, supported by Republican Senator Rand Paul, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,[387] and Democratic Senator Andy Kim;[388] the Constitution of the United States, Article One, Section Eight, Clauses 1 and 11 together enumerate that "The Congress shall have Power ... To declare War."
A poll by The Guardian showed 27% of Americans approved of the US operation while 43% disapproved and 29% were not sure.[389]
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the strikes was to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran", stating that "our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands."[390] Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said that military action against Iran was urgently needed "despite the significant risks involved", adding that "delay would have allowed the Iranian regime to reach a level of immunity for its nuclear programme, as well as to engage in the mass production of long-range ballistic missiles".[391]
International
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