As Iran retaliates, largest US military base in Middle East hit by ballistic missile, Qatar says

No one was injured, according to the Qatari Ministry of Defense.

ByJon Haworth, Jack Moore, Nadine El-Bawab, David Brennan, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, and Leah Sarnoff
Last Updated: March 3, 2026, 10:02 PM EST

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

On Sunday, Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran is responding to the U.S.-Israeli operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and Gulf nations. American diplomatic facilities have also been attacked.

In Lebanon, Israel is intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah militia.

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Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 01, 2026, 3:06 AM EST

Khamenei killed in 'opening blow,' Israeli defense minister says

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the "opening blow" of the U.S.-Israel operation on Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X on Sunday.

Mourners wave flags following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026.
Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/Shutterstock

Katz congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his "leadership and determination," and the Israel Defense Forces for its "brilliant execution."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Ellie Kaufman

Mar 01, 2026, 2:50 AM EST

State media confirms deaths of 2 senior Iranian officials

Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Defense Council, and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in strikes on Saturday.

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is pictured in Tehran, on Feb. 27, 2022.
Ehsan Nadripour/IRNA/AFP via Getty Images

ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Ellie Kaufman

Mar 01, 2026, 2:46 AM EST

Iran's parliament speaker warns protesters not to side with enemies

Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a speech on Sunday morning that the U.S. and Israel had crossed a red line in launching their attacks on Iran, vowing strong retaliation.

People react as they gather at the Enghelab Square, after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026.
Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters

In his speech, which was broadcast on Iranian state television, Qaribah also addressed Iranian protesters directly, acknowledging their legitimate concerns but adding that no one should side with Iran's enemies.

Qalibaf said that the heart of the Iranian nation was broken after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and pledged that the path he forged would continue.

ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Ellie Kaufman

Mar 01, 2026, 12:55 AM EST

Trump warns Iran not to escalate attacks, says the US will strike back

In a new post on his social media platform Sunday morning, President Donald Trump warned Iran not to escalate its attacks, following U.S. strikes against the country.

"Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before," Trump wrote in the post. "THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!"

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