Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia This photo taken on March 1, 2026 shows smoke rising in Tehran, Iran. (Xinhua/Shadati) CAIRO, March (Xinhua) -- Following the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran that began on Saturday, global attention has turned to the Strait of Hormuz, particularly after Iran warned it could disrupt transit through this vital waterway in retaliation, sending shockwaves through international markets. What makes the strait so vital? Has this critical pass

The Financial Times reported that the assassination of Ali Khamenei resulted from a surgical intelligence campaign. For years, Israel hacked Tehran's traffic cameras, sending encrypted feeds to servers in Israel to build a "pattern of life" profile for Khamenei's inner circle. This allowed Unit 8200 to monitor guard shifts and parking habits within the high-security Pasteur Street complex. A Daylight Strike Guided by Human Intel: While Israel focused on signal intelligence, a

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Monday, March 2, 2026, that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem is now a "target for liquidation". The announcement follows Hezbollah's first major violation of the 2024 ceasefire, launching rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed the military has shifted to an "offensive campaign," warning of extended days of heavy combat. In Lebanon, at least 31 people

The Abu Dhabi Media Office announced on Monday, March 2, 2026, that UAE air defenses successfully intercepted hostile drones. Shrapnel from the interception fell on a warehouse in the ICAD area and a commercial facility, causing minor material damage but no casualties. Simultaneously, authorities in Ras Al Khaimah dealt with shrapnel in the Al Hamra Village area following a successful drone interception on Monday morning, confirming that no injuries occurred. Official sources

The IDF announced on Monday, March 2, 2026, that it successfully conducted a "precise" strike against a high-ranking Hezbollah operative in Beirut. Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning on "X," stating that Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, is now a "target for liquidation" following the group's retaliatory strikes for the death of Ali Khamenei. Simultaneously, the IDF confirmed the elimination of senior officials within Iran's Military Intelligence Mi

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that the killing of Ali Khamenei marks the elimination of the entire senior leadership of the Iranian "Axis of Terror". The IDF described this as the pinnacle of "The Renaissance War," asserting that the world is now safer. The liquidated leadership includes: Ali Khamenei: Supreme Leader of Iran. Hassan Nasrallah: Hezbollah leader (killed September 2024). Yahya Sinwar: Hamas leader in Gaza (killed October 2024). Mohammed Deif: Hamas mi

A massive new wave of Iranian missiles and suicide drones targeted Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain on Monday, March 2, 2026. In Kuwait, smoke was seen rising from the U.S. Embassy grounds as diplomatic staff were ordered to take cover in bunkers. Qatari air defenses reportedly intercepted 89 missiles and 22 drones, while Kuwaiti officials confirmed neutralizing threats over residential areas like Salwa and Rumaithiya. The escalation turned deadly in Bahrain, where falling

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced on Monday, March 2, 2026, that the Israeli military has shifted from a defensive to an "offensive posture" in Lebanon. Following Hezbollah’s rocket and drone barrage on northern Israel—the first major violation of the 2024 ceasefire—Zamir warned that the nation must prepare for a prolonged period of intense combat. "We are launching waves of strikes; we are no longer just defending," Zamir stated during a situational assessment

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia This photo taken on Feb. 28, 2026 shows thick smoke rising in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Xinhua/Shadati) CAIRO, March (Xinhua) -- Iran's state media confirmed Sunday that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday, prompting Iranian missile strikes on Israel and U.S. targets across the region. What happened in the past 24 hours? Why did the United States and Israel take action now? How will Iran

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia This photo, taken on March 1, 2026, shows smoke rising in Tehran, Iran. On Sunday evening, Iran's state-run IRIB TV reported that the United States and Israel had attacked parts of the organization in Tehran. A major hospital in Tehran was also targeted by strikes. (Xinhua/Shadati) DUBAI, March (Xinhua) -- A joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran, which started on Saturday morning, triggered a sharp escalation across the Mi

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia This file photo shows Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attending a press conference in Tehran, Iran, May 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Shadati) CAIRO, March (Xinhua) -- Iranian authorities on Sunday confirmed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes the previous day and declared 40 days of national mourning. Khamenei was one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East, and his death was expected to cast a long shadow over Ir

In a major strategic pivot, the "E3" leaders—Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—issued a joint statement on Sunday and Monday, March 2, 2026, declaring their readiness to take "necessary and proportionate defensive action" against Iran. The powers are prepared to strike Iranian drone and missile launch sites at their point of origin to protect European interests and regional allies. The escalation follows the first confirmed American fatalitie

Following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a defiant statement promising to confront the "U.S.-Zionist aggression." Qassem emphasized that the group would not abandon the "field of resistance," sparking fears of an imminent Hezbollah strike against Israel. In direct contrast, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took to social media to warn against "adventures" that could jeopardize Lebanon's security, urging citi

IDF Spokesperson Avi Defrin announced on Sunday, March 1, 2026, that Israeli airstrikes have successfully eliminated approximately 50% of Iran’s total missile arsenal. In a televised briefing, Defrin stated that the operation effectively halted the manufacture of at least 1,500 surface-to-surface missiles that were slated for production. He noted that Tehran had recently ramped up its output to dozens of missiles per month, with plans to reach hundreds before the strikes inte

In a Sunday report, the New York Times detailed how the CIA’s meticulous tracking of Ali Khamenei led to the successful decapitation of Iran’s leadership. Originally planned as a nighttime raid, the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive was moved to Saturday morning after the CIA confirmed Khamenei would be attending a high-level meeting in a central Tehran complex. This "intelligence-driven" adjustment allowed the allies to hit their primary target with surgical precision. Following

The UN Security Council witnessed a fiery exchange on Saturday night and Sunday, March 1, 2026, as U.S. Envoy Mike Waltz and Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani clashed over the massive joint military strikes on Iran. Waltz dismissed the Iranian presence at the council as a "mockery," accusing the regime of slaughtering its own citizens. He defended the military action as a legal necessity to ensure global security and prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. In a sharp rebuttal, Irav

Powerful explosions were heard across Doha and Manama early Sunday, March 1, 2026, marking the second consecutive day of Iranian strikes on Gulf states. Massive plumes of black smoke rose over southern Doha following heavy blasts, as Tehran continues its campaign against U.S. military installations in the region, including Al Udeid Air Base and the U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters. Iran had previously warned that any nation hosting U.S. forces would be considered a legitimate targ

The Israeli military launched a new wave of heavy airstrikes targeting government buildings in the heart of Tehran on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Footage released by the IDF showed the complete destruction of two major facilities belonging to the Iranian Ministry of Internal Security. The military spokesperson stated that the goal of these "intense strikes" over the past 24 hours was to establish total air superiority and clear the path into the Iranian capital. On the home front,

In a surprising tactical shift, the U.S. military utilized low-cost suicide drones modeled after Iranian designs during Saturday’s massive strikes on Iran. The Pentagon confirmed the first combat use of the "Lucas" drone (costing only $35,000), part of a new "Affordable Mass" strategy inspired by the effectiveness of Iran’s own Shahed drones in global conflicts. Operation "Epic Fury" also featured the extensive use of Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from sea to strike deep

Iran officially announced on Sunday, March 1, 2026, the deaths of Abdurrahim Mousavi, Chairman of the General Staff, and Major General Sardar Rezaian, Chief of Domestic Security Intelligence. Mousavi, who took office only months ago after his predecessor was killed, becomes the fourth top-tier commander confirmed dead following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. U.S. intelligence sources cited by CBS News indicate that at least 40 high-ranking officials perishe