Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Iran's next supreme leader, Iranian state media reports

He is the son of assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His successor is yet to be named.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

(Read previous Iran live updates here.)

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Mar 08, 2026, 11:21 AM EDT

Death toll nears 400 in Lebanon, country's health ministry says

Nearly 400 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran and its proxies in the region, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

Of the 394 people who have been killed in Lebanon since Feb. 28, 83 were children and 42 women, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.

-ABC News Ghazi Balkiz

Mar 08, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT

Explosion damages US embassy in Norway

The Norwegian police said an explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo early Sunday morning damaged the building, but no injuries were reported.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. "at one of the entrances" to the embassy, the Norwegian police said in a statement.

Police officers and technicians inspect the American embassy after a loud bang was reported at the site, in Oslo, Norway, March 8, 2026.
Hans O. Torgersen/Ntb via Reuters

The cause of the explosion remained under investigation.

Damages at the U.S. Embassy after a loud bang was reported at the site, in Oslo, Norway, March 8, 2026.
Fredrik Varfjell/Ntb via Reuters

"The police take such incidents in public spaces very seriously, and are investigating the case with large resources and high priority," the police said. "Investigations have been carried out at the scene and with both dogs, drones and helicopters looking for one or more potential perpetrators."

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Mar 08, 2026, 9:38 AM EDT

Pope Leo warns the conflict in Iran is fueling fear and hatred

In his Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Leo warned that the conflict in Iran was fueling fear and hatred and raised concerns that it could spread further as fighting escalates.

"We raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the clamor of bombs may cease, that weapons may fall silent, and that a space for dialogue may open up in which the voice of the peoples can be heard," Leo said.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti

Mar 08, 2026, 9:06 AM EDT

Injuries reported in central Israel from 'projectile fragments'

Israeli police said on Sunday that they are responding to "several impact sites involving projectile fragments" within the Central and Tel Aviv districts.

Israeli emergency services said they were transferring at least six injured people to a hospital, including one man in serious condition.

Property damage has also been reported, according to the police.

"A short time ago, the Israel Police received reports regarding the fall of projectile fragments. Police officers and police bomb disposal units are currently operating at the scenes to isolate and secure the impact sites," the police said in a statement.

-ABC News Jordana Miller

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