An estimated 300,000 people have been stranded across the Gulf region following the outbreak of war involving Iran, according to Al Jazeera. The United Kingdom has taken the initiative to assist in evacuation efforts. Operations at six to seven major airports in the region have been suspended, with more than 3,400 flights canceled in the first few days of the conflict. Major hubs including Dubai International, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Doha’s Hamad International Airport have halted services.

Large portions of the region’s airspace remain closed, significantly disrupting global air travel since Middle Eastern airports serve as vital transit points between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Social media posts show stranded passengers at Hamad, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi airports waiting in long lines for rebooking, hotel vouchers, or assistance, with many spending nights inside terminals.

If the airspace closures and conflict persist, thousands of travelers are expected to remain in uncertainty for an extended period.

Israel’s military announced that two senior Iranian intelligence officials were killed at the start of a recent attack. In a statement released on Monday, the army identified the deceased as Seyed Yahya Hamidi and Jalal Pour Hossein. According to the statement, Hamidi served as Iran’s deputy minister for intelligence affairs related to Israel, while Hossein headed the espionage division of Iran’s intelligence ministry.

The Israeli military claimed that Hamidi had directed terrorist operations targeting Jews, Western representatives, and opposition figures both inside and outside Iran. The statement further asserted that several other senior militants were also eliminated in the same operation. No additional details about the location or timing of the strike were provided in the statement.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel and Iran frequently accusing each other of covert operations and attacks. The report did not include any official response from Iranian authorities or independent verification of the Israeli claims.

At least 20 Iranian volleyball players were killed and more than a hundred others injured in a rocket attack on a sports hall in Lamerd city, located in Iran’s southern Fars province. Iranian media reported that the attack occurred while a volleyball practice session was underway, causing part of the building to collapse due to the explosion’s intensity.

According to initial reports, four rockets struck different areas of Fars province, one of which hit the Lamerd sports hall. Local sources said the targets included a sports facility and two residential buildings. Rescue operations have been intensified in the area, with fears that more people may still be trapped under the debris.

Authorities have transferred the injured to nearby hospitals, and emergency teams continue to search the rubble for survivors. The situation remains critical as the full extent of the casualties is still being assessed.

Iran has confirmed that its Natanz nuclear facility was damaged following a joint military strike by the United States and Israel. The attack took place on Saturday, and Iran has since been issuing retaliatory responses. Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed the damage during a briefing with journalists at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Sunday.

Najafi stated that the targeted facilities were under international supervision and used for peaceful purposes. When asked by Reuters which site was hit, he identified Natanz as the location. Iran emphasized that the facility operated within the framework of international monitoring. However, details about the extent of the damage were not immediately available.

The incident adds to rising regional tensions, with Iran asserting its right to respond to what it calls military aggression against its internationally monitored nuclear infrastructure.

At least 600 people have been killed across several countries following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, according to reports published on March 2, 2026. Iran’s Red Crescent Society stated that 555 of the deaths occurred within Iran. In Tehran’s Niloufar Square, an Israeli strike killed at least 20 people and damaged Gandhi Hospital and a police building. In the southern city of Minab, a joint US-Israel attack on a girls’ primary school killed about 180 people. Additional casualties were reported in Israel, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian media reported that Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and a potential future Supreme Leader, urged citizens to remain in the streets and mosques, emphasizing that the nation’s strength lies in public presence. The report also mentioned Iran’s appointment of a new defense minister, the downing of two drones near a British base in Cyprus, restrictions on Hezbollah’s military operations in Lebanon, and Iran’s claim of a missile strike on the Israeli prime minister’s office.

The situation indicates escalating regional conflict and heightened tensions involving Iran, the US, Israel, and neighboring states.

At least one Chinese national was killed in an attack in Tehran, the capital of Iran, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the death and stated that Beijing has called for a ceasefire and diplomatic dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Mao Ning emphasized that the most urgent task is to stop military operations and prevent the spread of the conflict. She added that the crisis can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. The statement reflects China’s position on de-escalating tensions in the region amid continuing violence.

The incident underscores Beijing’s concern over the safety of its citizens abroad and its broader call for restraint and peace efforts across the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before Khamenei could attack him, according to a report by ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl. Trump made the remarks enthusiastically during a phone conversation with the journalist on Sunday evening. Khamenei was reportedly killed on Saturday morning in a joint U.S. and Israeli strike in Tehran.

Jonathan Karl wrote on X that Trump told him Khamenei had tried twice to kill him, but Trump acted first. The conversation was part of ABC News’ coverage following the Iranian leader’s death. The report highlighted Trump’s claim that he preempted Khamenei’s alleged attempts.

The incident follows escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Other reports mentioned that Iranian leaders remained defiant after Khamenei’s death, while NATO’s secretary-general said the alliance would not get involved in the conflict, and Spain refused to allow its bases to be used for attacks on Iran.

Internet observatory NetBlocks reported that Iran has experienced an almost complete internet shutdown lasting over 48 hours. The disruption followed attacks on the United States and Israel, leaving communication systems across the country severely affected. According to NetBlocks, connectivity remains far below normal levels, with nearly the entire nation experiencing restricted access.

Analysts noted that internet shutdowns are a common government measure during times of national security concerns or political unrest to control information flow. Iran has previously imposed prolonged internet restrictions during major protests and periods of political tension.

Observers warned that the ongoing blackout is severely impacting citizens’ ability to communicate and share information. International monitors have expressed concern about the long-term negative effects on human rights and freedom of communication.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that the death toll from United States and Israeli attacks across the country has risen to 555. In Tehran’s Niloufar Square, at least 20 people were killed in an Israeli strike that also damaged Gandhi Hospital and a police building. Explosions were also reported in eastern and western Iran, with fears that both military and civilian areas were targeted.

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, two people were killed in the central city of Sanandaj, where several residential buildings near a police station were destroyed. In the southern city of Minab, a joint US-Israeli strike on a primary girls’ school killed about 180 people. Al Jazeera reported that the attack occurred on Saturday, with updated casualty figures released Monday morning.

The widespread nature of the attacks and the high civilian toll have raised concerns about escalating violence across Iran, though official responses or international reactions were not detailed in the reports.

Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and a potential candidate for Iran’s next Supreme Leader, has called on citizens to stay present in the streets and mosques. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, he urged people not to leave these spaces even for a moment, emphasizing that the nation’s strength lies in the hearts and presence of its people.

He further stated that everyone should remain in mosques until the conflict ends, filling them as symbols of unity and resistance. Khomeini described city mosques and squares as the country’s strong foundations, urging citizens to occupy every square while wearing black and carrying Imam Hussein’s flags.

Although Hassan Khomeini holds no official position and has limited influence within Iran’s security or ruling establishment, he is known for being less hardline than many of his peers. His name was removed from the 2016 Experts Assembly election list, reflecting his complex standing within Iran’s political landscape.

US President Donald Trump told The New York Times on Sunday that he has a short list of three names he considers suitable to lead Iran. He described them as 'very good choices' but declined to reveal their identities, saying he would not disclose the names until the process was complete.

The statement followed a joint US-Israel military operation launched on Saturday morning that reportedly led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. Trump claimed that the attack killed 48 top Iranian leaders. The developments mark a major escalation in tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Further details about the potential leadership transition in Iran or the next steps in US policy were not disclosed in the report.

Mansoureh Khojasteh, the wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died after being injured in attacks carried out by the United States and Israel. The report was published by Al Jazeera on Monday, citing Iranian state media confirmation of her death. The attacks have been ongoing since Saturday, according to the source.

Earlier, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself was reported killed in the same series of US-Israel strikes on Iran. Iranian state media announced Khojasteh’s death on Monday, following days of continued assaults targeting the country.

The situation marks an escalation in hostilities between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, with reports indicating sustained military action since the weekend.

Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated that he believes the United States and Israel pursued a strategy of targeting Iran’s senior leaders until someone agreed to surrender. He described this as a miscalculation, arguing that Iran’s leadership fears surrender far more than war.

According to Parsi, former U.S. President Donald Trump assumed that deploying aircraft carriers to the Gulf would intimidate Iran into submission. However, Parsi explained that Iran’s rulers believe they can survive a war but not a surrender. He warned that if no one in Iran agrees to surrender, the approach would require not only removing successive leaders but effectively destroying the entire country.

Parsi added that the Trump administration did not understand how long such a campaign might take or whether it was even possible. During that time, he said, Iran’s strategy would be to inflict as much damage as possible on the United States, its forces, the global economy, neighboring states, and international markets to make such an initiative prohibitively costly.

Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency has released a new video showing thousands of drones lined up inside underground tunnels built deep beneath Tehran. The footage depicts drones mounted on rocket launchers, with Iranian flags and images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei displayed on the tunnel walls. The video appears intended to showcase the country’s military capabilities.

The report did not provide specific details such as the time, location, or types of drones featured in the footage. However, the release is believed to have come amid heightened regional tensions. The publication of the video follows a series of recent developments involving Iran and its regional activities, as noted in related news items.

The timing and content of the video suggest an effort by Iran to project strength, though the absence of technical or operational details leaves key aspects of the footage unverified.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a morning airstrike jointly conducted by the United States and Israel, according to reports published on March 2, 2026. The attack targeted a compound in central Tehran where Khamenei and several senior military and intelligence officials were meeting. The operation followed months of surveillance on Khamenei’s daily movements and was executed after receiving critical intelligence only hours earlier. Israeli jets reportedly dropped around 30 bombs on the compound at 9:40 a.m. local time.

The intelligence that enabled the strike reportedly originated from the CIA and was shared with Israel, which carried out the direct assault on Iranian leadership targets. The United States focused on military facilities. The attack also killed three senior Iranian defense officials, including Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and IRGC Commander General Mohammad Pakpour. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed he was safe after strikes hit his office.

The long-term impact of Khamenei’s death on Iran’s internal stability and regional conflicts remains unclear, though reports suggest Iran had succession plans prepared in advance.