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.
Feb 28, 2026, 7:31 PM EST

Kamala Harris calls strikes 'dangerous and unnecessary gamble with American lives'

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, in a statement posted on social media on Saturday, criticized Trump's strikes on Iran as "dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want," calling the gambit a "dangerous and unnecessary gamble with American lives that also jeopardizes stability in the region and our standing in the world."

A missile is launched after U.S. Central Command commenced Operation Epic Fury, Feb. 28, 2026.
U.S. Central Command

"I know the threat that Iran poses, and they must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, but this is not the way to dismantle that threat ... And let us all be clear-eyed about what comes next. The President has already said this conflict may produce American casualties," Harris wrote.

She also criticized Trump's campaign promise to not start new wars as "a lie", as well as Trump's claim last year that he had obliterated Iran's main nuclear program.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim

Feb 28, 2026, 7:13 PM EST

Hegseth says US will hit Iranian missile production, 'Iranian navy will be destroyed'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a statement on social media about "Operation Epic Fury," writing: "The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences."

Hegseth reaffirmed that not only would Iran’s missiles and missile production be destroyed, but that "The Iranian navy will be destroyed."

Hegseth's post continued: "As President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it."

Feb 28, 2026, 6:24 PM EST

UAE says it has intercepted more than 100 Iranian missiles

The UAE intercepted 137 ballistic missiles and 195 drones launched from Iran towards the country since the start of the Iranian attack, the UAE's Ministry of Defense said in a post on X.

Out of the 137 missiles launched towards the UAE, 132 were destroyed, and five fell into the sea, the ministry said.

Smoke rises over a hotel damaged in Dubai's famed Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 28, 2026, in this screen capture from video.
Video Obtained By Reuters via Reuters

Out of the 209 drones detected, 195 were intercepted. The other 14 landed within UAE territory and waters, "causing some" damage, the ministry said.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Feb 28, 2026, 6:05 PM EST

1 dead, more than 25 injured in Israel after attack

More than 25 people have been injured and at least one person has died in Israel on Saturday, according to Icholov Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center and Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service.

A military projectile is seen in the sky over the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, in the old city of Jerusalem, on Feb. 28, 2026.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images

Out of the 25 injured who have been evacuated and taken to the Ichilov Emergency Department, four are in moderate condition. The others are in mild condition.

Seven of the injured are children, but have minor injuries.

-ABC News' Dana Savir and Ellie Kaufman

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