Trump warns IRGC against retaliation | IRGC threatens revenge for Khamenei's killing | IAF strikes over 30 targets in Iran

12:11 - Defense Minister Katz: Uninterrupted air bridge to strike Tehran targets

Defense Minister Israel Katz said that an uninterrupted aerial campaign will now target sites in Tehran, following the latest wave of Israeli Air Force strikes.

In a statement, Katz said that “from now on, an unceasing air bridge will operate to carry out powerful strikes against key targets in Tehran,” signaling an intensification of Israel’s military operations. (Ynet)

10:20 - IAF carrying out extensive airstrikes in Iran

The Israeli Air Force is carrying out an extensive wave of airstrikes against “targets of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran,” the IDF announced.

"The Air Force, guided by Military Intelligence, has now launched a broad wave of strikes toward targets of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran," the IDF said.

Over the past day, the Air Force conducted extensive strikes to achieve air superiority and open the path to Tehran, the military spokesman stated.

10:15 - Sirens sound across Israel in latest missile barrage

Sirens sounded across a large swath of Israel after ballistic missile fire from Iran was detected. Affected areas included the Golan Heights, Haifa Bay area, and central Israel, including Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, down to Ashkelon near the Gaza border.

09:20 - Iranian Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani says country to be lead by leadership council

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, an advisor to Khamenei announced that "in accordance with the constitution, a leadership council will be established that will take on the responsibility of the Supreme Leader until his successor is chosen,” Tasnim News reported.

“An interim leadership council will soon be formed. The president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council will assume responsibility until the election of the next leader,” Larijani said.

“This council will be established as soon as possible. We are working to form it as early as today,” he said in an interview broadcast by state TV.

07:40 - DM Katz praises Netanyahu for elimination of Khamenei

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a statement this morning, saying, "The tyrant Khamenei was thwarted in the opening blow of 'Operation Roaring Lion', and with him other senior figures in the Iranian terrorist stronghold."

"Those who worked to destroy Israel were destroyed. Justice was done and the axis of evil suffered a fatal blow," he stated.

Katz also congratulated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his "leadership and determination" and the IDF for its "brilliant performance." He added, "We will continue to act with all our might to defend the State of Israel."

07:35 - Trump warns IRGC against retaliation

U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the IRGC threats of retaliation by warning that if targeted, the U.S. “will hit them with a force that has never been seen before.” 

“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump posted to his Truth Social account. 

06:40 - Sirens sound across Israel in latest Iranian missile barrage

Sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sharon and Judea and Samaria areas, as well as in the areas of Be'er Sheva and the Dead Sea. 

🚨Sirens sounding across central Israel🚨 pic.twitter.com/ZdsfMEBfez

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 1, 2026

05:35 - U.S. & Israel targeted Khamenei's residence with over 30 bombs

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli and U.S. military intelligence had long waited for an opportunity to target senior political and military leaders in Iran during a meeting—where they could all be killed at once. This opportunity came on Saturday morning — when Israeli intelligence officers identified not just one, but three meetings — including with Khamenei. According to the report, the moment was so unique that it was decided to attack in broad daylight, and U.S. and Israeli planes dropped 30 bombs on Khamenei's residence, leaving it scorched and shattered. 

Israel has also claimed to have killed a number of other top political and military officials including Ali Shamkhani, a top security adviser to Khamenei; Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh. 

04:45 - IRGC threatens revenge on U.S. and Israel over killing of Khamenei

After the official announcement in Iran of the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp threatened, "The Iranian people will continue to extend their hand for revenge, and the necks of the murderers will not escape a harsh, decisive and deterrent punishment. We will resolutely continue in the path of our leader, defend his precious legacy, and stand firmly and conspiracies, both internal and external, we will punish the attackers of the Islamic homeland in a deterrent manner.” 

“The hand of revenge of the Iranian nation for a severe, decisive and regrettable punishment for the murderers of the Imam of the Ummah will not let go of them,” the IRGC said in a statement.

The IRGC also threatened that "the most brutal offensive operation in the history of Iran's armed forces will begin in a short time against the occupied territories and American terrorist bases.” 

04:10 - IAF strikes over 30 targets in Iran

The IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force has completed an attack on over 30 targets in Iran.

"Dozens of fighter jets attacked under the direction of Military Intelligence and recently completed another wave of attacks to damage the Iranian terror regime's ballistic missile system and air defense systems in western and central Iran," the IDF Spokesperson said.

The spokesman said the strikes hit over 30 targets in western and central Iran, including aerial defense systems, missile launchers, regime targets and military command centers.

"The IDF will continue to degrade the Iranian terror regime’s capabilities until they can no longer threaten our people," he stated.

According to a report in CBS News, U.S. aircraft participated in the strikes.

03:45 - Iranian state TV officially announces Khamenei's death

While the news had been reported in other Iranian news outlets, Iran's state television officially announced that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes.

The report said Khamenei was at his compound in downtown Tehran when the initial strikes occurred.

Khamenei'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,” the state TV broadcast said.

The report also announced 40 days of public mourning.

Reports on social media continue to show celebrations among the Iranian populace as the news about Khamenei's death has spread across the country.

03:15 - About 40 Iranian officials killed in strikes so far

CBS News reported that about 40 senior Iranian officials have been killed in the Israeli and U.S. airstrikes in the Islamic Republic which started on Saturday morning.

02:45 - U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth threatens Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a warning to the Iranian regime on social media citing the regime's failure to negotiate a deal, and stating on his official X account that, "We (the US) will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed. And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."

Overnight, on President Trump’s orders, the Department of War commenced OPERATION EPIC FURY — the most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history.

The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the…

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) February 28, 2026

02:30 - Iranian media confirms Khamenei's death

Iranian state media officially confirmed the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli strikes in Iran on Saturday.

While U.S. President Donald Trump and a senior Israeli official had reported Khamenei's death, Tehran had initially resisted confirming the report.

Ali Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were also killed in the airstrikes, according to reports by the Iranian news agency Mehr. The confirmation was received from sources at the Supreme Leader's residence, the outlet said.

01:50 - IAF targets ballistic missile launchers in Iran

The IAF struck a missile launch site in the Qom area in Central Iran, the IDF reported.

The strike targeted a site that stored Ghadr H-1 ballistic missiles carrying hundreds of pounds of explosives. The strike will prevent additional launches that pose a threat to the civilians of the State of Israel and the broader Middle East, the military said.

01:35 - Renewed missile and drone barrages following announcement of Khamenei’s death 

Following the official announcement of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death by the Israeli government, Iran renewed ballistic missile and drone attacks on the Jewish State. 

Sirens were heard across the country after the barrage of missiles were detected. 

The IDF reported the interception of three Iranian drones; two in the Golan and northern Galilee, and one in the south of the country.

There were no reports of casualties.

🚨Sirens sounding across Israel🚨 pic.twitter.com/K0thgrUA7N

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 28, 2026

01:00 - Secretary Rubio’s visit to Israel canceled due to war 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned visit to Israel has been canceled due to the current war with Iran. Secretary Rubio had been expected to visit Israel to discuss the Iran threat and the status of negotiations between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic, among other things.