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LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Crisis After Strikes on Iran – Day 2

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The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, including sites in Tehran, on Saturday, causing significant damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli territory and US military facilities across the Middle East.

2026-03-01T09:36+0000

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united states and israel launched coordinated strikes, iranian targets, sites in tehran, us military facilities across the middle east

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Crisis After Strikes on Iran – Day 2

09:36 GMT 01.03.2026

The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, including sites in Tehran, on Saturday, causing significant damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli territory and US military facilities across the Middle East.

As a result of the attack, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces’ General Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mohammad Pakpour, and Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Aziz Nasirzadeh also fell victim to the attack.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of True Promise 4, describing it as the most brutal offensive operation in the country’s history, targeting Israel and US military bases in the region.

Security officials and parliamentary leaders stated that attacks on US bases would continue and that the country was fully prepared for confrontation.

Follow Sputnik's live updates to find out more!

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07:15 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran's Armed Forces Down Israeli Hermes Drone in West of Country - Reports

Iran's military shot down an Israeli Hermes drone in the west of the country, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

An Israeli drone was shot down near the city of Khorramabad, the administrative center of the Lorestan province.

06:05 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran Announces New Wave of Missile and Drone Attacks on US Bases — Fars News Agency reports

Iranian missile and drone strikes have once again begun targeting locations in Doha (Qatar), Kuwait, Dubai (UAE), Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

05:10 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran Will Not Negotiate With US – Larijani

Donald Trump has plunged the region into chaos with "empty hopes," Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary said.

"He turned 'America First' into 'Israel First'—sacrificing US soldiers for Israeli ambitions. With new lies, he's again imposing the cost of his personality cult on American troops and their families," Ali Larijani stressed.

Iran's Armed Forces did not start the aggression, he concluded.

03:59 GMT 02.03.2026

We Will not Be Dragged into War — Lebanon's Prime Minister

Nawaf Salam strongly criticized the attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory.

"We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we shall take all necessary measures to stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese," he wrote on X.

03:58 GMT 02.03.2026

Lebanese Authorities Have Nothing to Do With Missile Launches Against Israel - President

Lebanese authorities have nothing to do with missile launches against Israel, which risk the country being drawn back into conflict, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said.

"We warn that continuing to use Lebanon as a platform for 'wars of support,' in which we are not involved, will once again expose our country to risks for which those who have ignored repeated calls to maintain security and stability in the country will bear responsibility," the presidential press service quoted Aoun as saying.

Aoun noted that the launch of missiles from Lebanese territory at dawn undermined all efforts and measures taken by the state to keep the country out of dangerous military clashes in the region, the consequences of which for Lebanon the authorities have repeatedly warned about and called for prudence and a responsible approach that puts supreme national interests above all else.

01:31 GMT 02.03.2026

Hezbollah Claims Strike at Israeli Missile Defense Base South of Haifa

The Lebanese pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah claims to have struck an Israeli missile defense base near Haifa.

"We launched a salvo of missiles and a squadron of drones at the Mishmar HaCarmel missile defense site south of Haifa," the group said in a statement.

01:28 GMT 02.03.2026

Israeli Army Announces Beginning of Strikes Against Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon

The Israeli army has announced the beginning of strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Earlier, the army reported air raid sirens sounding in several areas of northern Israel after having detected projectiles fired from Lebanon.

"In response to Hezbollah's projectile fire toward the State of Israel, the IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets," the army announced.

00:02 GMT 02.03.2026

Drone Hits UK's Akrotiri Air Base in Cyprus — Reports

A "small drone" impacted the airfield of the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base near Limassol, the Cyprus Mail reported.

22:30 GMT 01.03.2026

UK Open Bases for US Strikes on Iran — But Won't Join 'Offensive Actions'

Keir Starmer confirms Britain will allow American forces to use UK military facilities for "specific and limited defensive purpose" — strikes on storage depots and launchers.

The prime minister added that the UK will bring "experts from Ukraine" to help shooting Iranian drones.

British soldiers will not participate in "offensive action," Starmer noted.

"We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now."

22:29 GMT 01.03.2026

Operations Will Continue in 'Full Force' until Objectives Achieved — Trump

The president confirms the campaign against Iran is far from over, warning that more American casualties are coming.

"Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives," he said.

22:27 GMT 01.03.2026

Gulf Cooperation Council Calls for Immediate End to Iran's Attacks

The Gulf countries stressed the need for an immediate end to Iran's attacks to ensure the stability of global energy markets, according to a joint statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers.

"The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stresses the need for an immediate end to Iran's attacks and reaffirms the importance of ensuring the security of maritime navigation and air travel in the region, as well as protecting supply chains and maintaining the stability of global energy markets," the statement says.

21:01 GMT 01.03.2026

US CENTCOM Reveals Use of Some ‘Special Capabilities’ in Iran Operation

The United States will use four types of fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, and drones in its operation against Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The fighters included F-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35 aircraft, as well as A-10 attack aircraft, the statement said.

The list includes B-2 strategic bombers, EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, airborne early warning and control aircraft, communications aircraft, P-8 patrol aircraft, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, Lukas drones, MQ-9 Reaper, counter-drone systems, tankers, and C-17 Globemaster and C-130 military transport aircraft, the statement added.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also disclosed deploying classified "special capabilities" during the Iran operation but declined to elaborate.

"US ASSETS EMPLOYED [during the operation against Iran] ... special capabilities we can't list here!" the command said on X.

20:34 GMT 01.03.2026

IRGC Says Missile, Drone Strike Disabled US Carrier Group Tanker

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that it launched a missile and drone attack on a refueling tanker from a US aircraft carrier group.

"A refueling ship of the US aircraft carrier group was attacked by drones and missile systems 700 kilometers [434.96 miles] from the port of Chabahar [in southeastern Iran], leaving it disabled," the statement read, quoted by Iran's state broadcaster IRIB.

IRGC also announced precision strikes on THAAD radar site at Al-Ruwais, UAE.

18:49 GMT 01.03.2026

Israel Detects Fresh Iranian Missile Launch, Interceptors Engaged - Army

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that it has detected another missile launch from Iran targeting Israeli territory, with air defenses actively intercepting.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the statement read.

18:48 GMT 01.03.2026

Iran's Decentralized Defense Allows to Determine When Military Action Will End - Tehran

A decentralized, multi-layered defense allows Iran to determine for itself when and how military action will end, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday.

"Bombings in our capital have no impact on our ability to conduct war. Decentralized Mosaic Defense enables us to decide when—and how—war will end," Araghchi said X.

18:48 GMT 01.03.2026

UAE Shuts Embassy in Tehran, Withdraws Ambassador Amid Escalation - Foreign Ministry

The United Arab Emirates has decided to close its embassy in Tehran and withdraw its ambassador and all diplomats from the Iranian capital due to escalating regional tensions, the UAE Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

"The UAE announces the closure of the embassy in Tehran and the recall of the ambassador and all members of the diplomatic mission in Iran," the statement read.

18:48 GMT 01.03.2026

Cuba Slams Khamenei's Assassination as Heinous Breach of International Law - President

The assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is a heinous violation of international law, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said on Sunday.

Khamenei was assassinated in his office early Saturday morning as a result of the US-Israeli missile strike. Iran's government responded by declaring 40 days of national mourning and a week-long shutdown. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and army vowed to avenge Khamenei's death in published statements

"This heinous act is a violation of all norms of international law," Diaz-Canel said on X.

The president offered condolences to Iran's people and government.

Cuba will remember Khamenei as an outstanding leader who advanced friendly ties between Iran and the Latin American state, he added.

18:47 GMT 01.03.2026

US, Israel Strike Gandhi Hospital in Central Tehran - Reports

The United States and Israel struck the Gandhi Hospital, located in the center of Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

18:47 GMT 01.03.2026

Iraqi Shiite Militant Group Claims Drone Strike on US Base in Erbil

The Iraqi Shiite militant group Saraya Awliya al-Dam said on Sunday that it conducted a drone strike on the US bases in Erbil.

"Fulfilling our religious duty and avenging the blood of fallen martyr [Iran's Supreme Leader] Ali Husseini Khamenei, as well as in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran, our brave fighters carried out an attack using a group of drones on US bases in Erbil on Sunday, March 1, 2026," the statement read.

18:46 GMT 01.03.2026

Iran's State Television, Radio Company Operating as Usual – State Media

The Iranian state television and radio company is continuing to broadcast normally, and technical specialists are assessing possible damage from the strike, according to a statement from the broadcaster.

"At the moment, the programs of the state television and radio company are being broadcast normally. Technical specialists are assessing possible damage," a presenter said.