In the early hours of February 28, 2026, air raid alarms broke Tehran's silence. What for years was a war of shadows, proxies and veiled threats, transformed in a matter of hours into the most serious armed conflict that the Middle East has experienced in decades. Israel and the United States launched a coordinated offensive on Iran, leaving the world holding its breath in the face of an unprecedented escalation.

Four days later, the toll is devastating: more than 787 Iranian dead, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei confirmed dead, the Strait of Hormuz practically closed and energy prices soaring by 45%. The world is watching with concern whether this conflict will be confined to Iran or will trigger a regional war of greater proportions.

The current conflict was not born out of nowhere. Its roots can be traced back to decades of geopolitical tension, but it was the events of 2025 that precipitated the definitive rupture.

🔹 The Twelve-Day War (June 2025): The first direct confrontation between Israel and Iran left Iranian nuclear facilities partially destroyed, but did not resolve the underlying issue: Tehran's nuclear program.

🔹 The Iranian protests of 2025–2026: The economic collapse and the fall of the rial triggered protests in more than 100 cities. The regime's brutal repression, with some 6,488 dead, consolidated international pressure on Tehran.

🔹 Diplomatic ultimatum (February 2026): Washington sent a series of messages to Tehran demanding the total dismantling of its nuclear program. Iran rejected the demands. The U.S. reinforced its naval presence in the region with additional aircraft carriers and anti-missile systems.

The operation was meticulously planned. Israeli fighter jets and U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers simultaneously attacked more than 80 targets on Iranian territory.

🎯 Targets hit:

• Nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan

• IRGC ballistic missile bases

• Naval installations in the Persian Gulf

• Military communications infrastructure in Tehran

The conflict soon spilled over Iranian borders. In the first 96 hours, the war spread to multiple fronts:

Despite the decapitation of its supreme leadership, the Iranian military apparatus demonstrated significant responsiveness. The Iranian Armed Forces and the IRGC launched counter-offensives in multiple directions:

🔸 Kuwait: Attack on U.S. troops resulted in six soldiers killed.

🔸 Riyadh: Iranian drones attacked the US embassy in Saudi Arabia.

🔸 Strait of Hormuz: The Iranian navy effectively blocked the passage of oil tankers.

🔸 UN and war crimes: The attack on a primary school in Minab (165 children killed) is being investigated by the United Nations as a possible war crime.

In an address to the nation, Trump articulated five concrete military objectives:

Geopolitical analysts contemplate three possible scenarios for the coming weeks:

📋 Report prepared with information from Reuters, AP, BBC, Al Jazeera and official sources |  Last updated: March 3, 2026, 5:00 p.m. GMT

URGENT • WAR • MIDDLE EAST • DEVELOPING NEWS — UPDATED: 1 MARCH 2026

  🔴 DEVELOPING NEWS — SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2026 🔴 

CONFIRMED: KHAMENEI DIED

Iran launches its "fiercest offensive in history"; explosions in Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Riyadh and Tel Aviv

118 girls killed in Minab • 7 Iranian generals killed • Burj Al Arab in flames • Trump: "Bombs will fall everywhere"

🗓️ Sunday, March 1, 2026   |   🕐 Last update: 10:13 am (Argentina time)   |   ⏱️ Reading Time: 7 minutes   |   ✍️ International Editorial Team

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran entered a new and more dangerous phase on Sunday, March 1. Iranian state television confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's supreme leader for 35 years, a victim of Saturday's bombardment of Tehran. With the fall of one of the most influential figures in contemporary political Islam, Iran vowed its most devastating revenge yet, as Israel and the U.S. launched a second wave of attacks and the fire spread to Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The world is holding its breath in the face of the greatest armed conflict of the twenty-first century.

💀 Confirmed: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died

Iranian public television broke its usual programming on Sunday to officially announce the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 86, a victim of the US and Israeli bombings launched on Saturday on his compound in the heart of Tehran. The news was confirmed almost simultaneously by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social network — where he described Khamenei as "one of the most evil people in history" — and by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference. According to Israeli sources cited by Reuters and CNN, Israel even obtained a photograph of the ayatollah's body.

In the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities, tens of thousands of people came out to mourn the death of the supreme leader, while in other neighborhoods — according to CNN correspondents in the area — celebratory chants could be heard from the regime's internal opposition. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was confirmed as "safe and sound" by state television, although he did not make any public statements about it. The unknowns about who will lead Iran in the coming days generate deep geopolitical uncertainty at the global level.

⚔️ Second wave: new bombardments of central and western Iran

On Sunday, joint U.S.-Israeli forces launched a second battery of strikes against Iran, concentrated at key points in the west and center of the country, with missiles that again reached the heart of Tehran. The Israeli military released images of the destruction of what it described as "the headquarters of the Iranian terrorist regime" in the capital. According to an IDF statement, the operation eliminated 40 of the main leaders of the Iranian military leadership, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guard commander Mohamed Pakpur, although Tehran did not confirm these figures.

Trump, in a new communication through Truth Social, warned the Iranian people that "bombs will fall everywhere" and reiterated his call to take control of their government. The president also responded to a question from ABC News about who would lead Iran after the regime, noting that the U.S. has "a very good idea" about it. The Pentagon reaffirmed that Operation Epic Fury will run at least throughout the week.

🚀 "The fiercest offensive in history": the threat of the Revolutionary Guards

Following the confirmation of Khamenei's death, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement of the utmost gravity: "The fiercest offensive operation in the history of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will begin at any time." The body called the assassination of the supreme leader "a sign of open war against all Muslims in the world" and promised a "harsh and decisive" punishment. The speaker of Iran's parliament reinforced the message by saying that revenge is "a legitimate right" that will reach both Americans and Israelis.

Meanwhile, the sixth wave of Iranian missiles and drones confirmed on Saturday night was followed by new launches on Sunday. CNN crews in the area heard multiple explosions in Dubai, the financial capital of the United Arab Emirates, and saw plumes of smoke rising over the port of Jebel Ali, one of the world's largest. In Israel, alarms were set off in the centre and south of the country. The IRGC confirmed that its target is U.S. military bases in neighboring countries, clarifying that it does not seek to attack those nations per se: "Those bases are not the territory of those countries, they are the territory of the United States."

🌐 Fire Spreads: Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Under Attack

Sunday's Iranian escalation extended the war to multiple Gulf countries. In Dubai, one of the icons of modern global capitalism, the remains of an intercepted drone caused a fire on the exterior façade of the Burj Al Arab hotel, one of the most famous structures in the world. The Emirati authorities clarified that there were no injuries in that incident, although the UAE already reports a fatality in Abu Dhabi due to falling debris from an intercepted missile. The Emirati Ministry of Defence indicated that, although it intercepted 195 drones, 14 managed to hit its territory. Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy warned CNN that the UAE is "prepared" to take a more combative role if Iranian attacks continue.

Dubai's airport — one of the world's busiest — reported minor damage to one area of its terminal and four injuries, and advised passengers not to go to its facilities. Kuwait's airport was attacked with a drone that caused damage to Terminal 1 and minor injuries among workers. Qatar activated a national emergency alert. An Iranian missile hit a US base in Bahrain. Jordan reported shooting down 13 missiles and 36 drones in its airspace on Saturday. Iraq reported two deaths of the Popular Mobilization Forces from bombings southwest of Baghdad.

🌍 The world facing the abyss: condemnations, alarms and divided positions

The international community reacted quickly and in different directions. The European Union called Khamenei's death "a watershed moment in Iran's history," with European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas noting that "there is an open path to a different Iran." Russia urgently convened its Security Council and called the U.S.-Israeli attacks "a planned and unprovoked act of aggression" against a sovereign state, demanding a return to diplomacy. China joined the condemnation.

The leader of the Spanish opposition and president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, called on the West to be "united" to achieve "containment, avoid an escalation and return to negotiation". In the US, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tim Kaine denounced that Trump acted unconstitutionally by not seeking authorization from Congress. The FBI raised the national anti-terrorism alert level and the Department of Homeland Security urged U.S. citizens abroad to "exercise extreme caution." The IAEA canceled technical discussions it had planned with Iran for Monday.

📈 Global economy on alert: oil at $110 and Hormuz in the crosshairs

Global markets operate in a state of maximum tension. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil exceeded 110 dollars due to fears of a possible blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flows. The U.S. government urged commercial vessels to move away from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the waters of the strait. Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, SWISS and Air India, among other airlines, suspended their flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh, with the consequent paralysis of tourism and trade throughout the region. Iran ordered the closure of all its universities until further notice.

📌 Why did we get here? The road to war

The attack did not come out of nowhere. Since the end of December 2025, Iran has been experiencing mass protests against the regime — the largest since the 1979 revolution — driven by the economic crisis and the collapse of the rial. The Iranian government responded with violent repression; The number of protesters killed is estimated at more than 6,400. Trump had warned of consequences if the regime attacked the protesters.

On February 27 — one day before the attack — the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations brokered by Oman collapsed in Geneva. Washington demanded the dismantling of the nuclear sites of Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz and the export of all enriched uranium. Iran refused to negotiate its missile program. Trump declared Friday that Iran was "not willing to give us what we need." The IAEA had confirmed that Iran possessed uranium enriched to 60%, a few steps away from the capacity to make a nuclear bomb. That same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed Iran on a new blacklist for illegal detention of U.S. citizens.

Unlike the limited strikes of June 2025, in which the US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities for just twelve days, Operation Epic Fury was planned for weeks of sustained operations and has as its stated goal – in Trump's and Netanyahu's own words – regime change in Tehran.

⚠️ DEVELOPING NOTE — Updated as conflict progresses

⏱️ Reading time: 7 minutes • 🗓️ 01/03/2026 — 10:13 am • International Newsroom

URGENT • ARMED CONFLICT • MIDDLE EAST • DEVELOPING NEWS

  🔴 NEWS IN DEVELOPMENT — UPDATE 17:55 p.m. 🔴 

"OPERATION EPIC FURY":

U.S. and Israel Strike Iran in Largest Joint Operation in Its History

Khamenei's whereabouts unknown — 201 killed in Iran — Missiles over Israel, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait

🗓️ Saturday, February 28, 2026   |   🕐 Last updated: 17.55:50 p.m. (Argentine time)   |   ⏱️ Reading Time: 6 minutes   |   ✍️ International Editorial Team

The Middle East woke up to war. In the early hours of Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched the most devastating coordinated attack in their joint history against Iran: the so-called "Operation Epic Fury" — called "Lion's Roar" by Israeli forces — hit more than 500 military, nuclear, and intelligence targets across six Iranian cities with hundreds of aircraft. Iran responded with an unprecedented counterattack: successive waves of missiles and drones hit Israel and U.S. bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. At press time, the situation remains in a state of maximum escalation and the fate of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the subject of intense international speculation.

⚔️ "Operation Epic Fury" and "Lion's Roar": anatomy of the attack

At dawn on Saturday, Israeli fighter jets — F-35, F-15, F-16 and F-22, accompanied by electronic warfare aircraft and radar planes — crossed the region's airspace and unleashed what Netanyahu himself called "the largest offensive in the history of the State of Israel." According to the Israeli Defense Ministry statement, more than 200 fighter jets were involved in the strikes and approximately 500 targets were hit, including air defense systems, missile launchers, nuclear program facilities and intelligence centers.

The targets hit included Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's residential and working complex in the heart of Tehran, the Supreme National Security Council, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and various Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities. The affected cities were Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Tabriz, Karaj and Kermanshah, according to media from both countries and international news agencies.

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. involvement through a video posted on social media, monitoring the operation from his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. He said the campaign is aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, adding that Tehran had continued to develop missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. He also urged the Iranian people to "take control of their government." The Pentagon confirmed that no U.S. combat casualties were recorded during the initial phase of the operation.

🔥 Did Khamenei die? The question that paralyzes the world

The point of greatest tension and uncertainty of the day revolves around the whereabouts and state of health of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the cameras that there are "many indications" that Khamenei is no longer alive, after confirming that the joint forces destroyed "the tyrant's compound in the heart of Tehran". Israeli television channels said that both Trump and Netanyahu had seen a photograph of the ayatollah's body.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi assured in a live interview with NBC News that the supreme leader is alive: "As far as I know, the supreme leader is alive," he said from Tehran. Iranian intelligence sources quoted by France24 indicated that Khamenei was moved to a safe place before the start of the attacks. Among the deceased confirmed by Israeli sources is Ali Shamkhani, Khamenei's key adviser and a central figure in Iran's nuclear programme, although Tehran has not corroborated this either.

Netanyahu, for his part, called on the Iranian people on Saturday to "rise up and overthrow the regime", in what analysts read as confirmation that the political objective of the operation is not only military but also regime change, in line with Trump's statements.

🚀 Iran's retaliation: missiles over Israel and US bases across the region

Hours after the start of the bombings, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the beginning of its counteroffensive: successive waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeted Israel and US military bases in several Gulf countries. By Saturday night, the Israeli army reported the sixth wave of projectiles launched from Iranian territory, with air alert sirens activating in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities in the north and center of the country.

The targets of the Iranian retaliation included the Al Udeid base in Qatar — the largest U.S. base in the region — the Al Salem base in Kuwait, the Al Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates, and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Iran announced that any base in the region that "supports Israel will be targeted." Kuwait and Qatar announced that they reserve the right to respond to Iranian attacks on their territories. Jordan reported shooting down 13 ballistic missiles and 36 drones heading for its territory.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the damage to its bases was slight and did not disrupt operations. The FBI raised the national anti-terrorism alert level, while the Department of Homeland Security urged U.S. citizens around the world to "exercise extreme caution."

💀 Victims: At least 201 killed in Iran, dozens of girls in school

The Iranian Red Crescent confirmed at least 201 dead and 747 wounded as a result of the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian territory, although local officials warn that the real toll could be significantly higher. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced on social networks that one of the missiles directly hit a girls' primary school in the city of Minab, Hormozgan province, in the south of the country. Later reports raised the number of minors killed in that specific attack to 51.

The U.S. CENTCOM confirmed that there were no U.S. casualties in the initial phase. Israel has so far not reported any civilians killed by Iranian missiles on its territory, attributing the results to the effectiveness of the Iron Dome defence system, although it acknowledged that the "defence is not airtight" and called on the population to maintain the instructions of the Home Front Command.

🌍 International reactions: between condemnation and support

The international community reacted quickly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called an emergency meeting of the Security Council and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities. Russia described the attacks as a "planned and unprovoked act of aggression" against a sovereign state and demanded a return to diplomatic channels. Vladimir Putin urgently convened his Security Council. China also condemned the bombings.

Spain and France demanded de-escalation and respect for international humanitarian law. Turkey announced that it will not allow the use of its airspace. Saudi Arabia declared itself ready for "any measure" along with the Gulf countries. The African Union condemned Iran's missile attacks on the territories of Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, calling them a "violation of sovereignty." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Trump's decision to initiate military hostilities "violates the Constitution" without congressional authorization. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine called it a "colossal mistake."

Trump spoke by phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The president said he could withdraw "in two or three days" if the Iranians take control of his government, although his advisers confirmed that the operation will last at least four days.

✈️ The impact on the global economy and air transport

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil exceeded 110 dollars in the reference markets due to fears of a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil circulates. The U.S. government urged commercial vessels to avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Air France, Lufthansa and other European and Asian airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh. Iran announced the closure of all its universities until further notice.

📌 Context: Why now?

The escalation did not come out of nowhere. On February 27 — just one day before the attacks — new U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, mediated by Oman, concluded in Geneva. According to later reconstructions, Washington would have demanded the dismantling of Iran's three main nuclear sites — Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz — and the export of all enriched uranium. The IAEA had confirmed that Iran possessed uranium enriched to 60%, just steps short of the threshold needed to make a nuclear weapon. The breakdown of negotiations without an agreement would have precipitated the decision to attack.

In the history of the confrontation between Trump and Iran, it should be recalled that in January 2020 the then-president ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. In June 2025, during twelve days of open war between Israel and Iran, the US had already bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. "Operation Epic Fury" represents, according to analysts, a qualitative leap of enormous magnitude compared to those previous episodes.

⚠️ DEVELOPING NOTE — Updated with each official confirmation

⏱️ Reading time: 6 minutes • 🗓️ 28/02/2026 — 17:55 hs • International Newsroom

URGENT • WORLD • ARMED CONFLICT

⚠️ DEVELOPING NEWS

U.S. and Israel Attack Iran: Explosions in Tehran, Iranian Missiles Over Israel and Region in Flames

🗓️ Saturday, February 28, 2026   |   🕐 Updated: 10:45 p.m. (Argentine time)   |   ⏱️ Reading Time: 4 minutes   |   ✍️ International Editorial Team

The Middle East is experiencing its most tense night in decades. In the last few hours, Israel launched the so-called "Operation Lion's Roar" against Iranian territory with direct support from the United States, hitting military and infrastructure targets in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah. Iran responded immediately with a massive missile and drone launch that is now in its sixth wave, as the world holds its breath at the risk of a regional war.

⚔️ The attack: "Operation Lion's Roar"

After midnight from Friday to Saturday, Israeli warplanes crossed the airspace of several countries in the region and began a series of coordinated bombardments on Iranian territory. The operation, confirmed by Prime Minister Netanyahu, was designed to target Iran's missile and nuclear infrastructure, and had logistical, intelligence, and military support from the United States.

President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. involvement in a video released on social media, in which he declared that the campaign aims to "destroy Iranian missiles and devastate its arms industry," and warned that the operation will last "days, not hours." Satellite images released by international media showed plumes of black smoke rising from facilities near the compound of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

🚀 The Iranian response: waves of missiles and drones

Hours after the start of the Israeli-American bombardments, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued an official statement announcing the beginning of its counterattack: "The first wave of large-scale missile and drone attacks towards the occupied territories has begun." By Saturday night, the Israeli army was already warning of a sixth wave of projectiles, with warning sirens sounding in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities in the north and center of the country.

International media correspondents in the region reported that the explosions were not limited to Israeli territory: impacts were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where a missile would have hit a base with the presence of US troops. Yemen's Houthis, allies of Iran, announced for their part that they will resume their attacks on commercial sea routes and Israel in solidarity with Tehran.

💀 Casualties and Reported Damage

The Iranian authorities reported the death of civilians, including children, in different parts of the country. The most serious case reported so far is an attack on a school in the town of Minab, in Hormozgan province, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the number of civilian casualties continues to rise and holds Israel and the United States squarely responsible. Israel, for its part, confirmed the interception of multiple projectiles by its Iron Dome missile defense system, although it did not rule out hits in residential areas.

🌍 International reactions

The international community was quick to speak out. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres demanded an "immediate cessation of hostilities" and called an emergency meeting of the Security Council for tonight. Spain and France demanded de-escalation and respect for international humanitarian law, while Turkey announced that it will not allow the use of its airspace for attacks.

On the operational front, Air France suspended its flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh. Other European and Asian airlines announced similar measures in the face of the partial closure of regional airspace. Global oil markets operate with strong volatility: the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil exceeded 110 dollars due to fears of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil flows.

📌 Context: how did it get here?

The escalation between Israel and Iran has deep roots in decades of regional hostility, but it has accelerated dramatically in recent years. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv has increased steadily, with attacks and counterattacks of different scales through their allies and, on some occasions, directly. The Trump administration's decision to back Israel militarily in this new level of open confrontation marks a historic turning point in U.S. foreign policy for the region.

Note in development • Updated with each new official confirmation

⏱️ Estimated reading time: 4 minutes • 🗓️ 28/02/2026 • International Writing

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