US, Israel strike Iran HIGHLIGHTS: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed: Trump

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, through his post on Truth Social, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead following the strikes earlier in the day

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran on Saturday morning, an Israeli official told Israeli media. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side. Moreover, two Israeli TV networks reported that the photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to US President Donals Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to unite and rise up against the Iranian regime.

“Don’t miss the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said in a Hebrew-language video statement.

“Soon your moment will come, the moment when you must take to the streets in your masses, to take to the streets to complete the work to bring down the regime of horrors that embitters your lives,” he said.

“Help has arrived,” Netanyahu said in English, calling on Iranians to join forces in toppling the regime.

A news report by Channel 12 claimed that Israel dropped around 30 bombs on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound in the airstrikes on Saturday morning. The report added that Khamenei was underground at the location, but not in one of the two deepest bunkers that only US bombs could have penetrated. 

Israel reportedly targeted around 30 key Iranian regime leaders and military chiefs in the initial strikes on Iran Saturday morning. Israel’s Kan state broadcaster reported that there are indications of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was expected by many to succeed his father, also being killed in the strikes.

Syria also condemned the “brutal attacks” by Iran on Arab countries, and its foreign minister called his counterparts in the region. Syria was a close Iranian ally until the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in late 2024. The new government, which is led by many former jihadists, has prioritized showing Western countries that it is committed to a future of moderation, but Israel has treated it with suspicion.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani called his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express solidarity, according to Damascus.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US-allied Arab states in the region following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The Palestinian Authority “affirms the solidarity of our people and their steadfastness alongside the sister Arab nations,” and expresses support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty,” said a statement carried by the official PA news outlet WAFA.

US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort on Saturday, the White House said, after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”
 

The US Transportation Department on Saturday urged all commercial vessels to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy attacks on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are subject to “significant military activity” and “it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement. US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it added.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Saturday after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia, and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries after joint strikes from the US and Israel on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.”

“We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel, and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.”

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Iran’s prosecutor general warned on Saturday that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading rumours or threatening national security after attacks by the United States and Israel. The prosecutor’s office said In a statement that the public should remain calm and assist in maintaining security. It warned that individuals using social media or other platforms to spread fear or false information would face legal action without any leniency.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime Iranian security official and secretary of Iran's Defense Council, was reported killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the loss of a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said an Iran International report. Besides, four people were killed in Syra after a missile exploded in the industrial area in the city of Sweida, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the escalation “must stop.”

“France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council,” Macron wrote in a post on X.

“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he added, warning that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.”

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles. “China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing's foreign ministry said. “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

Israeli officials assess that the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, was likely killed in the strikes on Iranian targets Saturday morning, reported Times of Israel. Pakpour became head of the IRGC after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, at the start of the June 2025 war.

The Israeli officials also assess that Iran’s minister of defence and chief of intelligence were also likely killed in the strikes; however, the assessments have yet to be confirmed by Iran or by the IDF.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned strikes on ally Iran launched Saturday by the United States and Israel in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“Lavrov condemned the unprovoked armed attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which violates the principles and norms of international law and completely disregards the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan and vowed to “provide all its resources to assist them in any measures they take.”

The statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, does not address reports of an explosion in Riyadh amid Iran’s strikes on the US-allied Arab states.

The Israeli army said it was continuing to strike military targets in Iran on Saturday, including missile launchers in the west of the country. The army struck "hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran", it said in a statement, adding that it was also "identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel".

Qatar on Saturday condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory after several rounds of explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement voicing “its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles.” It added that it considers this a blatant violation of its national sovereignty and “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, said two senior Houthi officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said the rebels’ first attack could come as soon as ‘tonight’. The rebels had ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after the ceasefire in October halted major fighting in Gaza.

Lufthansa announced Saturday it has cancelled it flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile launches.

The German airline group said in a statement it and its subsidiaries were also suspending flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday. It said the cancellations were due to the "current situation in the Middle East".

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

"There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression" on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate on Saturday, after announcing it was conducting a "broad strike" on multiple military targets.

"To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the army said on its Farsi X account.

"For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," it added.

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

"The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah," a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a "missile attack", Bahrain said Saturday, as Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli strikes.

"The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said, in a statement.

A series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists reported, after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran.

The military said earlier that it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari defence systems on Saturday intercepted an Iranian missile, an official told AFP, as warning sirens sounded in the Gulf state.

Qatar's US-made Patriot interceptors downed an Iranian missile, the official said on condition of anonymity after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has vowed retaliation.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on Saturday as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, saying it would provide schedule updates at a later date.

"Due to the security situation at the destination, the airline has decided to cancel its flights scheduled for February 28 to/from Tel Aviv and to/from Beirut," Air France told AFP.

Internet access was slashed in Iran on Saturday as Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic, monitor Netblocks said.

"Network data show Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout," Netblocks said on social media, adding the move "matches measures used during last year's war with Israel".

The United States embassy in Amman told its staff and US citizens in Jordan to shelter in place, as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"The US Embassy in Jordan 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, after sirens were heard in the capital.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

AFP correspondents heard explosions in the Bahraini capital Manama on Saturday, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

It was unclear what the source of the explosions was.

Sirens were heard in the Jordanian capital on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran.

The public security directorate in Amman said "the meaning of the sirens will be as follows: three intermittent sirens mean there is a threat, and one siren means the threat has passed".

"When you hear the three sirens, it is advisable to stay where you are and not move. If you are outside your home, you should take shelter in the nearest building until the threat has passed," it added in a statement.

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Jordan's military said its air force was conducting sorties on Saturday to protect the kingdom and its people, as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

"The sounds heard in the skies over a number of areas of the Kingdom are from aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which are carrying out routine flights as part of their operational duties," a military source said, after sirens were reported in Amman.

"These sorties are part of aerial reconnaissance and inspection operations aimed at maintaining the safety of Jordanian airspace and ensuring that it is free from any attempts at infiltration or illegal activities," the source added.

AFP journalists heard several blasts over Jerusalem on Saturday following air raid sirens in the city, after the Israeli military said it had detected multiple barrages of missiles launched from Iran.

"An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice," the military said in a statement.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP.

The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk.

"We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Israel has named its latest operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar,” a title chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces had been using a different internal name for the strikes, according to reports. Citing officials, The Times of Israel reports that the IDF had initially settled on its own operational designation. Netanyahu opted instead for a name that carries clearer symbolism and a reference to the June 2025 strikes against Iran. In June 2025, Israel’s previous operation targeting Iran was called “Rising Lion.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to "stand together" after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic on Saturday.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel," he added.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Israeli PM Netanayahu said in a video message. “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

Israel army says identified missiles launched from Iran

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” IDF said. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.”

Trump also warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police to lay down or face death.

“To the Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must all lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”

Trump said, “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

He added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am doing tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So, let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating strength.”

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“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump says in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

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Short time ago, US begin major combat operations in Iran, US President Donald Trump said as quoted by Reuters.

The whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, are unknown after Israel, allegedly in a joint move with the United States, carried out a targeted preemptive strike near his headquarters in Tehran. It remains uncertain whether Khamenei was at his headquarters during the strike or if he sustained injuries from it. Citing an Iranian official, Reuters reported that the supreme leader was moved to a secure location.

Read more here.

Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued the followed advisory:

In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times.
2. Indian nationals are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
3. Updated instructions may be accessed at: https://oref.org.il/eng .
4. All Indian nationals should remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarize themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
5. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice.
6. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly.
7. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, through the 24x7 helpline:
Telephone: +972-54-7520711;
E-mail: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
8. The Embassy remains closely engaged with the relevant authorities and will continue to issue updates as necessary.

Israeli media reported that about 30 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including the Iranian President’s residence and an intelligence headquarters.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago, Reuters reported.

As Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, explosions are heard in the north and east of Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reports.

AP reported, citing a US official, that the United States is participating in the military action in Iran, although the full extent of its involvement was not immediately clear. However, America is yet to officially confirm this.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out “preemptive strikes” on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Two loud explosions were heard in Tehran and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Saturday (Feb 28) announced a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran. According to Iranian media reports, three explosions were heard in downtown Tehran. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem as authorities issued an “extremely serious alert”.

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, through his post on Truth Social, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead following the strikes earlier in the day

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran on Saturday morning, an Israeli official told Israeli media. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side. Moreover, two Israeli TV networks reported that the photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to US President Donals Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to unite and rise up against the Iranian regime.

“Don’t miss the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said in a Hebrew-language video statement.

“Soon your moment will come, the moment when you must take to the streets in your masses, to take to the streets to complete the work to bring down the regime of horrors that embitters your lives,” he said.

“Help has arrived,” Netanyahu said in English, calling on Iranians to join forces in toppling the regime.

A news report by Channel 12 claimed that Israel dropped around 30 bombs on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound in the airstrikes on Saturday morning. The report added that Khamenei was underground at the location, but not in one of the two deepest bunkers that only US bombs could have penetrated. 

Israel reportedly targeted around 30 key Iranian regime leaders and military chiefs in the initial strikes on Iran Saturday morning. Israel’s Kan state broadcaster reported that there are indications of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was expected by many to succeed his father, also being killed in the strikes.

Syria also condemned the “brutal attacks” by Iran on Arab countries, and its foreign minister called his counterparts in the region. Syria was a close Iranian ally until the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in late 2024. The new government, which is led by many former jihadists, has prioritized showing Western countries that it is committed to a future of moderation, but Israel has treated it with suspicion.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani called his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express solidarity, according to Damascus.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US-allied Arab states in the region following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The Palestinian Authority “affirms the solidarity of our people and their steadfastness alongside the sister Arab nations,” and expresses support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty,” said a statement carried by the official PA news outlet WAFA.

US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort on Saturday, the White House said, after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”
 

The US Transportation Department on Saturday urged all commercial vessels to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy attacks on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are subject to “significant military activity” and “it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement. US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it added.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Saturday after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia, and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries after joint strikes from the US and Israel on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.”

“We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel, and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.”

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Iran’s prosecutor general warned on Saturday that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading rumours or threatening national security after attacks by the United States and Israel. The prosecutor’s office said In a statement that the public should remain calm and assist in maintaining security. It warned that individuals using social media or other platforms to spread fear or false information would face legal action without any leniency.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime Iranian security official and secretary of Iran's Defense Council, was reported killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the loss of a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said an Iran International report. Besides, four people were killed in Syra after a missile exploded in the industrial area in the city of Sweida, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the escalation “must stop.”

“France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council,” Macron wrote in a post on X.

“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he added, warning that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.”

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles. “China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing's foreign ministry said. “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

Israeli officials assess that the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, was likely killed in the strikes on Iranian targets Saturday morning, reported Times of Israel. Pakpour became head of the IRGC after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, at the start of the June 2025 war.

The Israeli officials also assess that Iran’s minister of defence and chief of intelligence were also likely killed in the strikes; however, the assessments have yet to be confirmed by Iran or by the IDF.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned strikes on ally Iran launched Saturday by the United States and Israel in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“Lavrov condemned the unprovoked armed attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which violates the principles and norms of international law and completely disregards the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan and vowed to “provide all its resources to assist them in any measures they take.”

The statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, does not address reports of an explosion in Riyadh amid Iran’s strikes on the US-allied Arab states.

The Israeli army said it was continuing to strike military targets in Iran on Saturday, including missile launchers in the west of the country. The army struck "hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran", it said in a statement, adding that it was also "identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel".

Qatar on Saturday condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory after several rounds of explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement voicing “its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles.” It added that it considers this a blatant violation of its national sovereignty and “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, said two senior Houthi officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said the rebels’ first attack could come as soon as ‘tonight’. The rebels had ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after the ceasefire in October halted major fighting in Gaza.

Lufthansa announced Saturday it has cancelled it flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile launches.

The German airline group said in a statement it and its subsidiaries were also suspending flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday. It said the cancellations were due to the "current situation in the Middle East".

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

"There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression" on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate on Saturday, after announcing it was conducting a "broad strike" on multiple military targets.

"To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the army said on its Farsi X account.

"For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," it added.

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

"The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah," a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a "missile attack", Bahrain said Saturday, as Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli strikes.

"The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said, in a statement.

A series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists reported, after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran.

The military said earlier that it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari defence systems on Saturday intercepted an Iranian missile, an official told AFP, as warning sirens sounded in the Gulf state.

Qatar's US-made Patriot interceptors downed an Iranian missile, the official said on condition of anonymity after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has vowed retaliation.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on Saturday as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, saying it would provide schedule updates at a later date.

"Due to the security situation at the destination, the airline has decided to cancel its flights scheduled for February 28 to/from Tel Aviv and to/from Beirut," Air France told AFP.

Internet access was slashed in Iran on Saturday as Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic, monitor Netblocks said.

"Network data show Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout," Netblocks said on social media, adding the move "matches measures used during last year's war with Israel".

The United States embassy in Amman told its staff and US citizens in Jordan to shelter in place, as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"The US Embassy in Jordan 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, after sirens were heard in the capital.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

AFP correspondents heard explosions in the Bahraini capital Manama on Saturday, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

It was unclear what the source of the explosions was.

Sirens were heard in the Jordanian capital on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran.

The public security directorate in Amman said "the meaning of the sirens will be as follows: three intermittent sirens mean there is a threat, and one siren means the threat has passed".

"When you hear the three sirens, it is advisable to stay where you are and not move. If you are outside your home, you should take shelter in the nearest building until the threat has passed," it added in a statement.

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Jordan's military said its air force was conducting sorties on Saturday to protect the kingdom and its people, as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

"The sounds heard in the skies over a number of areas of the Kingdom are from aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which are carrying out routine flights as part of their operational duties," a military source said, after sirens were reported in Amman.

"These sorties are part of aerial reconnaissance and inspection operations aimed at maintaining the safety of Jordanian airspace and ensuring that it is free from any attempts at infiltration or illegal activities," the source added.

AFP journalists heard several blasts over Jerusalem on Saturday following air raid sirens in the city, after the Israeli military said it had detected multiple barrages of missiles launched from Iran.

"An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice," the military said in a statement.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP.

The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk.

"We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Israel has named its latest operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar,” a title chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces had been using a different internal name for the strikes, according to reports. Citing officials, The Times of Israel reports that the IDF had initially settled on its own operational designation. Netanyahu opted instead for a name that carries clearer symbolism and a reference to the June 2025 strikes against Iran. In June 2025, Israel’s previous operation targeting Iran was called “Rising Lion.”

Read more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to "stand together" after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic on Saturday.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel," he added.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Israeli PM Netanayahu said in a video message. “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

Israel army says identified missiles launched from Iran

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” IDF said. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.”

Trump also warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police to lay down or face death.

“To the Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must all lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”

Trump said, “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

He added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am doing tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So, let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating strength.”

Read more.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump says in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

<iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116147082884192486/embed" class="truthsocial-embed truthsocial-video" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

Short time ago, US begin major combat operations in Iran, US President Donald Trump said as quoted by Reuters.

The whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, are unknown after Israel, allegedly in a joint move with the United States, carried out a targeted preemptive strike near his headquarters in Tehran. It remains uncertain whether Khamenei was at his headquarters during the strike or if he sustained injuries from it. Citing an Iranian official, Reuters reported that the supreme leader was moved to a secure location.

Read more here.

Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued the followed advisory:

In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times.
2. Indian nationals are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
3. Updated instructions may be accessed at: https://oref.org.il/eng .
4. All Indian nationals should remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarize themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
5. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice.
6. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly.
7. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, through the 24x7 helpline:
Telephone: +972-54-7520711;
E-mail: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
8. The Embassy remains closely engaged with the relevant authorities and will continue to issue updates as necessary.

Israeli media reported that about 30 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including the Iranian President’s residence and an intelligence headquarters.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago, Reuters reported.

As Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, explosions are heard in the north and east of Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reports.

AP reported, citing a US official, that the United States is participating in the military action in Iran, although the full extent of its involvement was not immediately clear. However, America is yet to officially confirm this.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out “preemptive strikes” on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Two loud explosions were heard in Tehran and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Saturday (Feb 28) announced a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran. According to Iranian media reports, three explosions were heard in downtown Tehran. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem as authorities issued an “extremely serious alert”.

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, through his post on Truth Social, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead following the strikes earlier in the day

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran on Saturday morning, an Israeli official told Israeli media. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side. Moreover, two Israeli TV networks reported that the photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to US President Donals Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to unite and rise up against the Iranian regime.

“Don’t miss the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said in a Hebrew-language video statement.

“Soon your moment will come, the moment when you must take to the streets in your masses, to take to the streets to complete the work to bring down the regime of horrors that embitters your lives,” he said.

“Help has arrived,” Netanyahu said in English, calling on Iranians to join forces in toppling the regime.

A news report by Channel 12 claimed that Israel dropped around 30 bombs on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound in the airstrikes on Saturday morning. The report added that Khamenei was underground at the location, but not in one of the two deepest bunkers that only US bombs could have penetrated. 

Israel reportedly targeted around 30 key Iranian regime leaders and military chiefs in the initial strikes on Iran Saturday morning. Israel’s Kan state broadcaster reported that there are indications of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was expected by many to succeed his father, also being killed in the strikes.

Syria also condemned the “brutal attacks” by Iran on Arab countries, and its foreign minister called his counterparts in the region. Syria was a close Iranian ally until the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in late 2024. The new government, which is led by many former jihadists, has prioritized showing Western countries that it is committed to a future of moderation, but Israel has treated it with suspicion.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani called his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express solidarity, according to Damascus.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US-allied Arab states in the region following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The Palestinian Authority “affirms the solidarity of our people and their steadfastness alongside the sister Arab nations,” and expresses support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty,” said a statement carried by the official PA news outlet WAFA.

US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort on Saturday, the White House said, after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”
 

The US Transportation Department on Saturday urged all commercial vessels to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy attacks on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are subject to “significant military activity” and “it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement. US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it added.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Saturday after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia, and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries after joint strikes from the US and Israel on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.”

“We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel, and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.”

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Iran’s prosecutor general warned on Saturday that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading rumours or threatening national security after attacks by the United States and Israel. The prosecutor’s office said In a statement that the public should remain calm and assist in maintaining security. It warned that individuals using social media or other platforms to spread fear or false information would face legal action without any leniency.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime Iranian security official and secretary of Iran's Defense Council, was reported killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the loss of a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said an Iran International report. Besides, four people were killed in Syra after a missile exploded in the industrial area in the city of Sweida, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the escalation “must stop.”

“France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council,” Macron wrote in a post on X.

“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he added, warning that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.”

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles. “China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing's foreign ministry said. “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

Israeli officials assess that the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, was likely killed in the strikes on Iranian targets Saturday morning, reported Times of Israel. Pakpour became head of the IRGC after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, at the start of the June 2025 war.

The Israeli officials also assess that Iran’s minister of defence and chief of intelligence were also likely killed in the strikes; however, the assessments have yet to be confirmed by Iran or by the IDF.

Read full story here

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned strikes on ally Iran launched Saturday by the United States and Israel in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“Lavrov condemned the unprovoked armed attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which violates the principles and norms of international law and completely disregards the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan and vowed to “provide all its resources to assist them in any measures they take.”

The statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, does not address reports of an explosion in Riyadh amid Iran’s strikes on the US-allied Arab states.

The Israeli army said it was continuing to strike military targets in Iran on Saturday, including missile launchers in the west of the country. The army struck "hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran", it said in a statement, adding that it was also "identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel".

Qatar on Saturday condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory after several rounds of explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement voicing “its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles.” It added that it considers this a blatant violation of its national sovereignty and “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, said two senior Houthi officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said the rebels’ first attack could come as soon as ‘tonight’. The rebels had ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after the ceasefire in October halted major fighting in Gaza.

Lufthansa announced Saturday it has cancelled it flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile launches.

The German airline group said in a statement it and its subsidiaries were also suspending flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday. It said the cancellations were due to the "current situation in the Middle East".

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

"There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression" on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate on Saturday, after announcing it was conducting a "broad strike" on multiple military targets.

"To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the army said on its Farsi X account.

"For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," it added.

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

"The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah," a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a "missile attack", Bahrain said Saturday, as Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli strikes.

"The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said, in a statement.

A series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists reported, after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran.

The military said earlier that it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari defence systems on Saturday intercepted an Iranian missile, an official told AFP, as warning sirens sounded in the Gulf state.

Qatar's US-made Patriot interceptors downed an Iranian missile, the official said on condition of anonymity after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has vowed retaliation.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on Saturday as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, saying it would provide schedule updates at a later date.

"Due to the security situation at the destination, the airline has decided to cancel its flights scheduled for February 28 to/from Tel Aviv and to/from Beirut," Air France told AFP.

Internet access was slashed in Iran on Saturday as Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic, monitor Netblocks said.

"Network data show Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout," Netblocks said on social media, adding the move "matches measures used during last year's war with Israel".

The United States embassy in Amman told its staff and US citizens in Jordan to shelter in place, as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"The US Embassy in Jordan 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, after sirens were heard in the capital.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

AFP correspondents heard explosions in the Bahraini capital Manama on Saturday, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

It was unclear what the source of the explosions was.

Sirens were heard in the Jordanian capital on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran.

The public security directorate in Amman said "the meaning of the sirens will be as follows: three intermittent sirens mean there is a threat, and one siren means the threat has passed".

"When you hear the three sirens, it is advisable to stay where you are and not move. If you are outside your home, you should take shelter in the nearest building until the threat has passed," it added in a statement.

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Jordan's military said its air force was conducting sorties on Saturday to protect the kingdom and its people, as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

"The sounds heard in the skies over a number of areas of the Kingdom are from aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which are carrying out routine flights as part of their operational duties," a military source said, after sirens were reported in Amman.

"These sorties are part of aerial reconnaissance and inspection operations aimed at maintaining the safety of Jordanian airspace and ensuring that it is free from any attempts at infiltration or illegal activities," the source added.

AFP journalists heard several blasts over Jerusalem on Saturday following air raid sirens in the city, after the Israeli military said it had detected multiple barrages of missiles launched from Iran.

"An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice," the military said in a statement.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP.

The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk.

"We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Israel has named its latest operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar,” a title chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces had been using a different internal name for the strikes, according to reports. Citing officials, The Times of Israel reports that the IDF had initially settled on its own operational designation. Netanyahu opted instead for a name that carries clearer symbolism and a reference to the June 2025 strikes against Iran. In June 2025, Israel’s previous operation targeting Iran was called “Rising Lion.”

Read more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to "stand together" after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic on Saturday.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel," he added.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Israeli PM Netanayahu said in a video message. “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

Israel army says identified missiles launched from Iran

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” IDF said. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.”

Trump also warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police to lay down or face death.

“To the Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must all lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”

Trump said, “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

He added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am doing tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So, let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating strength.”

Read more.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump says in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

<iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116147082884192486/embed" class="truthsocial-embed truthsocial-video" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

Short time ago, US begin major combat operations in Iran, US President Donald Trump said as quoted by Reuters.

The whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, are unknown after Israel, allegedly in a joint move with the United States, carried out a targeted preemptive strike near his headquarters in Tehran. It remains uncertain whether Khamenei was at his headquarters during the strike or if he sustained injuries from it. Citing an Iranian official, Reuters reported that the supreme leader was moved to a secure location.

Read more here.

Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued the followed advisory:

In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times.
2. Indian nationals are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
3. Updated instructions may be accessed at: https://oref.org.il/eng .
4. All Indian nationals should remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarize themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
5. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice.
6. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly.
7. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, through the 24x7 helpline:
Telephone: +972-54-7520711;
E-mail: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
8. The Embassy remains closely engaged with the relevant authorities and will continue to issue updates as necessary.

Israeli media reported that about 30 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including the Iranian President’s residence and an intelligence headquarters.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago, Reuters reported.

As Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, explosions are heard in the north and east of Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reports.

AP reported, citing a US official, that the United States is participating in the military action in Iran, although the full extent of its involvement was not immediately clear. However, America is yet to officially confirm this.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out “preemptive strikes” on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Two loud explosions were heard in Tehran and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Saturday (Feb 28) announced a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran. According to Iranian media reports, three explosions were heard in downtown Tehran. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem as authorities issued an “extremely serious alert”.

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, through his post on Truth Social, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead following the strikes earlier in the day

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran on Saturday morning, an Israeli official told Israeli media. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side. Moreover, two Israeli TV networks reported that the photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to US President Donals Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to unite and rise up against the Iranian regime.

“Don’t miss the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said in a Hebrew-language video statement.

“Soon your moment will come, the moment when you must take to the streets in your masses, to take to the streets to complete the work to bring down the regime of horrors that embitters your lives,” he said.

“Help has arrived,” Netanyahu said in English, calling on Iranians to join forces in toppling the regime.

A news report by Channel 12 claimed that Israel dropped around 30 bombs on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound in the airstrikes on Saturday morning. The report added that Khamenei was underground at the location, but not in one of the two deepest bunkers that only US bombs could have penetrated. 

Israel reportedly targeted around 30 key Iranian regime leaders and military chiefs in the initial strikes on Iran Saturday morning. Israel’s Kan state broadcaster reported that there are indications of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was expected by many to succeed his father, also being killed in the strikes.

Syria also condemned the “brutal attacks” by Iran on Arab countries, and its foreign minister called his counterparts in the region. Syria was a close Iranian ally until the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in late 2024. The new government, which is led by many former jihadists, has prioritized showing Western countries that it is committed to a future of moderation, but Israel has treated it with suspicion.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani called his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express solidarity, according to Damascus.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US-allied Arab states in the region following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The Palestinian Authority “affirms the solidarity of our people and their steadfastness alongside the sister Arab nations,” and expresses support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty,” said a statement carried by the official PA news outlet WAFA.

US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort on Saturday, the White House said, after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”
 

The US Transportation Department on Saturday urged all commercial vessels to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy attacks on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are subject to “significant military activity” and “it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement. US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it added.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Saturday after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia, and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries after joint strikes from the US and Israel on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.”

“We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel, and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.”

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Iran’s prosecutor general warned on Saturday that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading rumours or threatening national security after attacks by the United States and Israel. The prosecutor’s office said In a statement that the public should remain calm and assist in maintaining security. It warned that individuals using social media or other platforms to spread fear or false information would face legal action without any leniency.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime Iranian security official and secretary of Iran's Defense Council, was reported killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the loss of a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said an Iran International report. Besides, four people were killed in Syra after a missile exploded in the industrial area in the city of Sweida, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the escalation “must stop.”

“France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council,” Macron wrote in a post on X.

“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he added, warning that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.”

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles. “China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing's foreign ministry said. “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

Israeli officials assess that the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, was likely killed in the strikes on Iranian targets Saturday morning, reported Times of Israel. Pakpour became head of the IRGC after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, at the start of the June 2025 war.

The Israeli officials also assess that Iran’s minister of defence and chief of intelligence were also likely killed in the strikes; however, the assessments have yet to be confirmed by Iran or by the IDF.

Read full story here

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned strikes on ally Iran launched Saturday by the United States and Israel in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“Lavrov condemned the unprovoked armed attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which violates the principles and norms of international law and completely disregards the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan and vowed to “provide all its resources to assist them in any measures they take.”

The statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, does not address reports of an explosion in Riyadh amid Iran’s strikes on the US-allied Arab states.

The Israeli army said it was continuing to strike military targets in Iran on Saturday, including missile launchers in the west of the country. The army struck "hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran", it said in a statement, adding that it was also "identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel".

Qatar on Saturday condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory after several rounds of explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement voicing “its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles.” It added that it considers this a blatant violation of its national sovereignty and “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, said two senior Houthi officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said the rebels’ first attack could come as soon as ‘tonight’. The rebels had ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after the ceasefire in October halted major fighting in Gaza.

Lufthansa announced Saturday it has cancelled it flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile launches.

The German airline group said in a statement it and its subsidiaries were also suspending flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday. It said the cancellations were due to the "current situation in the Middle East".

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

"There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression" on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate on Saturday, after announcing it was conducting a "broad strike" on multiple military targets.

"To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the army said on its Farsi X account.

"For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," it added.

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

"The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah," a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a "missile attack", Bahrain said Saturday, as Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli strikes.

"The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said, in a statement.

A series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists reported, after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran.

The military said earlier that it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari defence systems on Saturday intercepted an Iranian missile, an official told AFP, as warning sirens sounded in the Gulf state.

Qatar's US-made Patriot interceptors downed an Iranian missile, the official said on condition of anonymity after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has vowed retaliation.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on Saturday as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, saying it would provide schedule updates at a later date.

"Due to the security situation at the destination, the airline has decided to cancel its flights scheduled for February 28 to/from Tel Aviv and to/from Beirut," Air France told AFP.

Internet access was slashed in Iran on Saturday as Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic, monitor Netblocks said.

"Network data show Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout," Netblocks said on social media, adding the move "matches measures used during last year's war with Israel".

The United States embassy in Amman told its staff and US citizens in Jordan to shelter in place, as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"The US Embassy in Jordan 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, after sirens were heard in the capital.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

AFP correspondents heard explosions in the Bahraini capital Manama on Saturday, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

It was unclear what the source of the explosions was.

Sirens were heard in the Jordanian capital on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran.

The public security directorate in Amman said "the meaning of the sirens will be as follows: three intermittent sirens mean there is a threat, and one siren means the threat has passed".

"When you hear the three sirens, it is advisable to stay where you are and not move. If you are outside your home, you should take shelter in the nearest building until the threat has passed," it added in a statement.

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Jordan's military said its air force was conducting sorties on Saturday to protect the kingdom and its people, as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

"The sounds heard in the skies over a number of areas of the Kingdom are from aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which are carrying out routine flights as part of their operational duties," a military source said, after sirens were reported in Amman.

"These sorties are part of aerial reconnaissance and inspection operations aimed at maintaining the safety of Jordanian airspace and ensuring that it is free from any attempts at infiltration or illegal activities," the source added.

AFP journalists heard several blasts over Jerusalem on Saturday following air raid sirens in the city, after the Israeli military said it had detected multiple barrages of missiles launched from Iran.

"An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice," the military said in a statement.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP.

The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk.

"We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Israel has named its latest operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar,” a title chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces had been using a different internal name for the strikes, according to reports. Citing officials, The Times of Israel reports that the IDF had initially settled on its own operational designation. Netanyahu opted instead for a name that carries clearer symbolism and a reference to the June 2025 strikes against Iran. In June 2025, Israel’s previous operation targeting Iran was called “Rising Lion.”

Read more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to "stand together" after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic on Saturday.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel," he added.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Israeli PM Netanayahu said in a video message. “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

Israel army says identified missiles launched from Iran

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” IDF said. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.”

Trump also warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police to lay down or face death.

“To the Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must all lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”

Trump said, “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

He added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am doing tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So, let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating strength.”

Read more.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump says in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

<iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116147082884192486/embed" class="truthsocial-embed truthsocial-video" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

Short time ago, US begin major combat operations in Iran, US President Donald Trump said as quoted by Reuters.

The whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, are unknown after Israel, allegedly in a joint move with the United States, carried out a targeted preemptive strike near his headquarters in Tehran. It remains uncertain whether Khamenei was at his headquarters during the strike or if he sustained injuries from it. Citing an Iranian official, Reuters reported that the supreme leader was moved to a secure location.

Read more here.

Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued the followed advisory:

In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times.
2. Indian nationals are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
3. Updated instructions may be accessed at: https://oref.org.il/eng .
4. All Indian nationals should remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarize themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
5. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice.
6. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly.
7. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, through the 24x7 helpline:
Telephone: +972-54-7520711;
E-mail: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
8. The Embassy remains closely engaged with the relevant authorities and will continue to issue updates as necessary.

Israeli media reported that about 30 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including the Iranian President’s residence and an intelligence headquarters.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago, Reuters reported.

As Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, explosions are heard in the north and east of Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reports.

AP reported, citing a US official, that the United States is participating in the military action in Iran, although the full extent of its involvement was not immediately clear. However, America is yet to officially confirm this.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out “preemptive strikes” on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Two loud explosions were heard in Tehran and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Saturday (Feb 28) announced a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran. According to Iranian media reports, three explosions were heard in downtown Tehran. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem as authorities issued an “extremely serious alert”.

US President Donald Trump, on Saturday, through his post on Truth Social, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead following the strikes earlier in the day

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran on Saturday morning, an Israeli official told Israeli media. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side. Moreover, two Israeli TV networks reported that the photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to US President Donals Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to unite and rise up against the Iranian regime.

“Don’t miss the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said in a Hebrew-language video statement.

“Soon your moment will come, the moment when you must take to the streets in your masses, to take to the streets to complete the work to bring down the regime of horrors that embitters your lives,” he said.

“Help has arrived,” Netanyahu said in English, calling on Iranians to join forces in toppling the regime.

A news report by Channel 12 claimed that Israel dropped around 30 bombs on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound in the airstrikes on Saturday morning. The report added that Khamenei was underground at the location, but not in one of the two deepest bunkers that only US bombs could have penetrated. 

Israel reportedly targeted around 30 key Iranian regime leaders and military chiefs in the initial strikes on Iran Saturday morning. Israel’s Kan state broadcaster reported that there are indications of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was expected by many to succeed his father, also being killed in the strikes.

Syria also condemned the “brutal attacks” by Iran on Arab countries, and its foreign minister called his counterparts in the region. Syria was a close Iranian ally until the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in late 2024. The new government, which is led by many former jihadists, has prioritized showing Western countries that it is committed to a future of moderation, but Israel has treated it with suspicion.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shabani called his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express solidarity, according to Damascus.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US-allied Arab states in the region following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The Palestinian Authority “affirms the solidarity of our people and their steadfastness alongside the sister Arab nations,” and expresses support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty,” said a statement carried by the official PA news outlet WAFA.

US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort on Saturday, the White House said, after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”
 

The US Transportation Department on Saturday urged all commercial vessels to stay away from the Gulf after the US and Israel launched heavy attacks on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are subject to “significant military activity” and “it is recommended that vessels keep clear of this area if possible,” the department's Maritime Administration said in a statement. US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships should also stay 30 nautical miles from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken as a threat, it added.

The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Saturday after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The session, due to start at 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia, and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries after joint strikes from the US and Israel on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the leaders said, “France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged the Iranian regime to end Iran’s nuclear programme, curb its ballistic missile programme, refrain from its destabilising activity in the region and our homelands, and to cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.”

“We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel, and partners in the region. We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life.”

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Iran’s prosecutor general warned on Saturday that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading rumours or threatening national security after attacks by the United States and Israel. The prosecutor’s office said In a statement that the public should remain calm and assist in maintaining security. It warned that individuals using social media or other platforms to spread fear or false information would face legal action without any leniency.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime Iranian security official and secretary of Iran's Defense Council, was reported killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the loss of a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said an Iran International report. Besides, four people were killed in Syra after a missile exploded in the industrial area in the city of Sweida, the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the escalation “must stop.”

“France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council,” Macron wrote in a post on X.

“The ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he added, warning that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.”

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles. “China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing's foreign ministry said. “Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

Israeli officials assess that the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, was likely killed in the strikes on Iranian targets Saturday morning, reported Times of Israel. Pakpour became head of the IRGC after Israel killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami, at the start of the June 2025 war.

The Israeli officials also assess that Iran’s minister of defence and chief of intelligence were also likely killed in the strikes; however, the assessments have yet to be confirmed by Iran or by the IDF.

Read full story here

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned strikes on ally Iran launched Saturday by the United States and Israel in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“Lavrov condemned the unprovoked armed attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which violates the principles and norms of international law and completely disregards the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan and vowed to “provide all its resources to assist them in any measures they take.”

The statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, does not address reports of an explosion in Riyadh amid Iran’s strikes on the US-allied Arab states.

The Israeli army said it was continuing to strike military targets in Iran on Saturday, including missile launchers in the west of the country. The army struck "hundreds of Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Iran", it said in a statement, adding that it was also "identifying and intercepting threats fired from Iran toward the State of Israel".

Qatar on Saturday condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory after several rounds of explosions were heard across Doha. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement voicing “its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory by Iranian ballistic missiles.” It added that it considers this a blatant violation of its national sovereignty and “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have decided to resume missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel in support of Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, said two senior Houthi officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said the rebels’ first attack could come as soon as ‘tonight’. The rebels had ceased their attacks on the Red Sea shipping route as part of a deal with the Trump administration that also halted US strikes against the Houthis. They also stopped their attacks against Israel after the ceasefire in October halted major fighting in Gaza.

Lufthansa announced Saturday it has cancelled it flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile launches.

The German airline group said in a statement it and its subsidiaries were also suspending flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday. It said the cancellations were due to the "current situation in the Middle East".

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group killed at least two fighters, sources from the powerful group Kataeb Hezbollah told AFP.

"There are two martyrs from Kataeb and another five wounded in the aggression" on the Jurf al-Sakher base, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, a Kataeb Hezbollah source said.

Another source said three fighters were killed.

The Israeli army warned Iranians in or near military infrastructure across Iran to evacuate on Saturday, after announcing it was conducting a "broad strike" on multiple military targets.

"To all individuals who are inside or in the vicinity of military weapons production factories and military infrastructure facilities across Iran: You are located near weapons and military facilities that are considered dangerous," the army said on its Farsi X account.

"For your safety and well-being, we urge you to immediately evacuate these areas and remain outside of them until further notice. Your presence in these locations puts your lives at risk," it added.

Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

AFP correspondents in the Saudi capital Riyadh heard loud explosions on Saturday, after Qatar and a US base in Bahrain were struck.

Two correspondents in Riyadh said they heard a loud bang and several explosions, after Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli attacks.

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

A bombing that targeted an Iraqi military base housing a pro-Iran group caused casualties, a security official and sources in the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP.

The Jurf al-Sakher base in southern Iraq belongs to Hashed al-Shaabi or the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) but mostly hosts the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

"The bombing targeted the 47th brigade of Kataeb Hezbollah," a source in the Hashed al-Shaabi told AFP. A security official and another Hashed source confirmed that the base was targeted.

A centre for the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has been hit in a "missile attack", Bahrain said Saturday, as Iran vowed retaliation following US and Israeli strikes.

"The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said, in a statement.

A series of explosions were heard and air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem on Saturday, AFP journalists reported, after Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran.

The military said earlier that it had identified a barrage of missiles launched from Iran.

Qatari defence systems on Saturday intercepted an Iranian missile, an official told AFP, as warning sirens sounded in the Gulf state.

Qatar's US-made Patriot interceptors downed an Iranian missile, the official said on condition of anonymity after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.

Abu Dhabi residents told AFP they heard loud explosions in the Emirati capital on Saturday, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which has vowed retaliation.

Two residents told AFP they heard the blasts. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel.

Earlier the UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Air France cancelled its Tel Aviv and Beirut flights on Saturday as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, saying it would provide schedule updates at a later date.

"Due to the security situation at the destination, the airline has decided to cancel its flights scheduled for February 28 to/from Tel Aviv and to/from Beirut," Air France told AFP.

Internet access was slashed in Iran on Saturday as Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic, monitor Netblocks said.

"Network data show Iran is now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout," Netblocks said on social media, adding the move "matches measures used during last year's war with Israel".

The United States embassy in Amman told its staff and US citizens in Jordan to shelter in place, as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"The US Embassy in Jordan 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, after sirens were heard in the capital.

The Israeli military said its strikes on Iran, in coordination with the United States, targeted dozens of military sites and followed months of joint planning between the allies.

"The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

AFP correspondents heard explosions in the Bahraini capital Manama on Saturday, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

It was unclear what the source of the explosions was.

Sirens were heard in the Jordanian capital on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran.

The public security directorate in Amman said "the meaning of the sirens will be as follows: three intermittent sirens mean there is a threat, and one siren means the threat has passed".

"When you hear the three sirens, it is advisable to stay where you are and not move. If you are outside your home, you should take shelter in the nearest building until the threat has passed," it added in a statement.

Emergency sirens went off in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the interior ministry said on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The siren has been sounded due to a hazard," said an interior ministry alert sent to residents' mobile phones. AFP correspondents in Manama also reported hearing the siren.

Jordan's military said its air force was conducting sorties on Saturday to protect the kingdom and its people, as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

"The sounds heard in the skies over a number of areas of the Kingdom are from aircraft belonging to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which are carrying out routine flights as part of their operational duties," a military source said, after sirens were reported in Amman.

"These sorties are part of aerial reconnaissance and inspection operations aimed at maintaining the safety of Jordanian airspace and ensuring that it is free from any attempts at infiltration or illegal activities," the source added.

AFP journalists heard several blasts over Jerusalem on Saturday following air raid sirens in the city, after the Israeli military said it had detected multiple barrages of missiles launched from Iran.

"An additional barrage of missiles was launched towards the State of Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice," the military said in a statement.

Warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace as Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, witnesses and a military source told AFP.

The military source said on condition of anonymity "our forces detected warplanes from the direction of Israel that crossed the airspace over Baghdad" and other provinces, adding that missiles were also seen flying over the northern province of Kirkuk.

"We saw several missiles flying at a low altitude" near the district of Dakuk in Kirkuk, two witnesses said. A soldier in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq told AFP he saw warplanes flying overhead.

Israel has named its latest operation against Iran “Lion’s Roar,” a title chosen personally by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces had been using a different internal name for the strikes, according to reports. Citing officials, The Times of Israel reports that the IDF had initially settled on its own operational designation. Netanyahu opted instead for a name that carries clearer symbolism and a reference to the June 2025 strikes against Iran. In June 2025, Israel’s previous operation targeting Iran was called “Rising Lion.”

Read more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran must not be allowed to gain nuclear arms and urged Israelis to "stand together" after Israel and the United States launched strikes against the Islamic republic on Saturday.

"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "Together we will stand, together we will fight and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel," he added.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, just an hour ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” Israeli PM Netanayahu said in a video message. “I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

Israel army says identified missiles launched from Iran

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel,” IDF said. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.”

Trump also warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police to lay down or face death.

“To the Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must all lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”

Trump said, “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

He added, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am doing tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So, let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating strength.”

Read more.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump says in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

<iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116147082884192486/embed" class="truthsocial-embed truthsocial-video" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

Short time ago, US begin major combat operations in Iran, US President Donald Trump said as quoted by Reuters.

The whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, are unknown after Israel, allegedly in a joint move with the United States, carried out a targeted preemptive strike near his headquarters in Tehran. It remains uncertain whether Khamenei was at his headquarters during the strike or if he sustained injuries from it. Citing an Iranian official, Reuters reported that the supreme leader was moved to a secure location.

Read more here.

Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued the followed advisory:

In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times.
2. Indian nationals are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
3. Updated instructions may be accessed at: https://oref.org.il/eng .
4. All Indian nationals should remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarize themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
5. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice.
6. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly.
7. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, through the 24x7 helpline:
Telephone: +972-54-7520711;
E-mail: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
8. The Embassy remains closely engaged with the relevant authorities and will continue to issue updates as necessary.

Israeli media reported that about 30 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including the Iranian President’s residence and an intelligence headquarters.

An Israeli defence official said the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago, Reuters reported.

As Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran, explosions are heard in the north and east of Tehran, as well as in Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reports.

AP reported, citing a US official, that the United States is participating in the military action in Iran, although the full extent of its involvement was not immediately clear. However, America is yet to officially confirm this.

Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights Saturday after announcing it had carried out “preemptive strikes” on Iran and sounding sirens in Jerusalem.

“Following the security developments, the Minister of Transportation has ordered the Director of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace of the State of Israel to civilian flights,” the minister, Miri Regev, announced.

Two loud explosions were heard in Tehran and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.

"The type of explosions suggests that this is a missile attack," the Fars news agency reported, without immediately providing further details.

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Saturday (Feb 28) announced a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran. According to Iranian media reports, three explosions were heard in downtown Tehran. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem as authorities issued an “extremely serious alert”.