Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-28 at 20:02

HEADLINES- Israel Strikes Iran Missile Sites Near Tehran- US Unleashes One-Way Drones in Epic Fury- Iranian Drones Hit Dubai and Bahrain AirportsThe time is now 8:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, new footage published by the Israel Defense Force shows three minutes of additional strikes today targeting ballistic missile launch and air-defense sites in Western and Central Iran, described as having thwarted dozens of launches against Israel. The Israeli army has begun an additional wave of airstrikes targeting the ballistic missile array and the aerial defense systems belonging to the Iranian regime, with documentation of an attack on an Iranian missile site in Bushehr and many strikes aimed at Tehran. There are reports of renewed strikes now on Tehran, likely by Israel. Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency has announced the death of the daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a result of an Israeli strike earlier today on Tehran, a claim reported by that outlet. A Hebrew-language report cites initial claims that Ali Khamenei was killed in the Tehran strike. Shrapnel fell in Beit Shemesh, in the Jerusalem area, with officials saying there were no casualties. Earlier, footage described a missile strike in Bet Shemesh, near Jerusalem, suggesting ongoing cross-border exchanges amid the broader confrontation.In US Military Role, additional footage shows US air defense systems engaging Iranian missiles over Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as Iran continues to launch strikes against US bases and infrastructure located in partner nations across the region. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released a statement on the ongoing joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, calling Operation Epic Fury “the most lethal, most complex, and most precise aerial operation in history,” and noting that strikes would continue to target Iranian missile stockpiles and production facilities. CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike, for the first time in history, is using one-way attack drones in combat during Operation Epic Fury, delivering American-made retribution. These drones, modeled after Iran’s Shahed drones, represent a new approach in this campaign. Video showing US and Qatari air-defense systems engaging Iranian missiles over Al Udeid Air Base accompanies the broader display of allied operations. A Reuters report describes Israel and the United States launching strikes to coincide with a meeting of Iran’s supreme leader with top aides, stating that Khamenei was killed along with other senior figures, a claim attributed to US sources. Separately, CENTCOM released footage suggesting the Maritime Strike Tomahawk was used in combat against targets in Iran, marking a possible first look at MST use by the US Navy.In Regional Impacts, Dubai authorities say drone debris caused a fire at the Burj Al Arab hotel. Footage from the region shows an almost entirely engulfed high-rise building on fire after an Iranian drone attack in Bahrain. Footage also shows an Iranian drone strike hitting Bahrain International Airport, with subsequent shots of the moment a one-way attack drone struck the airport on Muharraq Island. Dubai’s overnight attacks left the Dubai International Airport with injuries reported for four people, and officials said a drone was intercepted and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab’s outer façade. An Iranian drone also hit a civilian area in Bahrain, underscoring the widening regional reach of the current hostilities.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese security services arrested Ahmad Makhdar, a Shia resident of the southern village of Ansar, for collaborating with Israeli intelligence after monitoring flagged online contacts and foreign travel. He is accused of providing target verification, strike damage imagery, and location coordinates in exchange for payments estimated between €6,000 and €10,000. His family publicly disavowed him and demanded the harshest penalties, while the Ansar municipality distanced the town from the acts. Investigations are ongoing.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States and Israel defended their strikes at the United Nations as Iran alleges “war crime” over civilian deaths during an emergency Security Council meeting. US ambassador Mike Waltz emphasized that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and framed the action as lawful and necessary for global security. Waltz also noted Iran’s recent crackdowns on protesters as part of Tehran’s broader behavior. Israeli ambassador Danny Danon condemned what he called hypocrisy by some Security Council members who criticized the joint attack but not Iran’s retaliation, saying the action was taken out of necessity because the Iranian regime left no reasonable alternative. Iranian counterpart Amir Saeid Iravani denounced the charges of war crimes tied to civilian deaths.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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