12:03 Multiple high-ranking members of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and various political officials have been killed in the initial waves of the joint US-Israeli offensive, according to sources close to the Tehran government who spoke with Reuters. The strikes were precision-targeted at the regime's command-and-control centers.
12:00 In southern Israel, authorities reported falling shrapnel from an interceptor missile. No casualties have been reported thus far.
11:57 Labor Minister Yariv Levin has signed an emergency order ensuring that essential personnel at critical factories remain at their posts. This decision, made in coordination with Defense Minister Israel Katz, applies to all areas currently under a "special situation on the home front," provided they follow Home Front Command (the military body responsible for civil defense) safety protocols.
11:54 Tragedy struck Abu Dhabi today as the UAE's state news agency confirmed the first fatality related to the conflict. One individual was killed when defense systems intercepted incoming missiles fired by Iranian forces.
11:52 Red Alert sirens are currently blaring across the length and breadth of Israel. The public is urged to seek shelter immediately.
11:51 A resident of the Valleys region (northern Israel) was lightly injured after being struck by falling munitions fragments. Israel Police are currently on-site managing the situation.
11:50 The conflict has reached the Saudi capital. AFP reports that multiple explosions were heard echoing through Riyadh as regional tensions boil over.
11:48 Eyewitnesses in Dubai informed Reuters of a second massive explosion rocking the city within the last hour.
11:47 In Jerusalem, there is a sense of "significant success" regarding the first wave of strikes. Officials believe several key regime figures – including IRGC commanders and ministers involved in the brutal suppression of domestic protests – have been neutralized.
11:43 The Supreme National Security Council of Iran has issued a desperate plea for citizens to evacuate major cities, warning that the Israeli and American bombardment of Tehran and other urban centers is likely to persist.
11:39 The IDF's Persian-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Kamil Panasi, issued a chilling warning to the Iranian public: "Stay away from military industrial sites. You are in immediate danger. Leave these areas now for your own safety."
11:32 The Qatari capital of Doha reported hearing the sounds of explosions as the air war expands across the Gulf.
11:29 A new wave of Red Alert sirens has been triggered across Israel as the home front remains under heavy threat.
11:29 Retaliation has begun. Iran's Tasnim News Agency reports that the IRGC Aerospace Force has launched ballistic missiles at four major US installations: Al-Udeid in Qatar (the largest US base in the Middle East), Ali Al-Salem in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra in the UAE, and the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain (Fifth Fleet headquarters).
11:23 Reports are coming in of a direct hit on a residential building in the Carmel area (Haifa). Emergency services are en route; no casualties have been confirmed.
11:23 Operation "Lion's Roar" continues. The IAF (Israeli Air Force) is currently executing a second massive wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran.
11:19 Incoming missile alerts are sounding nationwide. Residents are instructed to stay in their protected rooms.
11:18 Bahraini officials confirmed that the US Fifth Fleet service center was a target of Iranian missile fire. The government has urged citizens to rely only on official news sources.
11:17 The IDF has announced a massive mobilization of 70,000 reservists to bolster the country's defenses as the regional situation deteriorates.
11:15 Simultaneous sirens are going off across multiple districts in Israel.
11:15 In Iraq, the pro-militia Sabereen News reports that the US has begun airstrikes on targets in the Jurf al-Nasr region.
11:14 Sources familiar with the operation indicate that the first phase of the US-Israel campaign was a "leadership decapitation" strike, focusing on the top tier of the Iranian government and military.
11:13 Panic has gripped the Iranian capital. Footage from Tehran shows massive queues of vehicles as thousands of residents attempt to flee the city under fire.
11:09 "The IDF and the US military have launched a broad joint operation to thoroughly strike the Iranian terror regime," stated IDF Spokesperson Effie Defrin. He noted that "Operation Lion's Roar" is the result of months of secret, synchronized planning designed to eliminate existential threats to Israel.
11:09 Red Alerts are active in multiple locations across Israel.
11:07 Northern Israel has come under fire again, with sirens sounding in several communities.
11:05 The AP reports that Yemen's Houthis have officially vowed to restart their campaign of attacks in the Red Sea, adding another front to the expanding war.
11:03 Explosions have been reported near the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain as Iranian missiles hit the area.
10:59 Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is working the phones, briefing counterparts in Germany, India, Italy, and beyond. Sa'ar is clarifying the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet's objectives for the ongoing campaign.
10:58 Qatar has officially entered the fray, with a defense official confirming they used a Patriot battery to down an incoming Iranian missile.
10:57 President Isaac Herzog hailed the operation as a "dramatic and historic step." He thanked both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their resolve in confronting the Iranian threat.
10:55 Sirens are currently wailing in Bahrain as Iranian missiles target the island nation.
10:54 In a scene of desperation in Haifa, residents of the Hadar neighborhood smashed the windows of the Masada Carmelit (underground funicular) station to gain access to the underground tunnel for shelter.
10:53 National alerts remain active as the missile threat persists.
10:50 Lufthansa has officially canceled all flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman until March 7. Weekend flights to Dubai have also been scrapped.
10:48 Red Alert sirens are sounding across the country.
10:46 The Israel Police have issued an urgent advisory for citizens to stay off the roads. "Avoid all non-essential travel to allow security and rescue forces clear paths," a spokesperson said.
10:45 Iran's state-run Tasnim news confirms that the IRGC has launched its "first wave" of drones and missiles toward the heart of Israel.
10:41 In Ashkelon, Barzilai Medical Center (Ashkelon) has moved all operations into its underground fortified hospital, preparing for a potential influx of casualties.
10:40 Shrapnel from Iranian missiles has reportedly fallen in the city of Irbid, northern Jordan.
10:40 Alerts continue to sound across the state.
10:37 "All American and Israeli assets in the Middle East are now legitimate targets," warned an Iranian official via Al Jazeera.
10:36 Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib (Youssef Raghi) called for national neutrality, pleading to keep Lebanon out of the escalating crossfire.
10:34 Police Commissioner Danny Levy has placed the entire national force on an emergency skeleton footing, activating reserve units and civil defense squads to maintain order during the crisis.
10:25 Central Israel remains on high alert as the IDF confirmed a fresh barrage of missiles launched from Iran. The military urged citizens to strictly adhere to the instructions of the Home Front Command (the military body responsible for civil defense) and remain in protected spaces until further notice. "The IDF Spokesperson reiterates the warning not to publish or share the locations or footage of impacts," the military said, noting that air defenses are actively intercepting threats across the country.
Video: Trump vows toppling regime / Credit: White House
10:24 Across the Mediterranean, the Cypriot government has moved to help foreign nationals escaping the crisis. Nicosia activated the Estia plan (an emergency evacuation and absorption protocol) earlier Saturday, readying schools and public buildings to house those fleeing the regional instability.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short while ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran. pic.twitter.com/nhlJTfTi8i
– Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 28, 2026
10:19 "A short time ago, we embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday. He emphasized that the "murderous" regime must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. "Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands," the Prime Minister added.
10:15 The sirens have also reached the north, where alerts were triggered following the detection of Iranian missiles entering Israeli airspace. Defense officials warned that the alerts would likely spread across the entire country as more launches are identified.
10:07 Widespread alerts are expected in the coming minutes as the IDF tracks multiple launches heading toward Israeli territory.
10:04 Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued a stern warning to Hezbollah on X (formerly Twitter), urging national unity. "We will not allow anyone to drag the country into adventures that threaten its security," Mikati wrote, calling on the Lebanese people to prioritize wisdom over external interests.
10:03 In Tehran, the regime's communications are failing. The New York Times reported a total collapse of landline infrastructure and significant cellular outages across the capital.
10:01 While rumors swirled about the leadership, the Tasnim News Agency claimed President Masoud Pezeshkian remained "completely healthy" and unharmed following the initial wave of strikes.
09:55 Iranian state media outlets like Tasnim and ISNA have reportedly come under a massive cyberattack launched in tandem with the physical bombardments, crippling their ability to broadcast.
09:52 Domestic incidents in Israel are also being monitored. In Holon (south of Tel Aviv), fire crews worked to extinguish a blaze involving several buses on HaBanai Street. While the cause is under investigation, no injuries were reported.
09:47 Israeli officials are describing the military cooperation with Washington as historic. "The coordination with the Americans is full and tight at all levels – diplomatic, security, intelligence, and military," one official said. They noted that while previous exercises like 'Juniper Oak' (a joint US-Israel military drill) paved the way, this marks the first time the two nations have launched a combined offensive using their air forces and navies.
09:45 The regional chaos has grounded civilian travel. With the closure of Israeli airspace, thousands of Israelis are stranded abroad as tourism companies and government ministries shift to emergency operations.
09:41 President Donald Trump delivered a blunt message to the Iranian military. "To the members of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), lay down your arms or you will be destroyed," Trump said, adding that while American lives may be at risk, the goal is the total destruction of Iran's missile industry. "To the Iranian people: after we finish – take control of the regime."
09:39 In Jerusalem, Netanyahu is currently leading a high-level situational assessment with a select group of top officials.
09:39 Social media has been flooded with footage of IAF (Israeli Air Force) F-15s operating over the skies of Tehran during the ongoing strike.
09:34 The Mossad reached out to the Iranian public with a message of solidarity. "We are with you; together we will return Iran to its glory days," the agency stated, urging citizens to stay safe.
09:33 Trump confirmed that the US military had initiated "major military operations" to neutralize immediate threats to American security and destroy the Iranian missile threat.
09:31 The medical sector is shifting to a war footing. Hadassah Medical Center began discharging stable patients and transferring others to underground facilities at its Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus (neighborhoods in Jerusalem) campuses. "Both underground hospital facilities are operating as of this hour," the center confirmed.
09:30 Military analysts told the New York Times that the strikes are designed to dismantle Iran's military machine, specifically targeting its arsenal of over 2,000 ballistic missiles deployed across the country.
09:29 The Home Front Command has already canceled all school activities across Israel for Monday in anticipation of further escalation following the strikes in Iran.
09:22 In Cyprus, Larnaca Airport is serving as a primary diversion point for flights unable to land in Israel. Authorities on the island are meeting to discuss further implementation of the Estia evacuation plan.
09:22 The offensive is truly multi-domain, with senior US officials telling Al Jazeera that strikes are being launched from both the air and the sea.
09:21 "The attacks are also being conducted from the sea," a senior US official reiterated to Al Jazeera.
09:06 Nadim Koteich, the former CEO of Sky News Arabia, warned that the "shocking" identities of those targeted in the Iranian leadership would be revealed in the coming hours.
09:04 As of Saturday morning, all civilian aviation in Israel has been grounded following the closure of the national airspace.
09:03 American officials told the Qatari channel Al Jazeera that the airstrikes on Iran are expected to be "wide-ranging" and persistent.
09:01 Reports from Tehran via Reuters suggest that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been evacuated to a high-security bunker as American attacks remain "in full swing." Iranian authorities have officially closed the country's airspace.
08:55 A senior American official confirmed to the New York Times that the military operations against Iran are currently in their primary phase.
08:45 The strike in Iran is a combined offensive in which Israel and the United States participated.
08:41 "The people of Israel are strong, the IDF and the Air Force are strong, and the strongest power in the world stands by us," Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said. He called for national unity, stating there is "no coalition or opposition" during such a critical hour.
08:39 As the morning progressed, more reports emerged of missile impacts in central Tehran, specifically near University Street and the Jomhuri district.
08:25 In the air, civilian flights – including Wizz Air routes from Larnaca and Sofia – were forced to circle as they were denied entry into Israeli airspace.
