Year: 2026

 

 

CAIRO:  (Xinhua)/Flowerbudnews :  — Iran’s state media confirmed Sunday that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday, prompting Iranian missile strikes on Israel and U.S. targets across the region.

What happened in the past 24 hours? Why did the United States and Israel take action now? How will Iran retaliate? Will this conflict escalate?

WHAT HAPPENED?

Israel announced a “preemptive” strike on Saturday morning, sending about 200 fighter jets in simultaneous airstrikes on missile and defense systems in western and central Iran.

Shortly after the Israeli announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that U.S. forces are “undertaking a massive and ongoing operation” targeting Iran’s missile industry.

Iran retaliated swiftly, declaring all U.S. military bases in the region legitimate targets and striking Israel and U.S. assets across the Gulf, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.

Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, declaring the vital oil and gas waterway unsafe due to U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the strikes hit at least 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces, with 201 deaths and 747 injuries reported so far.

Up to 160 people could have been killed as airstrikes struck a school in southern Iran, said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. Iran’s president condemned the incident as “inhumane.”

In Tehran, missiles struck near the offices of Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Trump said Saturday that Khamenei was killed in the strikes — a claim later confirmed on Sunday by Iran’s state media, after which the government announced a 40-day mourning period.

WHY NOW?

Trump said in an eight-minute video that the objective “is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats” from Iran. Echoing his remarks, the Israeli Defense Ministry said the action aims to “remove threats to Israel.”

Analysts suggest the rhetoric indicates a broader objective: government change in Iran through military force.

Unlike the June 2025 strikes targeting underground nuclear facilities away from civilian zones, this operation hit multiple cities and leadership sites.

The timing was chosen to maximize chances of eliminating top Iranian leaders while they were at their command posts, Syrian international relations researcher Mohammad Nader al-Omari said, adding that both the United States and Israel sought a swift, decisive outcome with minimal losses.

The Pentagon has named the operation “Operation Epic Fury,” and U.S. officials told news outlets that it could continue for days or weeks. According to Israeli media, planning had been underway for months, with the final date set weeks ago.

Before launching the strikes, the Trump administration built up the U.S. military presence in the Middle East to its largest level since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Meanwhile, Israel operates around 300 advanced fighter jets and maintains a multi-layered air defense system designed to counter short-range rockets, medium-range threats and ballistic missiles.

Liu Chang, an expert at the China Institute of International Studies, said that the strikes aim to paralyze Iran’s high-level command structure and weaken domestic resistance while using military pressure as leverage in potential negotiations.

HOW WILL IRAN RETALIATE?

There are no “red lines” for Iran after the U.S.-Israeli strikes, Al Jazeera reported, citing an unnamed Iranian official. Anything is possible, the report said, including scenarios never before considered.

“We are not surprised by this aggression. Our response will be full and open-ended, without time limits,” the official said.

While the United States and Israel maintain a significant military advantage, Iran retains potent retaliatory options, particularly its ballistic missile arsenal.

According to Al Jazeera, the exact size of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal is unclear. Still, it is widely considered one of the largest and most advanced in the Middle East, with some missile types capable of reaching Israel in roughly 12 minutes.

Diplomatically, Iran called on the United Nations to act against the strikes. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in letters to the UN secretary general and Security Council, reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defense, vowing to respond “decisively and immediately” until the aggression “completely and unconditionally stops.”

Experts warned that continued U.S. and Israeli escalation could prompt Iran to coordinate with regional allies — including Yemen’s Houthis, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias — to strike U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East.

WILL CONFLICT ESCALATE?

After announcing Khamenei’s death, Trump said that “the heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”

Analysts cautioned that what begins as a calculated military action could spiral into an uncontrollable regional conflagration.

Adel al-Ghurairi, an Iraqi political analyst and professor at Baghdad University said, “The diplomatic track had already failed,” adding that the strike “is an admission that they believe the military option is the only remaining tool to roll back Iran’s nuclear progress.”

Gulf countries may face pressure to take sides, “exacerbating existing rivalries or triggering new security dilemmas,” said Palestinian political analyst Hussam al-Dajani.

Syrian researcher in international relations Mohammad Nader al-Omari noted the timing of the strikes reflects domestic political considerations. A rapid resolution, whether through systemic collapse in Tehran or its significant weakening, would benefit Trump ahead of the U.S. midterm congressional elections and bolster Benjamin Netanyahu’s prime ministerial bid, creating incentives for escalation, he said.

William Jackson, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, warned that prolonged conflict could push Brent crude to 100 U.S. dollars per barrel, adding up to 0.7 percentage points to global inflation.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20 percent of world oil, risks immediate supply disruptions. Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies may face pressure to raise production, he added.

 

 

 

 

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran, with the latter responding with a series of attacks on Israel and U.S. targets across the Middle East.

Israel deployed about 200 fighter jets in what officials described as the largest operational sortie in the history of the Israeli Air Force.

Analysts warned that the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain. “It could remain limited and swift, or evolve into a broader war of attrition.”
CAIRO, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) — The United States and Israel on Saturday launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran, with the latter responding with a series of attacks on Israel and U.S. targets across the Middle East.

Increasing casualties are reported in Iran and other countries involved in the ongoing flare-up. Israeli media reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed, yet Iranian officials said both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are “safe and sound.”

The latest escalation in this war-torn region has triggered urgent calls for restraint from the international community. Security analysts warn that the conflict risks drawing in additional regional powers and impeding critical energy shipping routes through the Gulf.

LARGEST AIRSTRIKE IN ISRAEL’S HISTORY

Israel deployed about 200 fighter jets in what officials described as the largest operational sortie in the history of the Israeli Air Force.

The strikes, which hit targets in at least 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces, were both precise and expansive, according to Israeli officials and security sources. Primary targets included air bases of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), as well as facilities tied to Iran’s defense and intelligence ministries.

Israeli media reported attacks on the residences of several ministers and senior military commanders, along with strikes near the compounds of Khamenei and Pezeshkian.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its aircraft dropped hundreds of munitions on roughly 500 targets, including air defense systems and missile launchers, across multiple locations.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society said at least 201 deaths and 747 injuries had been reported across the country. Among the hardest-hit sites was an elementary school in Minab, a city in southern Hormozgan Province, where at least 85 people were killed, most of them schoolgirls. Rescue workers said dozens more remained trapped beneath rubble.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening said in a video statement that there are “increasing signs” that Khamenei is “gone.” Multiple Israeli media outlets cited senior Israeli officials as saying that Khamenei was killed and his body had been discovered.

Yet a senior Iranian official was quoted by state media as saying that “the enemy is resorting to mental warfare.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Khamenei and Pezeshkian are both “safe and sound.”

Israel “will strike thousands of targets in the coming days,” said Netanyahu, adding that the ongoing combat operations “will continue as long as necessary to ensure that Iran no longer poses a threat.”

U.S. SEEKS CHANGE OF POWER IN IRAN

U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes were intended to eliminate “imminent threats” from Iran and press for a change in the Islamic Republic’s leadership. In an eight-minute video posted on social media Saturday, he described the action as a response to nearly half a century of Iranian hostility.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said. He added that Tehran’s actions “directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies.”

Trump went beyond traditional deterrence rhetoric, urging Iranians to “seize the opportunity” to take control of their government — a clear signal of U.S. support for regime change.

Shortly after the strikes began, Netanyahu released a video statement confirming Israel’s participation and echoing Trump’s call for a change in power in Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as “renewed military aggression,” noting they came amid ongoing diplomatic engagement. Iranian state media noted that it was the second time Washington had launched attacks during negotiations, following the “12-day war” in June 2025 that ended with U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Trump had turned his “America First” slogan into “Israel First.”

IRAN VOWS “CRUSHING” RESPONSE

Shortly after Israel and the United States launched the attack, Iran vowed to mount a “crushing” retaliation. Within hours, Tehran launched missile strikes toward Israel and U.S. military installations in several Arab states.

Air-raid sirens blared across Israel as residents took shelter. The Israeli military said its air defenses were intercepting incoming missiles and that Israeli warplanes were targeting threats to neutralize them.

Iran’s armed forces declared that all American military bases in the region were legitimate targets. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, Tehran struck military installations in several Arab nations hosting U.S. forces, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

Iranian media, citing an IRGC official, reported that 14 bases had been hit and that hundreds of American soldiers had been killed. The U.S. military denied the report, saying no American troops were killed or wounded.

Tasnim, another semi-official Iranian news agency, reported that Iran had imposed a ban on all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas and 25 percent of seaborne oil trade flows annually.

As the crisis escalated, countries across the region moved to close their airspace entirely or partially, and multiple airlines canceled flights to the Middle East. International hubs like Dubai and Doha were also closed.

In Israel, schools, nonessential businesses, and large gatherings were suspended. At least two buildings in the greater Tel Aviv region have been hit by Iranian missiles, according to Israel’s Ynet news website. So far, six in Israel have been reportedly wounded.

In Kuwait, the Defense Ministry said three members of its armed forces were injured after debris fell at Ali Al Salem Air Base in the country’s northwest, which had earlier been targeted by Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

UAE state media said one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details, while eight were reportedly injured in Qatar, with one in critical condition.

WORLD CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

The swift escalation has prompted a wave of concerns and calls for restraint and dialogue from across the globe.

China is highly concerned over military strikes against Iran launched by the United States and Israel, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release, stressing that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected.

In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, denounced what he called an “unprovoked armed attack” and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, took aim at Trump, saying the leader who has long cast himself as a peacemaker had “shown his true colours.”

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, who has served as a mediator in recent Iranian-American negotiations, expressed dismay.

“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” he wrote in a social media post. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this.” He added a pointed warning: “I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war.”

Egypt, the European Union, and other international actors have also raised alarms about the potential for wider regional conflict.

At the United Nations, Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalating violence, saying the U.S. and Israeli strikes, along with Iran’s regional retaliation, “undermine international peace and security.” He called on “all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.”

In the meantime, Iran’s retaliatory attacks on targets across the region drew condemnations from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other Arab nations.

LONG SHADOWS OF WAR

Saturday’s strikes followed weeks of military buildup and stalled diplomacy, with two U.S. aircraft carriers now positioned near Israel in a rare show of force.

The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived off Israel’s coast on Friday, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, a deployment analysts say signals preparations for potential military action.

“This level of deployment is not routine,” said Mohammed Nader al-Omari, a Syrian researcher on conflict management. “It sends a clear signal that military options are being prepared.”

The escalation came against a years-long deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program. Since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Tehran has expanded uranium enrichment. Western countries say Iran has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, close to weapons-grade, while Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

The strikes also coincided with plans for a new round of talks. Oman had indicated Tehran was ready to make concessions, said Charbel Barakat, international editor at Kuwait’s Al-Jarida newspaper, adding the action could damage U.S. credibility.

Meanwhile, analysts warned that the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain. “It could remain limited and swift, or evolve into a broader war of attrition,” said Hani al-Masri, a political analyst in Ramallah.

“The potential impact of this conflict goes far beyond the immediate parties,” Hussam al-Dajani, a Palestinian political analyst from Gaza, told Xinhua, adding that it could escalate across the Middle East and seriously impact global energy markets.

“Globally, there is an increased risk that major powers could be drawn into reactive crisis management rather than strategic conflict resolution, which could have long-lasting effects on international security and stability,” he said. “In fact, the implications are systemic, affecting not just regional security but the broader global order.”

(Video reporters: Dong Xiuzhu, Yang Yiran, Zhang Yanfang, Feng Guorui, Shadati and Hu Yousong; video editors: Li Qin, Wang Han and Zhao Xiaoqing)

 

 

 

TEHRAN:  (Xinhua) — Iran confirmed early Sunday that its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes here the previous day.

“Iran’s leader attained martyrdom while carrying out his duties at his office,” reported Iran’s Nour News affiliated with the country’s Supreme National Security Council.

The report said that the attack also resulted in the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and one of his daughters-in-law.

In response to the loss, the Iranian cabinet issued a statement declaring 40 days of national mourning, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The statement said Iran’s leader was killed following a “brutal attack by the criminal U.S. government and the sinister Israeli regime,” praising Khamenei for having led the country “sagaciously” for more than 37 years.

The Iranian government vowed that the perpetrators of the “major crime” would be held accountable, and that Iran would ensure those responsible “regret their actions.”

In line with constitutional procedures, Mohammad Mokhber, the Supreme Leader’s aide, confirmed that the leadership duties would temporarily be assumed by Iran’s president, judiciary chief, and a jurist from the Constitutional Council, as outlined in Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a statement published on its official outlet, Sepah News, offered its condolences and vowed that the Iranian nation would exact “a hard, decisive, and regret-inducing” punishment on the “murderers.” It denounced the U.S. and Israeli attack as a “criminal and terrorist” act that violated international norms.

Following the announcement of Khamenei’s death, Iranian mourners took to the streets across various cities on Sunday, voicing their anger and calling for retribution.

Born in 1939, Khamenei became Iran’s Supreme Leader in 1989 after the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini.

On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched “major combat operations” against Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. and Israeli military installations across the West Asia region.

 

 

Key events
20:51, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 57: media
20:51, Feb. 28
New explosions heard in Dubai as UAE defense ministry says intercepts more missiles
20:42, Feb. 28
Iran says destroys U.S. radar in Qatar used to detect ballistic missiles: report
20:31, Feb. 28
Dubai airport suspends all flights, advises passengers not to travel to airport — report
20:26, Feb. 28
IDF says new wave of Iranian missiles launched toward Israel
20:22, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 51: media
20:18, Feb. 28
Omani FM urges Washington not to “get stuck” in Iran-Israel conflict
20:18, Feb. 28
Israel says targets meetings of senior Iranian officials in Tehran
20:13, Feb. 28
Syrian media reports 4 killed in missile strike on Sweida, S. Syria
20:12, Feb. 28
Iran’s Fars says senior officials “in perfect health” following U.S.-Israeli attacks
20:00, Feb. 28
UAE “strongly condemns” Iranian missile attacks targeting UAE, other regional countries
19:48, Feb. 28
UAE says intercepts new wave of Iranian missiles
19:43, Feb. 28
Iranian army says waves of drones launched toward Israel
19:43, Feb. 28
Jordan says will not be part of any regional escalation
19:38, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 40 — IRNA
19:30, Feb. 28
Iran says launched missile, drone attacks on Israel, U.S. regional bases
19:29, Feb. 28
Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, says it will strike U.S. bases
19:28, Feb. 28
New blasts heard in Riyadh
19:25, Feb. 28
Emirates temporarily suspends flights to, from Dubai due to regional airspace closures
19:25, Feb. 28
Israeli media reports 3 missile interceptions over Tel Aviv
19:21, Feb. 28
New waves of explosions heard in Doha, Abu Dhabi — reports
19:20, Feb. 28
U.S. diplomatic missions in UAE, other Mideast countries issue shelter-in-place alert
19:14, Feb. 28
Saudi Arabia cancels flights due to regional developments
19:12, Feb. 28
New wave of Iranian missiles launched toward Israel: military
19:11, Feb. 28
Death toll of students after strike in S. Iran rose to 24 — media
19:00, Feb. 28
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attacks on several Arab countries
18:55, Feb. 28
Explosion heard near Erbil airport in N. Iraq — media
18:52, Feb. 28
Iran’s official media says Iran’s army chief is “in good health,” dismissing earlier reports of his death
18:48, Feb. 28
All Israeli, U.S. bases in region have been struck by Iranian missiles — Iranian forces
18:44, Feb. 28
Entire command of Iranian armed forces is alive — Mehr news agency
18:42, Feb. 28
Bahrain confirms attacks within its border
18:40, Feb. 28
New wave of sirens heard across Israel following missile launch from Iran
18:39, Feb. 28
Kuwaiti army announces interception of missiles detected in airspace
18:36, Feb. 28
Internet services in Iran almost completely disrupted after attack — report
18:35, Feb. 28
At least 3 senior Iranian officials killed in Israeli strikes — Israeli media
18:33, Feb. 28
New series of explosions heard in Qatari capital of Doha
18:32, Feb. 28
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei targeted in U.S.-Israeli strikes — Israeli public broadcaster
18:30, Feb. 28
Qatar says all missiles targeting the country on Saturday intercepted — report
18:27, Feb. 28
1 person killed in UAE after Iranian missile attack — media
18:27, Feb. 28
U.S. Congress gets “no real briefings or intelligence” ahead of strikes on Iran: lawmakers
18:21, Feb. 28
5 school students killed in Israeli attacks — Iranian media
18:19, Feb. 28
Iranian official confirms that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is alive
18:13, Feb. 28
Turkish Airlines cancels Middle East flights after regional airspace closures
18:07, Feb. 28
Kuwait, Qatar, Syria temporarily close airspace
17:58, Feb. 28
At least 2 killed in missile attack on PMF base in central Iraq
17:54, Feb. 28
UAE intercepts several missiles from Iran: state media
17:52, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Dubai
17:47, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Riyadh
17:45, Feb. 28
Kuwait closes airspace over U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran: media
17:42, Feb. 28
Israel sounds nationwide air raid alerts, damage reported in Haifa area
17:41, Feb. 28
Strikes on Iran cause serious harm to senior Iranian officials: Israeli media report
17:31, Feb. 28
Israeli military says it is conducting large-scale attacks on military targets in western Iran
17:30, Feb. 28
UAE announces temporary closure of airspace
17:21, Feb. 28
Missile attack targets U.S. Fifth Fleet service center in Bahrain
17:14, Feb. 28
Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar: Al Jazeera
17:10, Feb. 28
Israel has intercepted “a missile fired toward central Israel”: Channel 12
17:08, Feb. 28
Explosions heard near U.S. base in Bahrain — media
17:08, Feb. 28
Israel says not rules out targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader in new strikes
17:04, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Bahrain, along with sound of sirens
17:01, Feb. 28
Explosions rocked multiple locations across Israel: Israeli media report
16:58, Feb. 28
Several residential apartments in central Tehran destroyed in missile strike: Iranian media
16:56, Feb. 28
U.S. Embassy in Jordan implements shelter-in-place for all personnel until further notice
16:47, Feb. 28
Iranian official says Tehran not surprised by U.S., Israeli strikes, vows retaliation without time limit or red lines: Al Jazeera
16:46, Feb. 28
Iran launches new wave of missile attacks on Israel: media
16:40, Feb. 28
U.S. strikes against Iran named “OPERATION EPIC FURY”: Pentagon
16:35, Feb. 28
Israeli PM Netanyahu says Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms
16:33, Feb. 28
Israeli PM Netanyahu says joint attack with U.S. was to remove existential threat posed by Iran
16:28, Feb. 28
UAE airlines cancel flights to Iran, Israel amid regional tensions
16:27, Feb. 28
Sirens sounded in Jordanian capital Amman: media
16:21, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in northern Israel: Al Jazeera
16:19, Feb. 28
Iran’s city of Bushehr attacked, situation of Bushehr nuclear power plant unknown: state media
16:19, Feb. 28
Israeli army operates to intercept missiles: media
16:17, Feb. 28
Security alert issued by U.S. Embassy in Bahrain advising shelter-in-place for citizens
16:14, Feb. 28
Iran launches missiles at Israel, begins counter-attack — media
15:57, Feb. 28
Israel raises hospitals’ alert to highest level, patients moved to shelters
15:50, Feb. 28
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in full health: Mehr news agency
15:49, Feb. 28
Thick smoke seen from building in Tel Aviv — media
15:46, Feb. 28
Kuwait’s aviation authority suspends all flights to Iran until further notice: media
15:45, Feb. 28
Trump says U.S. military undertakes “massive and ongoing operation” in Iran
15:41, Feb. 28
Iran can never have nuclear weapon — Trump
15:37, Feb. 28
U.S. military began major combat operation in Iran — Trump
15:32, Feb. 28
U.S. military aircraft stationed at aircraft carriers, bases across Mideast conducting dozens of airstrikes — media
15:29, Feb. 28
Several ministries in southern Tehran targeted: media
15:28, Feb. 28
U.S. officials say scope of strike against Iran expected to be much larger than that in last June — New York Times
15:25, Feb. 28
Tehran prepares for retaliation: media
15:23, Feb. 28
U.S. official says strikes against Iran being launched by air and by sea: media
15:22, Feb. 28
Israeli source says all leaders of Iran are targets of attack, including its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — media
15:19, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz: media
15:15, Feb. 28
First phase of attack against Iran will last for four days — media
15:13, Feb. 28
Iraq closes airspace amid Israeli strikes on Iran
15:09, Feb. 28
Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority says the country’s airspace closed until further notice: Mehr news agency
15:07, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Iran’s Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah — media
15:04, Feb. 28
Israel does not rule out possibility of new round of attacks targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — IBA
15:03, Feb. 28
Mobile phone services have been cut in parts of Tehran: Iranian media
14:58, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in east, west of Tehran, Mehrabad airport targeted: Iranian media
14:56, Feb. 28
Israel launches second wave of air strikes against Iran — media
14:55, Feb. 28
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei not in Tehran, has been moved to secure location: media
14:53, Feb. 28
U.S. strikes on Iran are underway: New York Times citing U.S. official
14:47, Feb. 28
Iran closes its airspace as Israel launches attack
14:46, Feb. 28
Israel closes airspace to civilian flights following attacks on Iran
14:42, Feb. 28
Explosion heard in East Tehran
14:41, Feb. 28
Apparent strike in Tehran happened near offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
14:40, Feb. 28
Joint Israeli-American attacks launched against Iran: Israeli media
14:38, Feb. 28
Multiple missiles hit university street, Jomhouri area in Tehran: media
14:32, Feb. 28
Schools closed, public gatherings banned across Israel: Israeli military
14:31, Feb. 28
Air raid sirens sounding in Israel, residents ordered to take shelter: media
14:22, Feb. 28
3 explosions heard in Iran’s capital: Fars news agency
14:20, Feb. 28
Israel launches “preemptive” strike against Iran
14:20, Feb. 28
Explosion occurred in the center of Tehran: media
20:51, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 57: media
The death toll from the Israeli-U.S. airstrikes on a girls’ school in southern Iran has reached 57, with 60 people injured and another 50 trapped under the rubble, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday.
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20:51, Feb. 28
New explosions heard in Dubai as UAE defense ministry says intercepts more missiles

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20:42, Feb. 28
Iran says destroys U.S. radar in Qatar used to detect ballistic missiles: report

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20:31, Feb. 28
Dubai airport suspends all flights, advises passengers not to travel to airport — report

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20:26, Feb. 28
IDF says new wave of Iranian missiles launched toward Israel

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20:22, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 51: media

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20:18, Feb. 28
Omani FM urges Washington not to “get stuck” in Iran-Israel conflict

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20:18, Feb. 28
Israel says targets meetings of senior Iranian officials in Tehran

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20:13, Feb. 28
Syrian media reports 4 killed in missile strike on Sweida, S. Syria
Four people were killed and several others injured on Saturday after an Iranian missile hit a building in the industrial district of the southern Syrian city of Sweida, Syrian media reported.

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20:12, Feb. 28
Iran’s Fars says senior officials “in perfect health” following U.S.-Israeli attacks

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20:00, Feb. 28
UAE “strongly condemns” Iranian missile attacks targeting UAE, other regional countries

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19:48, Feb. 28
UAE says intercepts new wave of Iranian missiles

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19:43, Feb. 28
Iranian army says waves of drones launched toward Israel

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19:43, Feb. 28
Jordan says will not be part of any regional escalation

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19:38, Feb. 28
Death toll of U.S.-Israeli strike on girls’ school in S. Iran rises to 40 — IRNA

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19:30, Feb. 28
Iran says launched missile, drone attacks on Israel, U.S. regional bases
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced the launch of its first wave of large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the region.

“In response to the aggression by the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of Iran’s large-scale missile and drone attack against Israel has started,” the IRGC said in statements published on its official outlet, Sepah News, adding that military and security centers in Israel were the primary targets.

The IRGC said it also struck U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and warned that missile and drone attacks would continue.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement, carried by the official news agency IRNA, that the country’s armed forces had begun delivering a “crushing response to the enemy’s malicious actions.” It advised citizens to move to safe cities if possible, noting that the government had made preparations to meet the population’s needs. Schools and universities across the country will remain closed until further notice.

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19:29, Feb. 28
Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, says it will strike U.S. bases

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19:28, Feb. 28
New blasts heard in Riyadh

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19:25, Feb. 28
Emirates temporarily suspends flights to, from Dubai due to regional airspace closures

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19:25, Feb. 28
Israeli media reports 3 missile interceptions over Tel Aviv

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19:21, Feb. 28
New waves of explosions heard in Doha, Abu Dhabi — reports

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19:20, Feb. 28
U.S. diplomatic missions in UAE, other Mideast countries issue shelter-in-place alert
The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai on Saturday issued a shelter-in-place alert for all staff amid heightened security concerns, urging U.S. citizens in the United Arab Emirates to do the same until further notice.

On the same day, the U.S. embassy in several countries, including Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain, also urged staff and citizens to shelter in place.

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19:14, Feb. 28
Saudi Arabia cancels flights due to regional developments
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) announced on Saturday the cancellation of a number of its flights due to regional developments and the closure of certain airspaces.

In a statement, the airline said the decision was taken as part of continuous monitoring by its Emergency Coordination Center in coordination with relevant authorities.

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19:12, Feb. 28
New wave of Iranian missiles launched toward Israel: military

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19:11, Feb. 28
Death toll of students after strike in S. Iran rose to 24 — media

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19:00, Feb. 28
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attacks on several Arab countries
Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned what it called a “blatant Iranian aggression” and a violation of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the kingdom stood in full solidarity with the affected countries and was ready to deploy all its capabilities in support of any measures they take.

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18:55, Feb. 28
Explosion heard near Erbil airport in N. Iraq — media

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18:52, Feb. 28
Iran’s official media says Iran’s army chief is “in good health,” dismissing earlier reports of his death
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18:48, Feb. 28
All Israeli, U.S. bases in region have been struck by Iranian missiles — Iranian forces

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18:44, Feb. 28
Entire command of Iranian armed forces is alive — Mehr news agency

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18:42, Feb. 28
Bahrain confirms attacks within its border
Bahrain’s National Communication Centre (NCC) announced Saturday that attacks targeting sites and facilities within the kingdom’s borders have occurred.

The NCC confirmed that attacks on sites and facilities within Bahrain were launched from outside its territory, calling them a blatant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and security.

The centre and relevant security and military authorities immediately initiated emergency response plans and took the necessary field measures.

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18:40, Feb. 28
New wave of sirens heard across Israel following missile launch from Iran

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18:39, Feb. 28
Kuwaiti army announces interception of missiles detected in airspace
The Kuwaiti army said Saturday that it had “dealt with aerial missiles detected in Kuwait’s airspace.”

In a statement on its official X account, the army said air defense systems intercepted the missiles as part of ongoing efforts to protect the country’s airspace, following approved operational procedures and rules of engagement.

The statement urged the public to rely on official sources and avoid rumors or unverified reports.

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18:36, Feb. 28
Internet services in Iran almost completely disrupted after attack — report

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18:35, Feb. 28
At least 3 senior Iranian officials killed in Israeli strikes — Israeli media

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18:33, Feb. 28
New series of explosions heard in Qatari capital of Doha

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18:32, Feb. 28
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei targeted in U.S.-Israeli strikes — Israeli public broadcaster

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18:30, Feb. 28
Qatar says all missiles targeting the country on Saturday intercepted — report

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18:27, Feb. 28
1 person killed in UAE after Iranian missile attack — media

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18:27, Feb. 28
U.S. Congress gets “no real briefings or intelligence” ahead of strikes on Iran: lawmakers
Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Donald Trump administration didn’t provide Congress with any “real briefings or intelligence” before launching the massive military operations in Iran early Saturday morning.

“The president barely mentioned Iran during the longest State of the Union speech in history. He failed to define the objective,” Reed said in a statement.

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18:21, Feb. 28
5 school students killed in Israeli attacks — Iranian media

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18:19, Feb. 28
Iranian official confirms that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is alive

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18:13, Feb. 28
Turkish Airlines cancels Middle East flights after regional airspace closures

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18:07, Feb. 28
Kuwait, Qatar, Syria temporarily close airspace
As part of precautionary measures taken in response to recent regional developments, authorities of Kuwait, Qatar and Syria announced on Saturday the temporary closure or partial closure of their country’s airspace.

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17:58, Feb. 28
At least 2 killed in missile attack on PMF base in central Iraq
At least two members of Iraq’s paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed in a missile attack on Saturday in Babil Province, south of Baghdad, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source said.

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17:54, Feb. 28
UAE intercepts several missiles from Iran: state media

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17:52, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Dubai

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17:47, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Riyadh

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17:45, Feb. 28
Kuwait closes airspace over U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran: media

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17:42, Feb. 28
Israel sounds nationwide air raid alerts, damage reported in Haifa area
Damage has been reported in northern Israel’s Haifa area, according to Israel’s Channel 12. Air defense systems were activated in northern Israel, as white smoke trails from interceptions were visible across the sky.

The Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command issued civil defense directives as air raid sirens sounded in multiple areas nationwide, urging residents to take shelter.

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17:41, Feb. 28
Strikes on Iran cause serious harm to senior Iranian officials: Israeli media report

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17:31, Feb. 28
Israeli military says it is conducting large-scale attacks on military targets in western Iran

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17:30, Feb. 28
UAE announces temporary closure of airspace
The General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Saturday a temporary and partial closure of the UAE airspace as an exceptional precautionary measure to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation.

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17:21, Feb. 28
Missile attack targets U.S. Fifth Fleet service center in Bahrain

Bahrain’s National Communication Centre said on Saturday that a missile attack targeted a service center belonging to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

The center confirmed that attacks on sites and facilities within Bahrain were launched from outside its territory, calling them a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and security.

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17:14, Feb. 28
Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar: Al Jazeera

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17:10, Feb. 28
Israel has intercepted “a missile fired toward central Israel”: Channel 12

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17:08, Feb. 28
Explosions heard near U.S. base in Bahrain — media

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17:08, Feb. 28
Israel says not rules out targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader in new strikes
Israel said Saturday that it will not rule out targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in its new air strikes on Iran, Israel Broadcasting Authority reported.

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17:04, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Bahrain, along with sound of sirens

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17:01, Feb. 28
Explosions rocked multiple locations across Israel: Israeli media report

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16:58, Feb. 28
Several residential apartments in central Tehran destroyed in missile strike: Iranian media

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16:56, Feb. 28
U.S. Embassy in Jordan implements shelter-in-place for all personnel until further notice

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16:47, Feb. 28
Iranian official says Tehran not surprised by U.S., Israeli strikes, vows retaliation without time limit or red lines: Al Jazeera

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16:46, Feb. 28
Iran launches new wave of missile attacks on Israel: media

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16:40, Feb. 28
U.S. strikes against Iran named “OPERATION EPIC FURY”: Pentagon

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16:35, Feb. 28
Israeli PM Netanyahu says Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms

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16:33, Feb. 28
Israeli PM Netanyahu says joint attack with U.S. was to remove existential threat posed by Iran

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16:28, Feb. 28
UAE airlines cancel flights to Iran, Israel amid regional tensions
Flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to several destinations in Iran and Israel have been cancelled amid heightened regional tensions, according to local airport websites.

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16:27, Feb. 28
Sirens sounded in Jordanian capital Amman: media

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16:21, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in northern Israel: Al Jazeera

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16:19, Feb. 28
Iran’s city of Bushehr attacked, situation of Bushehr nuclear power plant unknown: state media

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16:19, Feb. 28
Israeli army operates to intercept missiles: media

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16:17, Feb. 28
Security alert issued by U.S. Embassy in Bahrain advising shelter-in-place for citizens
The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain issued a security alert on Saturday to its personnel and citizens advising them to shelter in place.

“The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain is implementing a shelter-in-place for all personnel. We recommend all Americans do the same until further notice,” the embassy said in a statement.

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16:14, Feb. 28
Iran launches missiles at Israel, begins counter-attack — media

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15:57, Feb. 28
Israel raises hospitals’ alert to highest level, patients moved to shelters
The alert level of all hospitals in Israel has been raised to the highest level after attacks in Iran, and hospitalized patients were transferred to shelters, the Israeli Health Ministry said in a statement. All non-urgent hospital activities have been canceled.

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15:50, Feb. 28
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in full health: Mehr news agency

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15:49, Feb. 28
Thick smoke seen from building in Tel Aviv — media

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15:46, Feb. 28
Kuwait’s aviation authority suspends all flights to Iran until further notice: media

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15:45, Feb. 28
Trump says U.S. military undertakes “massive and ongoing operation” in Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Saturday morning the U.S. forces are carrying out a “massive and ongoing” attack on Iran to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

“The United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation …,” he said in a video message on his social media platform Truth Social.

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15:41, Feb. 28
Iran can never have nuclear weapon — Trump

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15:37, Feb. 28
U.S. military began major combat operation in Iran — Trump

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15:32, Feb. 28
U.S. military aircraft stationed at aircraft carriers, bases across Mideast conducting dozens of airstrikes — media

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15:29, Feb. 28
Several ministries in southern Tehran targeted: media

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15:28, Feb. 28
U.S. officials say scope of strike against Iran expected to be much larger than that in last June — New York Times

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15:25, Feb. 28
Tehran prepares for retaliation: media

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15:23, Feb. 28
U.S. official says strikes against Iran being launched by air and by sea: media

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15:22, Feb. 28
Israeli source says all leaders of Iran are targets of attack, including its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — media

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15:19, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz: media

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15:15, Feb. 28
First phase of attack against Iran will last for four days — media
The first phase of the attack against Iran is expected to include four days of combined strikes, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported Saturday morning.

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15:13, Feb. 28
Iraq closes airspace amid Israeli strikes on Iran

Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday the closure of the country’s airspace following Israeli strikes against Iran.

The announcement was made by the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, said Maetham al-Safi, the ministry’s spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the closure was preceded by the clearing of all aircraft from Iraqi skies to ensure safety during escalating regional tensions.

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15:09, Feb. 28
Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority says the country’s airspace closed until further notice: Mehr news agency

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15:07, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in Iran’s Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah — media

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15:04, Feb. 28
Israel does not rule out possibility of new round of attacks targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — IBA

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15:03, Feb. 28
Mobile phone services have been cut in parts of Tehran: Iranian media

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14:58, Feb. 28
Explosions heard in east, west of Tehran, Mehrabad airport targeted: Iranian media

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14:56, Feb. 28
Israel launches second wave of air strikes against Iran — media

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14:55, Feb. 28
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei not in Tehran, has been moved to secure location: media

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14:53, Feb. 28
U.S. strikes on Iran are underway: New York Times citing U.S. official

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14:47, Feb. 28
Iran closes its airspace as Israel launches attack

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14:46, Feb. 28
Israel closes airspace to civilian flights following attacks on Iran
Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights on Saturday following a joint Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran, according to local authorities.

The Israeli public was asked not to travel to Ben Gurion International Airport and other airports until further notice.

Passengers staying abroad are advised to stay updated on the news and flight schedules for information on when the airspace will reopen.

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14:42, Feb. 28
Explosion heard in East Tehran

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14:41, Feb. 28
Apparent strike in Tehran happened near offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

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14:40, Feb. 28
Joint Israeli-American attacks launched against Iran: Israeli media

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14:38, Feb. 28
Multiple missiles hit university street, Jomhouri area in Tehran: media

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14:32, Feb. 28
Schools closed, public gatherings banned across Israel: Israeli military
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14:31, Feb. 28
Air raid sirens sounding in Israel, residents ordered to take shelter: media

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14:22, Feb. 28
3 explosions heard in Iran’s capital: Fars news agency
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14:20, Feb. 28
Israel launches “preemptive” strike against Iran
Israel launched a “preemptive” strike against Iran on Saturday morning “to remove threats to Israel,” the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a special and immediate state of emergency in all areas of Israel, according to the statement.

The ministry warned that a missile and drone attack against Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future.

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14:20, Feb. 28
Explosion occurred in the center of Tehran: media

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