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.

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

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 02, 2026, 9:47 AM EST

US intel did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch preemptive strike, sources say

Congressional staff were told by Trump administration officials in private briefings Sunday that Iran was not preparing to launch a preemptive strike against U.S. interests based on U.S. intelligence reports, four people familiar with the briefing told ABC News. CNN was the first to report this news.

This conflicts with what President Donald Trump and senior Trump administration officials said over the weekend.

The administration officials said there were indicators the Iranians could launch a preemptive attack against U.S. forces and allies in the region.

Trump said in his video address to the nation on Saturday, "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran, March 1, 2026.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

Trump told ABC News on Saturday, “I think there was a threat."

"Had we not done 'Midnight Hammer,'" he said, referring to the U.S. strikes on Iran in June 2025, "which was one of the greatest things country has ever done, we would’ve been faced with a nuclear weapon within a month.”

-ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Shannon Kingston, Ben Siegel, Luke Barr

Mar 02, 2026, 9:29 AM EST

Trump to discuss Iran strikes at 11 a.m.

President Donald Trump is expected to address Iran in remarks at the White House at 11 a.m. ET.

U.S. Central Command released a video of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
U.S. Central Command
Mar 02, 2026, 9:25 AM EST

Emirates will restart limited flights Monday night

Emirates said it will begin operating a limited number of flights Monday evening.

“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates,” the Dubai-based airline said in a statement. “Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified. All other flights remain suspended until further notice.”

Mar 02, 2026, 9:08 AM EST

Americans urged to avoid Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces said it’s striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. A large explosion was heard in Beirut around 9 a.m. ET.

In a statement on X, the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs urged Americans not to travel to Lebanon.

“If you are in the country, depart Lebanon NOW while commercial flight options remain available,” the statement said. “The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable.”

Passengers whose flights were cancelled wait at the departure terminal of Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on Feb. 28, 2026, as many airlines canceled flights due to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Hassan Ammar/AP

Sponsored Content by Taboola