Israel and the US launched what they called a “preemptive strike” against Iran Saturday morning, plunging the region into chaos as Tehran launched counter strikes that also targeted American military bases across the Gulf.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack, Iran had confirmed Sunday, after which Alireza Arafi was picked as the interim successor. Arafi has been appointed the jurist member of the temporary leadership council to fulfill the Supreme Leader’s role.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had first announced the strike Saturday that many believed was a long time in making, with the White House stepping up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump described the military action as “massive and ongoing”, and plainly called for a regime change. He urged Iranians to “take over your government” and accused Tehran of working to rebuild its nuclear programme. Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. Iran’s state media said the country was preparing for a “a crushing response”.
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09.10 am: ‘Launching of rockets from southern Lebanon an irresponsible & suspicious act’
Earlier Monday morning, Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam had slammed Hezbollah’s missile attack on Israel, saying, “Regardless of the party standing behind it, the launching of rockets from southern Lebanon is an irresponsible and suspicious act that endangers Lebanon’s security and safety and provides Israel with pretexts to continue its attacks on it. We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese.”
أياً كانت الجهة التي تقف وراءها، فإنّ عملية إطلاق الصواريخ من جنوب لبنان عمل غير مسؤول ومشبوه، ويعرّض امن لبنان وسلامته للخطر ويمنح اسرائيل الذرائع لمواصلة اعتداءاتها عليه.
لن نسمح بجر البلاد إلى مغامرات جديدة، وسنتخذ كل الإجراءات اللازمة لتوقيف الفاعلين وحماية اللبنانيين.— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafsalam) March 2, 2026
08.45 am: Israel strikes Beirut
Israel has carried out over a dozen airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, after the Iran-backed group launched missiles and drones towards Israel to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death. People were seen fleeing on foot and by car, clogging the roads, after the series of strikes began around 2.40 am. (0040 GMT), Reuters reported.
“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation,” Israeli Chief of the General Staff, Eyal Zamir, said in a statement.