Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-28 at 14:02

HEADLINESIsrael Hits Iran 500 Targets in NightKhamenei Targeted in Tehran StrikeTrump Declares Major Combat Operations in IranThe time is now 2:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Mossad remains in radio silence on Saturday, with observers noting that its agents are, behind the scenes, at the eye of the storm. In his book The Sword of Freedom, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen described the 2018 operation to seize Iran's nuclear archives, detailing how investigators worked to detect where Iran hid its secrets, how the operation was accelerated when Iran planned to move the materials to a new location, and how a ground commander delayed the move by 24 hours. Cohen notes that the effort involved tracking shipping containers with the nuclear material. Netanyahu said that in the coming days, thousands of targets across Tehran would be attacked. The Israeli Air Force conducted its largest-ever strike, with more than 200 aircraft hitting 500 Iranian targets on Saturday night in two waves; the first wave targeted radars and air defenses near Iran’s borders and around Tehran, while the second targeted Iran’s ballistic-missile apparatus to curb its ability to strike Israel. In the Tabriz area, a major site linked to ballistic missiles was struck, and Israel is pursuing air supremacy to prevent Tehran from firing on the home front. This remains a developing story.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, reports indicate that up to dozens of top Iranian officials may have been assassinated at several Saturday meetings, with indications that Israel focused on this portion of the joint strikes while American forces targeted the ballistic-missile apparatus, naval targets, and nuclear targets. The top target appears to be Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with accounts that his command center in Tehran was bombed, though it is not yet definitive that he was present. Ali Larijani and Ali Shamkhani, close aides to Khamenei, may have been among those killed, and IRGC Chief General Mohammad Pakpour may also have been killed. Netanyahu said that indications are mounting that Khamenei was eliminated.In Iranian Retaliation, former IDF intelligence official Yossi Kuperwasser warns Iran now views the conflict as an existential war and is likely to escalate, using all capabilities to strike leadership, its ballistic-missile program, nuclear and military facilities, and IRGC security forces, while also signaling the possibility of targeting American interests. Protests have continued across Iran amid economic distress and human-rights concerns. Netanyahu says indications are mounting that Khamenei was eliminated, and he adds that the plan to destroy Israel does not anymore exist, with signs that the Iranian leader may share that assessment.In US Military Role, the entry here is a single line listing the phrase חדר המבצעים האמריקאי.In Regional Impacts, travel chaos spread as airlines canceled flights across the Middle East after the strikes, with flight maps showing airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, and Bahrain almost empty. Dubai Airports suspended all flights at Dubai International and Al Maktoum International until further notice, underscoring a broad regional disruption. Witnesses reported explosions across the Gulf, including Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Vessels in the Gulf received messages from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying no ship was allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran has not confirmed issuing such an order, and UKMTO reported multiple reports of closure with no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical oil chokepoint, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves. Separately, the crossings to Gaza have been closed, including the Rafah crossing.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the welfare of the broader policy debate dominated by reaction to the Iran strikes. US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had begun major combat operations in Iran, while a prominent conservative influencer, Candace Owens, intensified backlash by saying she stands against Israel as the confrontation deepened. Owens’s post appeared amid a broader MAGA debate over foreign policy, with discussions centering on support for Israel and the administration’s posture in the region.In Israeli Domestic Politics, coverage from a village near Hebron describes Arabs cheering during sirens and shouting Allahu Akbar, with a far-left activist present nearby to support them.Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. 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