WATCH: B-2 stealth bombers used to strike Iran, Trump confirms at least nine Iranian vessels sunk

US B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran's reinforced ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Sunday. The strikes occured on Saturday night as part of Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM clarified. "No nation should ever doubt America's resolve," the military stated. The B-2 stealth bombers played a key role in the US's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, particularly Natanzunderneath Pickaxe Mountain, in June 2025, due to their ability to carry heavy munitions that other bombers cannot.

Later on Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that the US had "destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships," in a post on Truth Social. "Some of [the nine ships were] relatively large and important," Trump wrote.

"We are going after the rest - They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!" he added. "In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters," he continued. Earlier on Sunday, CENTCOM confirmed the sinking of an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman. (Source)

IDF destroys IRGC Intelligence, Air Force HQ in Tehran

After achieving air superiority over Tehran, the IDF struck dozens of IRGC and intelligence headquarters, degrading Iran’s command-and-control.

In a large-scale wave of strikes conducted over the past several hours, after the Israeli Air Force achieved air superiority over Tehran, the IDF struck dozens of the regime’s military command centers, including headquarters belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), intelligence headquarters, IRGC Air Force command centers, and internal security headquarters.

The strikes were directed at command centers in which IDF intelligence had identified active operational presence of Iranian regime personnel responsible for managing combat operations and planning terror campaigns against the State of Israel and regional countries. One of the emergency compounds targeted served the Operations Directorate and the Directorate of Intelligence of the Iranian terror regime. From this site, regime officials managed combat activities and developed operational and intelligence assessments.
From this site, regime officials managed combat activities and developed operational and intelligence assessments. The IDF noted that the completed wave of strikes significantly degrades the Iranian regime’s command-and-control capabilities, including the elimination of personnel operating within its most central military headquarters. (Source)

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad killed in Israeli-US strikes - report

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served as Iranian president from 2005 until 2013, was killed in an Israeli-US airstrike, the Iranian Labor News Agency reported on Sunday.

The strike hit Ahmadinejad's residence in Narnak, northeast Tehran, killing him and several bodyguards, the pro-regime outlet claimed. The strike hit Ahmadinejad's residence in Narnak, northeast Tehran, killing him and several bodyguards, the pro-regime outlet claimed.

The strike in Narnak likely occured late on Saturday, according to international media reports. Before becoming president, Ahmadinejad served as Ardabil Province governor and Tehran mayor. After his two terms in office, he was appointed by then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the Expediency Discernment Council - a 48-member advisory council to the Office of the Supreme Leader. (Ed note: Remember him?)   (Source)

Ayatollah who once received UK ‘tolerance’ grant issues fatwa for Muslims to avenge Khamenei

One of two high-profile Shiite religious leaders in Iranwho issued fatwas following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, formerly received a religious tolerance' £15,000 'religious tolerance' grant from Brent Council. On Sunday, following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the US and Israel, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani and Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi have issued fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to take revenge.

Hamedani responded in writing to a request from the presidium of the Assembly of Seminary Students and Scholars in Qom, saying that "avenging the blood of the martyred leader of the revolution is obligatory for all Muslims."

"Without doubt, criminal America and the bloodthirsty Zionists have reached the end of their path, and this time the powerful armed forces will deliver a decisive and unforgettable response," he warned. Shirazi issued a fatwa calling Israel and the US the "most wicked enemies of humanity" and "the principal perpetrators of this crime." "The people of Iran and the Islamic world are the avengers of the blood of the martyred leader of the Revolution," he said, adding that "seeking revenge is the religious duty of all Muslims worldwide so that the evil of these criminals may be removed from the world." (Read More)

Israel preparing for ground incursion into Lebanon

Israel is preparing to expand the campaign in Lebanon, including the possibility of a ground incursion, an Israeli security source told the Saudi channel Al-Hadath. Since the Hezbollah terror group violated a November 2024 ceasefire early Monday morning, the IAF has struck in Beirut and in approximately 30 towns in southern Lebanon. Lebanese reports indicate 31 fatalities and 150 wounded. Overnight, senior Hezbollah officials were targeted in the Beirut area, along with a key Hezbollah terrorist in southern Lebanon. According to reports, the head of Hezbollah’s faction in the Lebanese parliament, Mohammad Raad, who served as deputy leader of the organization, was eliminated in the strikes.

Earlier on Monday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned, "The Hezbollah terrorist organization will pay a heavy price for firing toward Israel, and Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, who decided on the launch under Iranian pressure, is now a marked target for elimination. Whoever follows in Khamenei’s path will soon find himself alongside him in the depths of hell with the rest of the eliminated members of the axis of evil. We will not return to the rules of engagement that existed before October 7 and will defend the residents of the north and all citizens of the State of Israel with full force."

Katz added, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have instructed the IDF to act forcefully against Hezbollah, while continuing to carry out the primary objective: crushing and defeating the Iranian terrorist regime and neutralizing its capabilities in Operation Roaring Lion, in order to remove the threats over the State of Israel and enable the citizens of Iran to rise up against it and overthrow it." (Ed note: Might that "possibility of a ground incursion" include such cities as Gebal, now called Jbeil, Sidon and Tyre as found in Psalm 83?) (Source)

BREAKING: IDF Launches Massive Counter-Strike Against Hezbollah; Israel Weighs "Decisive Blow" Following Rocket Barrage

IDF retaliates against overnight rocket fire, weighing a "crushing blow" against Hezbollah's weakened infrastructure despite recent Israeli withdrawals. In the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a large-scale counter-offensive against Hezbollah positions across Lebanon. The operation comes in direct response to a heavy wave of rocket and drone launches directed at Israeli territory tonight.

IDF Spokesperson stated: "A short while ago, the IDF conducted a targeted strike on senior Hezbollah terrorists in the Beirut area. Simultaneously, the IDF struck a key operative from the Hezbollah terror organization in Southern Lebanon." The sudden flare-up follows a period of strategic ambiguity. Despite Hezbollah’s significantly weakened state following the intensive campaigns of 2024 and early 2025, and Israel’s subsequent withdrawal from most Lebanese territories, it remained unclear whether the terror group would attempt to re-engage in a full-scale conflict.

Tonight’s barrage from Lebanon has effectively ended that uncertainty, prompting an immediate and forceful Israeli military response. Reports circulating in Israeli media suggest that the political and military leadership may view this escalation not merely as a retaliatory measure, but as a strategic opening. Reports in Israeli media indicate that the IDF is prepared to exploit the current momentum to deliver a "crushing blow" to Hezbollah’s remaining infrastructure, one that could potentially surpass the scale of operations seen over the past two years. (Read More)

Hezbollah confirms it fired rockets at Israel as ‘revenge’ for Khamenei

Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group claims responsibility for firing rockets at northern Israel tonight for the first time since the November 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. The rocket attack is “revenge for the blood of the Supreme Leader of the Muslims, Ali Khamenei,” the Iranian proxy group says, referring to Iran’s supreme leader, who was killed in the opening salvo of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on the Islamic Republic on Saturday.

Hezbollah claims it targeted a missile defense site south of Haifa in the attack. The IDF said it intercepted one rocket fired at northern Israel from Lebanon and let several other fall in open spaces. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Hezbollah suggests that the rocket attack constitutes a “warning” to Israel to “withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory,” referring to the five border posts Israel has held on to in Lebanon, citing security concerns, despite being required to withdraw under the 2024 ceasefire.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said in January that the group would not be “neutral” if the US struck Iran, and vowed to confront US threats to Khamenei, but stopped short of committing to intervene in a regional war. After the US and Israel struck Iran on Saturday, the government in Beirut, which seeks to disarm Hezbollah, said it would not let anyone drag Lebanon into war. (Source)

Saudi Arabia, Israel pushed Trump to strike Iran for weeks before Operation Epic Fury - report

US President Donald Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Saturday in a joint operation with Israel followed weeks of behind-the-scenes pressure from Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Washingron Post reported on Sunday, citing accounts from officials and regional sources. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly pushed for strikes against Iran, while Saudi Arabia’s role appeared more complex. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly made several private phone calls to Trump over the past month, pushing for an attack despite publicly endorsing a diplomatic solution, the Washington Post reported.

Simultaneously, Riyadh released a statement that the state would not allow its territory to be used in the event of an attack. Salman reportedly warned US officials that if the strike didn’t happen soon, Iran would come away stronger and more dangerous. On Saturday, Trump told Axios that Operation Epic Fury was launched for two reasons: the first being the collapse of the US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, and the second being that the regime had begun to rebuild the nuclear facilities that had been struck during the Israel-Iran war in June

"The Iranians got close and then pulled back - close and then pulled back. I understood from that that they don't really want a deal," Trump explained. Additionally, while preparing his speech announcing the operation, Trump requested his team compile a list of every Iranian-linked attack around the world over the past 25 years, and found that “every month they did something bad, blew something up or killed someone.” (Source)

Historic Israeli Air Force operation: 200 fighter jets hammer Iran

Two hundred fighter jets streaked across Israel’s skies with a thunderous roar, in “the largest military flyover” in Israeli Air Force history, the Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday. “The IDF completed an extensive attack against the missile array and the defense systems of the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran,” the military said in a statement. The operation, based on high-quality military intelligence, involved hundreds of munitions targeting roughly 500 objectives, including surface-to-surface missile launchers and aerial defense systems. The strikes significantly degraded Iran’s anti-aircraft capabilities and thwarted planned missile attacks against Israeli civilian population centers.

Among the targets was a missile site near Tabriz, used by Iran’s surface-to-surface missile units and assessed as a launch point for planned large-scale attacks on Israel. The IDF said the destruction of key air defense systems enabled Israeli aircraft to operate more freely over Iranian territory, expanding aerial superiority and reducing threats to both IAF planes and Israeli civilians.

The operation follows Israel’s June 2025 campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure, which severely degraded Tehran’s air defense network and contributed to Israel’s ability to quickly establish effective control of the skies over key operational areas. The military said operations remain ongoing, adding that Israel will continue efforts to degrade “every aspect of the Iranian regime.” (Source)

Iran increases ballistic missile attacks after admitting Khamenei death

Iran increased its volume and pace of ballistic missile attacks early Sunday on Israel with several rounds of air siren warnings ringing out across the country one after another, in response to admitting the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although it turns out Khamenei was killed likely in the war's opening moments by around 30 bombs around 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, the more intense response only came later. The Islamic Republic only acknowledged his death after 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning and it appeared to take a couple more hours to organize a full coordinated response

While the IDF is still not confirming the volume of missile attacks, anecdotally, the pace of salvos and the volume of booms Sunday morning was unprecedented for this round of fighting and more comparable to the worst large rounds of attacks in June 2025, some of which involved up to 200 ballistic missiles. In contrast, on Saturday, if around 150 missiles might have been fired at Israel over the course of the entire day, salvos appeared to be limited to a dozen, or at most a couple dozen per salvo, spread out in around 10 salvos over 24 hours.

In total, Tehran entered this latest round of conflict with around 2,000 ballistic missiles. However, it has also already fired hundreds of missiles on five other Sunni Arab countries in the region with American bases. Likewise, US and American attacks appear to have destroyed at least 100 ballistic missiles, though that number could be significantly higher. In June 2025, Iran had 2m500 ballistic missiles and 400 missile launchers. Israel destroyed around half of both over 12 days, eventually reducing the Islamic Republic's ba;llistic missile volume from 200 per day to around 10 per day. (Source)

Operation Roaring Lion: Live updates

Eight people were killed on Sunday in Beit Shemesh following a direct missile impact.
Medical teams treated two victims in serious condition, three in moderate condition, and another 18 who were lightly injured. Rescue and security crews continue to operate on the scene to search for and tend to additional victims. The missile struck the roof of a shelter where people had gathered in response to the red alert sirens. It was also reported that in the latest barrage, a 50-year-old man was moderately injured by shrapnel in a community in central Israel.

MDA EMT Yosef Laufer: “Upon receiving the report at MDA’s 101 dispatch center about a missile strike on several buildings with significant destruction, large numbers of ambulances and mobile intensive care units were dispatched to the scene. When we arrived, we saw extensive damage and residents who had been rescued from the building. We provided medical treatment to several casualties, including a 10-year-old girl in serious condition, as well as a number of other injured individuals with varying degrees of injuries. MDA teams remain at the scene to continue treating additional casualties who have not yet been rescued."

The IDF stated: "Home Front Command search and rescue forces, together with numerous medical teams and a helicopter for casualty evacuation, are currently operating at the impact site in Beit Shemesh. The Commander of the Home Front Command is on his way to the scene." "The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit clarifies that following a review, the early warning system functioned as planned and was activated in the Beit Shemesh area of impact. The circumstances of the impact are under review," the IDF stated. (Ed note: Take a look at the real life pictures from Israel National News in this article.)  (Read More)

Israeli official: Khamenei killed in strike on Tehran

An Israel Defense Forces strike killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an Israeli official told local media on Saturday night. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the body of the 86-year-old, described as riddled with shrapnel, was recovered from the rubble after his compound in Tehran was targeted during the opening phase of “Operation Roaring Lion.” Documentation supporting the assessment was in Israel’s possession and had been presented to the prime minister and senior members of the security establishment, the reports said.

“We are speaking about Khamenei—the Hitler of the 2000s—and this is one of the reasons the State of Israel was created, after Hitler murdered six million of our people,” Likud legislator Moshe Passal told JNS on Saturday night. “When there is someone preparing a [nuclear] weapon and saying that he will destroy all the Jews in the world, this is the inevitable side to be on. “We need to be thankful to God that we are living in these times,” he continued. “My grandmother was in Auschwitz; she would have wanted the fighter jets of Israel and our strong army to exist at that time. Thank God, we have the possibility to fight our enemies and crush them.

“It’s very clear to me that we have the hand of God helping us,” Passal added. Satellite images published earlier Saturday by The New York Timesshowed extensive destruction at the Iranian leader’s compound, including collapsed structures and a large plume of black smoke rising from the fortified complex, which serves as both Khamenei’s primary residence and the site where he receives senior regime officials. An Israeli official confirmed that several senior Iranian leaders were targeted in the airstrikes carried out by the IDF. (Read More)

Israel may have killed dozens of senior Iranian officials, with Ali Khamenei as top target

Dozens of top Iranian officials may have been assassinated collectively at a few different meetings on Saturday, with indications that Israel focused on this part of the joint US-Israel bombings, while American forces focused on other issues, such as attacking the ballistic missile apparatus, naval targets, and nuclear targets. The top-targeted official is Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli confidence has grown over the course of the day that he has been assassinated, and Iranian news sources confirmed his death early on Sunday morning. His well-known command center in Tehran was bombed, but reports indicated that he was not there. However, Khamenei's daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were killed in US-Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.

However, in June 2025, Israel managed to assassinate top Iranian officials, also at their backup secret locations. Ali Larijani, who has been Khamenei's stand-in to run the country in recent weeks, as the ayatollah went underground to try to avoid assassination, may also have been killed. Ali Shamkhani, another top security aide to Khamenei for over a decade, has been confirmed killed, though he was also thought to be killed in the June 2025 Operation, and at that time survived. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Chief Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, who just recently replaced his predecessor, who was killed in June 2025, has been confirmed killed. (Read More)

Iran stored highly enriched uranium at underground site, IAEA report says

Some of Iran's most highly enriched uranium was stored in an underground area of its nuclear site in Isfahan, stated a report from UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The report was sent to member states on Friday, according to Reuters. This is the first time the IAEA has reported the location of uranium that has been enriched to up to 60% purity, close to the 90% that weapons-grade uranium holds. The tunnel complex's entrance was hit by US and Israeli military strikes in June, but the facility seems largely unharmed, diplomats say.

The IAEA does not currently have access to any of Iran’s four declared uranium enrichment facilities and therefore cannot provide any information on the current size or the whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium stock, or whether it has suspended all enrichment, the report said. As of June 13th, Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to 60% purity is still estimated at 440.9 kg. According to the IAEA’s definition, around 42 kg of uranium enriched to 60% is theoretically enough, if enriched further to produce a nuclear bomb.

The IAEA expressed concern that Iran has never granted the agency access to its enrichment facility at Isfahan, and that it does not know the precise location of the facility. It is critical for the IAEA to conduct verification activities in Iran without further delay, the report said. (Source)

Israel OKs 1,300 homes in Samaria’s Kedumim

The planned Nahalat Esther neighborhood will more than double the size of the community.

The Supreme Planning Council of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration on Thursday approved the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in the western Samaria community of Kedumim. The 1,338 homes in the planned Nahalat Esther neighborhood will more than double the size of Kedumim, which currently has some 4,850 residents living in around 1,050 households, Israel National Newsreported. The roughly 60-acre neighborhood will feature a green valley at its center.

In total, the Kedumim Local Council is planning 3,000 homes in four planned neighborhoods, according to the report. Kedumin Local Council head Oziel Vatik welcomed the final approval of Nahalat Esther, calling it a “historic day” in the community’s 50th year. “We are setting out on a new path of growth, construction and renewal, for the benefit of the founding generation and for generations to come,” he said. “Kedumim, a pioneer of settlement in Samaria, is now rising to the next level of development as it continues to grow, expand and lead.”

Vatik in the statement thanked Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a resident of Kedumim who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry responsible for civilian matters in Judea and Samaria. (Ed note: Kedumim is an Israeli settlement in Samaria, not a city. The planned Nahalat Esther neighborhood is a 60 acre development within Kedumim.) (Read More)

Israeli officials informed Khamenei assassinated in Iran strike, body said to be found in rubble

The body of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, was reportedly found under the rubble in Tehran. His death marks a major turning point for the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in an Israeli strike on Tehran, with his body found under the rubble caused by an Israeli airstrike, senior Israeli officials were informed on Saturday evening. Documentation of Khamenei's body was reportedly shown to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a televised address on Saturday evening, Netanyahu said there were "growing indications" that Khamenei was killed, but did not provide additional details. Khamenei has ruled the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, previously serving as president under Ruhollah Khomeini’s regime from 1981 until his ascension to supreme leader. He was 86 years old.

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian officials promised to release a recording from Khamenei soon after Israeli strikes targeted his Tehran compound. The preliminary assessment among Israeli officials was that Khamenei was hurt in the strike. No official confirmation has been received by Israeli, American, or Iranian sources. (Read More)

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel.  Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. 

About 2600 years ago the Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel issued parallel end times prophecies concerning modern-day Iran. Today the rogue country is becoming a nuclear nation and aggressively advancing its hegemony throughout the greater Middle East. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam is a non-fiction thriller taking the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the prophets and the minds of today’s key national players.Can anything good come from the evil that is about to befall us? The ancient prophecy of Elam will reveal what God has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now  (Ed note: A must read from Dr Bill Salus, especially now.)  (CLICK HERE)

Israel, United States strike Islamic Republic, targeting heart of regime

Israel, acting in coordination with the United States, launched strikes in Iran on Saturday, hitting multiple targets as explosions were reported in Tehran and other cities. Among the most significant reported targets was the office complex of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in central Tehran. Reuters, citing Iranian officials, said Khamenei was not at the location at the time of the strike, though this could not be independently confirmed.

Videos circulating online appeared to show black plumes of smoke rising from an area associated with the Supreme Leader’s headquarters — long considered the symbolic and operational center of the regime’s authority. Footage shared on social media also showed some Iranians reacting with disbelief and celebration, with witnesses heard laughing and referring to the site as the “leader’s house,” while others were seen thanking Israel as strikes unfolded.

Explosions were reported across Tehran and multiple Iranian cities early Saturday, including Tabriz, Qom, Karaj, Khorramabad, Kermanshah and Ilam, as Israeli officials confirmed a preemptive operation aimed at dismantling what they described as imminent threats posed by Iran’s missile and military infrastructure.
Iranian state media said the southern port city of Bushehr was also attacked, though it remains unclear whether nuclear-related facilities were damaged. (Ed note: Watch this one. Now we're really talking Bible Prophecy as found in Jeremiah 49:34-39.)   (Read More)

Panic in Tehran as crowds flee city amid US-Israeli attacks

TEHRAN: Long lines formed at petrol stations in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday (Feb 28) following the overnight attacks launched by Israel and the United States (US), reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Crowds tried to leave the city and shops were closed in many places, according to eyewitnesses. An eerie silence reigned in the north of the metropolis, which was targeted by several waves of attacks launched after weeks of tension with Washington over Iran's nuclear programme.- Bernama  (Ed note: Watch in the coming days about the people leaving Iran. Where will they go?)   (Source)

US and Israel launch major joint assault on Iran; Trump indicates goal is to topple regime

Strikes target Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Pezeshkian, Israeli official says; blasts heard throughout Islamic Republic; US president tells Iranian people: ‘The hour of your freedom is at hand’.

After long weeks of escalating regional tensions and burgeoning threats of conflict, Israel and the US launched a major joint strike on Iran on Saturday, with waves of attacks on sites across the Islamic Republic. Strikes targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, an Israeli official said. Other top regime and military commanders were also targeted, according to the official. The results of the strikes were not yet clear. Targets in the campaign also included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders and political officials were killed in the strikes, an Iranian source close to the establishment told Reuters. US President Donald Trump announced that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran,” calling the campaign “a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.” “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally… obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy,” he said in a video statement posted on his Truth Social account.

“We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.” Trump indicated that the goal was to topple the regime, and he called on the Iranian people to seize the opportunity and take over their government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his own video message to the public that the operation was launched “to remove the existential threat” posed by the Islamic Republic, and “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny. “The time has come for all parts of the Iranian people… to cast off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran,” the premier said. Iran vowed a crushing response to the military campaign and launched repeated missile barrages at Israel starting at around 10 a.m., sending millions into shelters. (Read More)

Why Israel and the U.S. Can Neutralize Iran in Just 24 Hours

With a March 3rd flashpoint looming, a look at the massive military build-up and intelligence edge that could end the conflict before the first day is over. The countdown has begun. While many analysts are looking at the coming weeks, the reality on the ground suggests a much tighter timeline. Based on recent escalations, the immediate evacuation orders for diplomatic staff, the total clearing of key U.S. bases in Qatar to move assets further from the immediate strike zone, and the arrival of an additional carrier strike group, it is highly likely that by March 3rd, the region will be in a state of full-scale conflict. While the media often paints a picture of a long, grueling war, there are several strategic reasons why a combined Israeli-American operation could effectively dismantle the Iranian threat in as little as 24 hours.

1. The "One-Time Use" Launcher Problem

Iran’s greatest threat is its missile stockpile, but a missile is useless without a launcher. Unlike previous encounters, Iran now faces the combined might of Israeli field intelligence and U.S. satellite and optical sensory technology. The U.S. recently deployed a specialized mission aircraft to the Middle Eastdesigned specifically for real-time detection and elimination of mobile launchers. These sensors are so advanced they can identify a launch sequence the moment it begins. In this environment, every Iranian launcher becomes "one-time use", once they fire (or even prepare to fire), their coordinates are locked, and they are destroyed within minutes. If you can’t launch in massive, sustained waves, you can’t overwhelm defense systems like the Arrow or the Patriot. 

  

2. The Liquid Fuel Vulnerability

A critical, often overlooked factor is the current state of Iran's fuel production. Following targeted strikes on mixers used for solid propellant, a large portion of Iran's missile fleet has been forced back to liquid fuel. This is a game-changer. A solid-fuel missile can be prepped and fired in 15 minutes. A liquid-fuel missile requires a fueling process that takes nearly two hours. For two hours, these missiles sit as static targets on the radar of U.S. and Israeli strike teams. They will likely be neutralized before they ever leave the ground.   

3. Unprecedented Logistical Power: The Tanker Fleet 

To understand the intensity of the planned strike, one only needs to look at the logistics. The U.S. has moved 119 aerial refueling tankers to the region. To put that in perspective: that is more refueling aircraft than the rest of the world’s militaries combined. This fleet allows hundreds of fighter jets to stay airborne indefinitely, striking deep into Iranian territory and returning to the "gas station" in the sky rather than heading back to base. This ensures a 24-hour cycle of relentless, high-intensity bombardment that no air defense system can survive.

4. Strategic Overload and Internal Collapse 

Iran will not just be fighting Israel; they will be facing the U.S. Navy, cruise missile barrages, and elite commando units. Furthermore, the Iranian regime is fighting a war on two fronts: the external one and the internal one. The Iranian public is reaching a breaking point; a massive, successful opening strike by the West could be the catalyst for the citizens to take to the streets and finish what the missiles started.

The Bottom Line: A Different Kind of Purim

As we approach the holiday of Purim, the irony is not lost on anyone. While the media warns of "heavy volleys," the strategic reality suggests that Iran's ability to coordinate a massive response is being systematically dismantled before the first shot is even fired. Between th overwhelming air superiority, the advanced sensory "kill web," and the logistical nightmare Iran now faces with its fueling capabilities, this won't be a repeat of past stalemates. This time, the "opening blow" planned by the U.S. and Israel is designed to be terminal. (Source)

Netanyahu on Iran strikes: ‘We will ensure the eternity of Israel’

“This murderous terrorist regime must not arm itself with nuclear weapons that would allow it to threaten all of humanity,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said the joint military operation with the United States was launched to remove “the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran,” while thanking our “great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”In addition to explaining the geopolitical considerations that led to the operation, which he titled Operation Roaring Lion, Netanyahu, who spoke in Hebrew, highlighted its symbolic dimensions. He noted that it’s happening in the lead-up toPurim, a Jewish holiday whose story is set in Persia and in which Jews thwart a scheme to annihilate them.

Netanyahu stressed that for decades, the ayatollah “has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people. This murderous terrorist regime must not arm itself with nuclear weapons that would allow it to threaten all of humanity. “Our joint action will create the conditions for the courageous Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands. The time has come for all segments of the Iranian people—the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis and the Ahwazis—to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-loving Iran,” continued Netanyahu.

The prime minister emphasized that in the coming days the Israeli home front will be required to demonstrate “endurance and fortitude.” “Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel,” he said. (Read More)

Iran launches heavy missile barrage across Israel in retaliation for US-Israel attack

Iran's launches toward Israel come after United States President Donald Trump confirmed the US began an operation against the Islamic regime.

Sirens sounded across central Israel as part of the Iranian missile attack against the country. A total of 125 missiles were fired against Israel by Iran during their first barrage, with 35 entering Israeli airspace and the rest being intercepted earlier. As a result, sirens sounded in central and northern Israel. A missile impacted in northern Israel, a Magen David Adom source told Walla, with no injuries being reported. According to Fire and Rescue, missile shrapnel impacted on a 20-story building and penetrated into the 17th floor.

Heavy rocket barrages were launched into northern Israel and the Golan Heights on Saturday morning, as Iran continues launching a salvo of attacks on Israel. Sirens have sounded intermittently throughout Saturday morning. Other MDA teams were dispatched earlier to treat several individuals who were injured on their way to protected areas, as well as people suffering from anxiety. Some of the missiles fired at Israel on Saturday morning were launched from Lebanon, a military source said. The IDF denied the source's claim. Iran's launches toward Israel come after United States President Donald Trump confirmed the US began an operation against the Islamic regime.

The IDF shifted to hunting missile launchers and missiles across Iran, aiming to degrade IRGC capabilities to strike Israel’s home front. "When we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take," Trump told the Iranian people in a pre-recorded message. "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump added. "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon." (Source)

Senior IRGC, regime officials killed in Israel-US strikes on Iran, source says

Trump confirms US operation in Iran, tells IRGC to lay down arms • Blasts heard in Tehran as Khamenei moved to 'secure location' • Netanyahu says objective to end Ayatollah's regime.

Israeli and US strikes on Iran killed several senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and Islamic Regime political officials, an Iranian source close to the establishment told Reuters on Saturday. Iran's Security Council instructed residents of Tehran, as well as other major cities, to stay in safe, protected locations until further notice, Walla reported.  Security forces blocked roads in the Tehran area that is home to the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and parliament, witnesses said.

This follows on from Israel and the United States launching an attack on Iran, with Iranian state media reporting explosions heard in Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a "secure location," an Iranian official confirmed to Reuters earlier on Saturday. Satellite imagery showed an alleged Israeli strike on the bunker where Khamenei is being guarded. An Iranian military official later declines Reuters request to comment when asked if Khamenei or Pezeshkian had been targeted in the Israeli and US strikes on the Islamic Regime.

Iranian media reported strikes targeting the IRGC's intelligence headquarters, as well as explosions in central Tehran. The country has closed its airspace in response to the strikes. A security source confirmed to Walla that the United States is involved in the strikes. A US official also told Reuters American strikes in Iran were "underway," adding that strikes against Iran are being carried out by air and sea. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement, saying that the aim of the operation was to remove the Ayatollah's regime from power. (Read More)

Iran says it has hit US base in Bahrain, as it launches strikes across region

Iranian forces say they have struck a US naval base in Bahrain, as Iran launched strikes across the region in retaliation for a "massive" and ongoing attack against it by the US and Israel. Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. The extent of any damage is unclear and the US has not commented. Elsewhere across the region, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait - all home to US military bases - said they have intercepted missiles in their air space. In Doha, Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted several missiles apparently targeting the al-Udeid air base, the largest American base in the region.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement it had launched the retaliatory operation "Truthful Promise 4", targeting US assets in the region. Bahrain's state news agency confirmed the attack on the US base. It later said it had successfully intercepted a number of missiles that had entered its airspace.
In Israel, sirens were heard across the country after the Israeli military said it had detected an incoming Iranian missile barrage. The defence ministry of the United Arab Emirates said in a statement that the country has been subjected to a "a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles".

"UAE air defence systems dealt with the missiles with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of missiles," it added. It said debris fell on a residential area in Abu Dhabi, causing some material damage and killing a civilian. The US Air Force operates from Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, along with the UAE Air Force. (Source)

Iran Claims Major Progress in Talks, But Still Rejects U.S. Demands

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed on Thursday that an “understanding” was reached on “most elements of a potential agreement with the U.S.” during talks in Geneva, Switzerland, but no major breakthroughs were announced.

Iran does not appear to have offered any significant concessions to U.S. demands on uranium enrichment or ballistic missile development. Araghchi told Iranian state media that the third round of talks on Thursday – the second in Geneva, and all mediated by the foreign ministry of Oman – were the “most intense so far,” running hours longer than previous meetings. “There is agreement on most elements,” he said. “Some technical aspects need to be discussed later.” “The U.S. must choose either the path of dialogue or the path of confrontation and tension,” he declared.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi was upbeat as ever, reporting “significant progress” had been made, and “discussions on a technical level will take place next week in Vienna. Busaidi was scheduled to meet with senior U.S. officials in Washington on Friday, including Vice President JD Vance, “in an effort to avoid war with Iran.” Vance said on Thursday he remains “skeptical of foreign military interventions,” and “we all prefer the diplomatic solution,” but he told reporters that a limited kinetic military action against Iran could be conducted without triggering a larger conflict. “The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” he said. (Ed note: Did you get that? Araghchi claims major progress in talks, but still rejects all U.S. demands, he says "in your face, Deal Maker!")   (Read More)

Iran is Laughing at Trump’s Middle East Policy

Strategic Paralysis: How Tehran is Outmaneuvering the "Maximum Pressure" Doctrine

While the Pentagon continues to authorize the massive, multi-billion dollar movement of carrier strike groups and strategic bombers across the Middle East, the view from Tehran is likely one of quiet amusement. To the Iranian leadership, the American display of "fire and fury" isn't a deterrent, it’s a distraction. The fundamental disconnect in the current administration’s strategy is a failure to understand the nature of the adversary. President Trump, ever the negotiator, seems to believe that enough "maximum pressure" will eventually bring Iran to the table for a grand bargain. But for the Islamic Republic, denuclearization isn't just "off the table", it’s not even in the same building.


Iran is not interested in a signature or a handshake. Their currency is time, and right now, they are purchasing it at a discount. While the U.S. drains its treasury to maintain a high-alert military posture, Iran is steadily advancing its centrifuges and fortifying its regional proxies. They are playing a long game rooted in a jihadist ideology that views Western timelines, usually dictated by four-year election cycles, with contempt. The Iranians aren't intimidated by the "knife to the throat" approach that seemed so effective during the height of the domestic protests. Why? Because they know the U.S. political clock is ticking. Yes that includes the midterms.


The strategy from Tehran is transparent: drag the negotiations out until the domestic pressure in America becomes unbearable. They are waiting for the moment when the cost of mobilization, the fatigue of the American voter, and the friction of internal politics force Trump to "climb down the tree." They are betting that the U.S. is more desperate for a "win" than they are for a deal. Trump’s biggest miscalculation may be treating ideological hardliners like real estate developers. He enters the room with men who view martyrdom as a victory and wonders why they don't flinch at his military hardware.


There was a moment when the administration's hardness felt like strategic brilliance, a necessary correction to years of appeasement. But strength without a clear, achievable objective is just expensive posturing. By allowing Iran to dictate the tempo of this "negotiation," Trump is being led into a trap where the only exit is a face-saving retreat or an accidental escalation that Tehran is far better prepared to handle psychologically. If the goal was to break the regime’s will, the current behavior isn't projecting wisdom; it’s projecting a lack of a Plan B. Iran isn't shaking in its boots; it’s laughing behind the curtain, waiting for the American giant to tire itself out. (Ed note: ALL TRUE, and FM Araghchi has been running circles around Trump's real estate developers, Laurel and Hardy.)  (Source)

Tehran: US must drop its ‘excessive demands’

For diplomacy to succeed, the United States must forgo its “excessive demands,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday. “Success in [the diplomatic] path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands,” Iran’s top diplomat said in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, according to AFP.

After the latest round of indirect Iran-U.S. talks in Geneva on Thursday, Araghchi remarked that “further progress” has been made regarding his country’s nuclear program. Negotiations “concluded with the mutual understanding that we will continue to engage in a more detailed manner on matters that are essential to any deal—including sanctions termination and nuclear-related steps,” he said in a statement on X.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, whose country is mediating between Tehran and Washington, described the progress in talks as “significant,” adding that negotiations “on a technical level” will resume next week in Vienna. The Wall Street Journal reported that a wide gap still exists between the sides on key issues.

The report said that U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are insisting that Iran destroy its three main nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, place permanent restrictions on its nuclear program and deliver its remaining enriched uranium to the U.S. The Iranian delegation has reportedly rejected all demands. (Read More)

'Disappointed': US Team Unimpressed by Iran's Latest Geneva Offer

Insider reveals frustration with the morning session despite Oman's positive spin.

A source closely involved in the Geneva nuclear talks told N12 that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were disappointed by the presentation Iran delivered this morning. Despite Omani mediator Badr al-Busaidi's later characterization of significant progress, the American side found Tehran's morning showing lacking. The three-hour session earlier today saw Iran present elements of its proposal,but according to the source, the content failed to meet US expectations or bridge key differences. The disappointment centers on core issues including the scope of enrichment limits, verification mechanisms, and sanctions relief timelines. While Oman highlighted creative ideas and positive exchanges, the US team viewed Iran's positions as insufficiently flexible on the demands President Trump has repeatedly outlined.

The source's assessment aligns with broader reporting that gaps remain wide, particularly around permanent enrichment restrictions and facility dismantlement. Witkoff and Kushner, leading the American delegation, had pushed for strict caps and long-term monitoring, yet the Iranian approach this morning apparently fell short of providing the concrete concessions needed to move forward decisively.

This reaction comes after several hours of indirect and some direct exchanges, with the talks pausing for consultations before potentially resuming later. The disappointment underscores the challenge of aligning Iran's insistence on enrichment rights with US insistence on verifiable rollback. Both sides continue working through differences, but today's morning presentation left the American negotiators visibly unsatisfied according to those in the room. (Source)

Grenell on Claims Iran Nuke Program Obliterated: They’ve Lied Before, ‘Are Close to the Breakout Number’

On Wednesday’s broadcast of Newsmax TV’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell responded to a question on why we’re worried about Iran’s nuclear weapons program when the administration claimed the program was decimated less than a year ago by saying that “they are close to the breakout number, which is the enrichment level.” And we know Iran has lied plenty.


Host Rob Schmitt asked, “It is a question we’ve got to ask, though, if we’re so worried about nuclear weapons, this was a nuclear program that we claimed was decimated just a few months ago. Why are we worried about nuclear weapons?”


Grenell responded, “Well, look, they are close to the breakout number, which is the enrichment level. We also know that they’ve lied in the past to John Kerry about the number of centrifuges they have. They’ve lied about the heavy water amounts that they bring in, which is what you need to create this nuclear weapon. So, you can’t trust them. They’ve lied in the past. Remember, … years ago, that the Israelis found this whole locker of information that really proved that the Iranian regime had been lying and the Obama team just completely got snookered and the Biden team.”  (Source)

Iran Fears Israel Far More Than Trump – Expert Drops Shocking Claim

Middle East expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar warns that Iran views American diplomacy as a weakness to be exploited, while fearing the precision and lethality of the Israeli military. As the diplomatic carousel continues in Geneva, renowned Middle East expert and Vice President of Newsrael, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, is raising a red flag regarding the true mindset of the Iranian leadership. In a candid assessment, Dr. Kedar argues that despite the massive buildup of American firepower in the region, the Ayatollahs do not feel genuinely threatened by President Trump’s rhetoric. He contends that the Iranian regime interprets the invitation to negotiate not as a gesture of peace, but as an opportunity to deceive and stall for time. According to Dr. Kedar, the only language the regime truly respects is the language of force, a reality that places Israel in a unique position of deterrence compared to the United States. While Washington talks, Jerusalem hits, and it is this reputation for action that keeps the Iranian leadership awake at night.

Dr. Kedar believes that the current American approach, which blends the phrase "help is on the way" with simultaneous threats and offers for negotiations, lacks the necessary bite to deter a committed adversary. "The Iranians do not feel any threat," Kedar stated, explaining that the mere suggestion of a meeting undermines the perception of American seriousness. He warned that "whenever they sense a willingness to negotiate, or maybe let’s come to terms, they start postponing, they start dragging time, buying time, con you, cheat you, lie to you." Without an unequivocal, credible ultimatum, the Iranian regime views the current situation as a winnable game of shadows.

Despite the United States possessing the most powerful military on earth, Dr. Kedar argues that Tehran takes Israel much more seriously than America. The reason, he explains, is that "Israel doesn’t negotiate with them. Israel just hits." He cited the deep reach of Israeli intelligence, which he believes is capable of directing precise military strikes "to the most aching nerve in their body politic." While reports suggest Trump’s advisors may be encouraging Israel to initiate an attack that the U.S. would later join, Kedar notes that the final decision rests with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a heavy burden, as Kedar warns that such an escalation could spiral into a global war involving Russia and China. "I am not sure that Netanyahu wants to be remembered in the world’s history as the one who ignited World War III," he noted. (Read More)

Exclusive — Former IDF General: Iran May Arm Missiles with Chemical Warheads; ‘Massive Strike’ Only Option

A former senior Israeli commander warned that Iran could seek to arm its rapidly expanding ballistic missile arsenal — which already threatens Israel, U.S. bases, and allied interests across the region — with chemical or biological warheads, arguing that the “only viable option” may be a “massive” and “decisive” strike to bring down the regime as nuclear negotiations reach a critical juncture. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on Wednesday — on the eve of a pivotal third round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva — Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a former senior IDF commander who continues to advise Israeli defense circles, said the most urgent danger now facing not only Israel but also American forces and regional stability is Tehran’s accelerating ballistic missile production.

“Looking at the moment, the main issue which is urgent — not only to Israel but to American forces and regional stability — is the massive production of ballistic missiles,” Avivi said. While Iran’s nuclear sites were “hit severely” last year and rebuilding efforts take time, he warned that Tehran is recovering “much faster” when it comes to manufacturing advanced missiles — systems he described as “more advanced and dangerous” than those launched during the 12-day war.

He said Iranian leaders appear “very determined to retaliate” after what they view as a humiliating blow that undermined their deterrence both internally and internationally. One underreported dimension of that missile surge, Avivi cautioned, is the possibility that Tehran could seek to equip some of those systems with unconventional payloads. “There is a discussion about that,” he said, confirming that Israeli defense officials are actively assessing “what are the capabilities and what are the chances that there is readiness to put a warhead that has these capabilities.” The prospect that Iran could attach chemical or biological agents to long-range ballistic missiles, he argued, “strengthens the understanding that we need a preventive attack” to suppress any attempted strike. (Read More)

VP Vance: 'You can't let craziest regime in the world have nuclear weapons'

US Vice President JD Vance said in a Fox News interview that President Donald Trump has made clear that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. "The president has been as crystal clear as he could be. Iran can't have a nuclear weapon," Vance said. He added that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon "would be the ultimate military objective, if that's the route that he chose." Vance stated that the administration is seeking to achieve that goal through diplomacy. "That is, of course, what we're trying to accomplish, as the president said, through the preferred route of diplomacy," he said.

He described the objective as ensuring that "Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, cannot threaten the world with nuclear terrorism." Vance added, "I think most Americans understand that you can't let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons. That's what the president is accomplishing." According to Vance, the President has established a clear goal and is pursuing diplomatic efforts while retaining other options. "He's going to try to accomplish it diplomatically. But as we all know, Bill, the president has a number of other tools at his disposal to ensure this doesn't happen," he said, adding that the President has "shown a willingness to use them."

..I think the president ultimately will make the decision about how to ensure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon," Vance said. He confirmed that another round of diplomatic talks with Iran was scheduled, describing the effort as an attempt "to reach a reasonable settlement." "But a reasonable settlement towards what end? Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple," he said, adding that "the supreme leader and everybody in their system should understand it." (Read More)