Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-28 at 21:02

HEADLINESKhamenei Killed in US Israel StrikeIran Strikes US Bases Bahrain DubaiUN Security Council Meets as Crisis EscalatesThe time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel and the United States timed their attack on Iran to coincide with a meeting the country’s supreme leader was holding with top aides, according to two US sources and a US official familiar with the matter. Israel said Ali Khamenei was killed along with top lieutenants including Ali Shamkhani, the former National Security Council secretary, and Mohammad Pakpour, IRGC commander. Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Khamenei met on Saturday with Shamkhani and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani at a secure location shortly before the strikes began, and a senior Israeli official told Reuters that Khamenei’s body had been found. US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Iran’s top leader was killed after intelligence pinpointed his movements. Netanyahu released a statement, shown with English subtitles, saying, This morning, in a powerful surprise attack, we destroyed the compound of the tyrant Khamenei in the heart of Tehran. Iranian state media later reported that Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were killed in the strikes.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iran confirmed Khamenei is dead in an official state TV announcement. The US president announced Khamenei’s elimination, prompting celebrations across Iran, and urged elements of the Revolutionary Guard to support peaceful regime change as the shah’s son declared the Islamic Republic finished and that a successor could be named within hours. Iranian state-run television has now officially announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The state media acknowledgment was accompanied by reports of the elimination under the rubble, with details about a rapid transition underway as authorities prepare to manage the aftermath.In Iranian Retaliation, imagery from a Chinese imagery analysis company shows Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait with at least three black smoke plumes visible, including from a large building south of the airfield and from other areas that appear industrial or storage, as a result of strikes attributed to Iran.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 in 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 precision aerial operation in history,” adding that strikes would continue to target Iranian missile stockpiles and production facilities.In Regional Impacts, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has spoken to counterparts in Lebanon, Syria, and Oman, with Syria condemning the Iranian strikes against Saudi Arabia. Alerts were heard in the north as an enemy aircraft entered airspace. Dubai authorities said debris from a missile interception caused a fire at Burj Al Arab Hotel, and footage showed a fire burning at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port. A Saudi official press statement noted Bin Salman publicly backed diplomacy and said Saudi soil would not be used for an attack, while in talks with Trump he warned of dangerous consequences if the United States did not act; reporting described Khamenei’s meeting with advisers and the strike that was moved up. Iran continued to strike Bahrain, with reports of damage at Bahrain International Airport and dramatic footage of a high-rise building on fire after an Iranian drone attack.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said, We thank President Trump and acknowledge the close cooperation between Israel and the US, which has brought the alliance between our countries to an all-time high in peace and in war. The Washington Post reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke multiple times with President Trump over the past month, expressing support for an American strike on Iran, despite publicly advocating for a diplomatic solution, according to four people familiar with the matter. At the United Nations, the US and Iranian ambassadors traded sharp warnings during an emergency Security Council session, underscoring rising tensions as military strikes threaten to widen.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a large piece of shrapnel tore through a residential building in Bnei Brak on Saturday afternoon, damaging two apartments but leaving all 12 family members inside unharmed after they shelter in the stairwell as sirens sounded. The strike hit Donolo Street around 4:35 p.m., penetrating from the fourth floor to the third. Among those inside was Rabbi Tzvi (Hershel) Gumbo, a local kollel head, who later recited the Gomel blessing in thanksgiving for the family’s survival.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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