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Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv damaged at least 40 buildings, forcing more than 200 residents to evacuate their homes and take shelter in three hotels, Israeli daily Haaretz reported, citing the city municipality. The strikes came after Iran vowed sweeping retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack. Missiles were fired at targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to issue stark warnings against further escalation. Iran confirmed Khamenei’s death, saying he was killed in an Israeli-American airstrike on his Tehran office on Saturday, a development that has cast uncertainty over the future of the Islamic Republic and heightened fears of regional instability. Iranian state television said the 86-year-old leader’s death at his office “showed that he consistently stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities, confronting what officials call global arrogance.” Trump described the killing as an opportunity for Iranians to reclaim their country, writing on social media: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.” Iran’s Cabinet said the attack was a “great crime” that “will never go unanswered,” while the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned of its “most intense offensive operation” yet, targeting Israeli and American bases. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised address: “You have crossed our red line and must pay the price. We will deliver such devastating blows that you yourselves will be driven to beg.” Trump responded online, saying: “Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before,” adding, “THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!” Following the initial strikes, Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The Israeli military said dozens of missiles were fired, many of them intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported that a woman died Saturday night from wounds sustained in a missile strike in the Tel Aviv area. Air traffic across the Middle East was disrupted as air defense systems activated, with explosions heard over Dubai into Sunday morning. UAE state media said shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital killed one person, while debris from interceptions sparked fires at the city’s main port and damaged the facade of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. The attack marked a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement, raising the risk of broader conflict and underscoring a major show of military force by an American president who campaigned on an “America First” platform and pledged to avoid “forever wars.” Khamenei’s killing, the second major U.S.-led strike on Iran during Trump’s current term, is expected to leave a power vacuum, as no clear successor had been named and the supreme leader held ultimate authority over state policy for decades, overseeing both the clerical establishment and the Revolutionary Guard. “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” Trump said. Iran swiftly formed a governing council to run the country until a new supreme leader is selected. State media also reported that the head of the Revolutionary Guard and a senior security adviser to Khamenei were killed in the airstrikes. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour assumed command of the Guard after its previous leader was killed in last June’s 12-day war, while adviser Ali Shamkhani was described by IRNA as a long-standing figure in Iran’s security establishment. As news of Khamenei’s death spread, some residents in Tehran were seen celebrating, cheering from rooftops, blowing whistles and ululating, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Associated Press. Elsewhere, mourners raised a black flag over the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and a key Shiite pilgrimage site. The government declared 40 days of national mourning and a seven-day public holiday. Citing unnamed sources, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported that several of Khamenei’s relatives were also killed, including a daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and a grandchild.

Air travel across the Middle East and beyond was severely disrupted Saturday after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting several countries to shut their airspace and close major airports linking Europe, Africa and the West with Asia. Airports across the region remained closed Sunday as the conflict entered its second day. Emirates suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Sunday afternoon. Qatar Airways said operations at Qatar’s main airport would remain halted until at least Monday morning. Israeli airspace also stayed closed. The sweeping closures have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide. Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain shut their airspace Saturday, forcing hundreds of thousands of travelers to either delay journeys or divert to alternative airports. According to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, there was no flight activity over the United Arab Emirates following a government announcement of a “temporary and partial” airspace closure. Major hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha were shut down, leading to more than 1,800 flight cancellations by key regional carriers. The three major airlines operating from those hubs — Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways — typically handle around 90,000 transit passengers daily, aviation analytics firm Cirium said. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported incidents at two airports, condemning what they described as a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles.” Officials at Dubai International Airport said four people were injured, while Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport reported one fatality and seven injuries following a drone strike. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport. Although Iran did not officially claim responsibility, Gulf states said retaliatory strikes attributed to Tehran extended beyond previously declared American military targets. Aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, warned travelers to expect continued disruption. “There’s no way to soften this. Passengers should be prepared for delays and cancellations over the next few days,” he said. Airlines rerouting flights to avoid the conflict are diverting aircraft south over Saudi Arabia, adding hours to journeys and increasing fuel consumption. Prolonged disruption could drive up ticket prices. The added traffic is also expected to strain Saudi air traffic control services, while countries closing their skies will lose overflight fee revenue. Mike McCormick, a former U.S. air traffic control official now teaching at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said limited reopening of certain airspace sectors may be possible in the coming days once military flight paths are clarified and missile threats reassessed. However, the duration of the disruption remains uncertain. By comparison, a previous Israeli and U.S. strike on Iran in June 2025 lasted 12 days. Airlines worldwide urged passengers to check flight status before traveling to airports. Some carriers issued waivers allowing affected travelers to rebook without additional fees. At least 145 aircraft bound for destinations such as Tel Aviv and Dubai were diverted to cities including Athens, Istanbul and Rome, according to FlightAware. Some flights returned to their departure points, including one that flew nearly 15 hours from Philadelphia to Spain before turning back. India’s aviation authorities classified much of Middle Eastern airspace as high risk, prompting cancellations by several airlines. Air India suspended all flights to the region. Turkish Airlines halted services to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until Monday, and also suspended flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. U.S. carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines paused Tel Aviv flights through the weekend. KLM had earlier suspended operations to and from Tel Aviv. Other airlines, including Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia and Pegasus Airlines, canceled flights to Lebanon, while American Airlines suspended services from Philadelphia to Doha. Virgin Atlantic said it would avoid Iraqi airspace, potentially lengthening flights to India, the Maldives and Riyadh. British Airways suspended services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until next week and canceled flights to Amman on Saturday. Analysts cautioned that travelers should brace for ongoing uncertainty. “If you haven’t left yet, you may not be traveling for several days, if not longer,” Harteveldt said, advising those attempting to return home to explore alternative routes as disruptions persist.  

Thousands of people in central Iran’s Yasuj city joined the start of the mourning period for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a video posted by Iran’s Tasnim news agency showed. The footage showed mourners beating their heads and chests, a traditional practice in Iran during mourning. Similar scenes were reported in Lorestan province, according to the Tehran Times newspaper. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior security officials have been killed amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed revenge, claiming it has launched attacks on 27 bases hosting US forces in the Middle East, as well as Israeli military sites in Tel Aviv. Explosions have also been reported in Qatar and the UAE. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face “a force that has never been seen before” if it strikes “very hard today.” Iran’s government said an interim council, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, will manage the country until a new supreme leader is chosen. State media reported that at least 201 people have died in attacks across 24 provinces. Iran’s retaliatory strikes have targeted Israeli and US positions in several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.  

The number of fatalities from a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on a girls’ primary school in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province has risen to 148, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday. The assault also injured 95 people, local prosecutor Ebrahim Taheri said. According to Taheri, most of those killed in the attack were students, while teachers, school employees and parents were also among the victims. On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran and several other cities, including Tabriz, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Karaj. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. The strikes on Tehran reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Secretary of the country’s Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, and Mohammad Pakpour, chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over the military escalation in the Middle East, warning that further escalation threatens to worsen global instability. In a statement issued Saturday, the chairperson said he is "deeply concerned by the reported military strikes carried out by the United States in coordination with Israeli forces against targets inside Iran, an escalation that marks a serious intensification of hostilities in the Middle East." At least 51 students killed as US-Israel strikes on Iran escalate into regional crisis Calling for restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained dialogue, Youssouf stressed that all parties must act fully in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter to safeguard international peace and security. He warned that further escalation threatens to worsen global instability, with serious implications for energy markets, food security and economic resilience, particularly in Africa, where conflict and economic pressures remain acute. The commission chief urged all concerned actors to prioritize diplomatic engagement to prevent a further deterioration and uphold the international rules-based order. Iran’s IRGC chief, defence minister reportedly killed in Israeli strikes "Sustainable peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, not through force," Youssouf said.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the United States has launched “major combat operations” in Iran, accusing the Iranian regime of an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” against the US. In a video posted on Truth Social in the early hours, Trump said the US strikes, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He insisted that Iran will never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Trump claimed Tehran had ignored repeated opportunities to abandon its nuclear ambitions and continued developing long-range missiles capable of threatening US allies in Europe, American troops abroad, and potentially the US homeland. He vowed to destroy Iran’s missile industry and “annihilate” its navy, reports BBC. The president also criticized Iran’s 47-year campaign of chanting “Death to America,” warning that US forces may suffer casualties in the operation. Addressing the Iranian people, Trump urged them to rise up and “take over your government,” declaring, “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”  

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed it launched missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for recent US-Israeli strikes. “In response to the aggression of the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of extensive missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the occupied territories has begun,” the IRGC said. United States President Donald Trump announced that the US has begun “major combat operations” in Iran following the missile attacks claimed by Israel, reports Al Jazeera. A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera, “All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target. There are no red lines after this aggression, and everything is possible, including scenarios that were not previously considered.” The official also said, “The United States and Israel have started an aggression and a war that will have wide and long-lasting repercussions. We were not surprised by the joint American-Israeli aggression and we have a complex response with no time limit,” adding that any calls for Iran to show restraint or surrender are “unacceptable and mere wishful thinking.” Multiple explosions have been reported in Tehran and other parts of Iran, while state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian is “safe and sound.” The senior official added that Israel should “prepare for what is coming, and our response will be public, and there are no red lines.” President Pezeshkian on Thursday dismissed Trump’s accusation that Tehran was seeking the bomb, stating that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons. Earlier this week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the UN Conference on Disarmament that Iran would “never seek nuclear weapons,” calling for full disarmament and peaceful nuclear energy use. Air travel has been heavily disrupted in the region. Wizz Air suspended flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until March 7. Lufthansa canceled flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Muscat for the weekend. KLM canceled flights from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, while Oman Air suspended flights to Baghdad. Russia suspended all flights to Iran and Israel. Iraq closed its airspace, and Israel canceled all civilian flights. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks on Iran were aimed at removing an “existential threat,” adding that “joint action” by Israel and the US “will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands” and praised Trump for his “historic leadership.” Tehran struck near Khamenei’s office Explosions were reported near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office in Tehran, though it was unclear if the 86-year-old leader was present. Khamenei has not appeared publicly in recent days as tensions with the United States escalate, reports AP. U.S. military buildup pressures Iran The strikes came as Washington deployed a large fleet of fighter jets and warships to the region to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal. Although Iran claims it has not enriched uranium since June, it has blocked international inspectors from sites bombed during a 12-day conflict. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press suggest Iran is assessing and possibly recovering material at some of these locations. Missile ranges and concerns Iran maintains a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missiles, restricting them to 2,000 kilometers, covering the Middle East and parts of eastern Europe. There is no public evidence Iran is pursuing intercontinental missiles, although the U.S. has raised concerns over its space program. Explosions rock northern Israel Hours after the Iranian strikes, northern Israel reported explosions as air defense systems attempted to intercept incoming missiles. Sirens also sounded in Jordan, and several Israeli hospitals activated emergency protocols, moving patients and surgeries underground. The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace amid heightened tensions. Blasts across Tehran and surrounding areas Roads near Khamenei’s compound were shut down, and additional blasts were reported across Tehran. Iraq also closed its airspace. Israeli officials said the strikes targeted Iranian military, government, and intelligence sites. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attacks as aimed “to remove threats.” Houthi rebels vow retaliation Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen pledged to resume missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and Israel in support of Iran, with officials warning the first strike could come “as soon as tonight.” The Houthis had paused attacks under agreements with the Trump administration and a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza last October.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane carrying newly printed Bolivian banknotes crashed Friday near the capital, leaving at least 15 people dead, injuring others and damaging numerous vehicles, officials said. Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the aircraft skidded off the runway while landing at an airport in El Alto, a city next to La Paz, before coming to rest in a nearby field. Flames engulfed the plane but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. Fire chief Pavel Tovar confirmed at least 15 fatalities but did not specify whether the victims were on board the aircraft or in vehicles traveling along the adjacent highway. Around 15 cars were reported damaged, with debris and bodies scattered across the roadway. Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora said the plane had six crew members and was arriving from Santa Cruz. By late Friday, two crew members remained unaccounted for. The military aircraft was transporting currency to La Paz when the crash sent bills flying across the scene. Videos circulating online showed crowds attempting to gather the scattered money as police in riot gear tried to push them back. Tovar said the large number of people collecting cash complicated rescue operations. Authorities deployed more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers to secure the area. In the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, officials burned the cash containers, saying the banknotes had no legal value because they had not yet entered circulation. Espinoza did not disclose the amount being transported but noted the bills had recently arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad. Flights to and from the airport were temporarily suspended as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash.  

Donald Trump said Friday he is dissatisfied with the latest negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program but signaled he is willing to allow more time for diplomacy before considering military action. His remarks followed another inconclusive round of indirect U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva. While American military assets continue to build up in the Middle East, Trump has warned that force remains an option if Tehran refuses a sweeping agreement. Iran, for its part, maintains that its uranium enrichment is for peaceful energy purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, Trump criticized Iran’s negotiating stance, saying the U.S. was unhappy with the progress and reiterating that Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons.” Later, during a visit to Texas, he suggested Iranian officials were unwilling to make sufficient concessions. He repeated his opposition to Iran enriching uranium at any level, arguing the oil-rich country has no need to do so. Asked how close he was to authorizing military strikes, Trump declined to elaborate, acknowledging that any conflict carries risks. Despite Trump’s critical tone, Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi — who is mediating the talks — publicly urged patience. In an interview with CBS, he said a deal was achievable if negotiators were given adequate space to resolve outstanding issues. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel early next week to discuss regional matters including Iran, Lebanon and Gaza. The State Department’s announcement of the trip, combined with Trump’s comments, suggested any immediate strike may not be imminent. Rubio also designated Iran a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” citing the arrest of Americans and other foreign nationals. He warned that Washington could potentially invalidate U.S. passports for travel to or from Iran — a restriction currently applied only to North Korea — if Tehran does not change its behavior. At the same time, a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said inspectors have not regained access to key Iranian nuclear facilities since they were heavily bombed during a 12-day conflict launched by Israel last June. The agency said it could not verify Iran’s claim that enrichment activities ceased after U.S. and Israeli strikes. Security concerns are rising across the region. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem authorized the voluntary departure of nonessential personnel and their families, with Ambassador Mike Huckabee encouraging those considering leaving to do so quickly. Several countries, including Britain, Germany, Australia and China, have also advised citizens to avoid travel to Israel or Iran, and some airlines have suspended flights from Tel Aviv. Diplomatic activity continues in parallel. Omani mediators met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and technical discussions are planned in Vienna next week. Iran’s foreign minister has reiterated that sanctions relief must be part of any agreement. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called on both sides to prioritize diplomacy, noting that while positive signals have emerged from negotiations, military movements in the region remain deeply concerning.

Pakistan and Afghanistan traded overnight cross-border strikes in a sharp escalation of hostilities, prompting Pakistan’s defense minister to declare the two nations are now in “open war.” Late Thursday, Afghanistan launched attacks on Pakistani targets, saying they were in response to deadly Pakistani airstrikes along Afghan border regions earlier in the week. Early Friday, Pakistan retaliated with airstrikes in Kabul and two additional provinces, stating that military facilities were targeted. Relations between the neighbors have been strained for months. Deadly border clashes in October killed soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of sheltering militant groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan and of strengthening ties with rival India. A ceasefire brokered by Qatar halted heavy fighting in October, but subsequent peace talks in Turkey failed to secure a durable settlement. Sporadic clashes have continued since. Qatar’s minister of state, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, held calls Friday with both countries’ foreign ministers in an attempt to calm tensions. Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid described the latest strikes as a warning to Pakistan, accusing it of avoiding dialogue. Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, responded that Pakistan’s “patience has run out,” declaring the conflict an open war. He added that Islamabad had hoped stability would follow NATO’s 2021 withdrawal but instead accused the Taliban of drawing closer to India. Asif further alleged that Afghanistan was “exporting terrorism,” repeating long-standing Pakistani claims that Kabul supports the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups. Kabul denies these accusations, and Mujahid said Pakistan’s militancy problems are internal and longstanding. Both sides issued sharply conflicting casualty figures. Pakistan’s military said hundreds of Afghan forces and militants were killed or wounded, while reporting a dozen Pakistani soldiers killed. Afghan officials rejected those numbers, claiming heavier Pakistani losses and reporting Afghan military and civilian casualties from Pakistani strikes in Khost and Paktika provinces. Independent verification was not immediately possible. Pakistan also reported thwarting drone attacks in northwestern cities, blaming Pakistani Taliban elements and alleging links to Afghanistan’s Taliban government. International actors urged restraint. Turkey’s foreign minister held calls with regional counterparts, while the United Nations secretary-general called for diplomacy and civilian protection. Russia and Iran also pressed for an immediate halt to the fighting and offered support for dialogue. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities relocated Afghan refugees from border areas amid security concerns. Since Pakistan began expelling undocumented migrants in late 2023, millions have returned to Afghanistan, according to the U.N. refugee agency, with tens of thousands returning this year alone.