Democracy Dies in Darkness
Updated
March 2, 2026 at 5:45 a.m. EST
The conflict in the Middle East sharply escalated Monday, the third day of a U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran, broadening into wider regional fighting. Hezbollah responded to the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei with rocket and drone attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli strikes in the suburbs of Beirut and other Lebanese strongholds of the group. Iranian salvos continued against Persian Gulf states as the conflict reached European Union soil, with the U.K. reporting a drone attack on its military base in Cyprus. Three U.S. service members have been killed during the conflict, the military announced Sunday, and President Donald Trump said “there will likely be more” as the U.S. assault on Iran is set to continue for “four to five weeks.”
What to know
- Trump outlines month of strikes: The assault on Iran will last for “four to five weeks,” President Donald Trump told reporters. Trump told Fox News that 48 Iranian leaders were killed in the initial strike and posted on Truth Social that the U.S.-led operation had sunk nine Iranian naval ships, including some that were “relatively large and important.”
- Israel strikes back at Hezbollah: The combat zone expanded to Lebanon after Hezbollah claimed a rocket and drone attack on Israel. Israeli rockets struck the group’s stronghold outside Beirut and targeted weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure, the Israeli military said.
- U.S. service members killed: Trump warned more U.S. causalities were likely after U.S. Central Command said three service members were killed and five were seriously wounded. Others suffered “minor shrapnel injuries and concussions.” The three Americans killed were part of a sustainment unit in Kuwait, two U.S. officials told The Washington Post.
- Interim leadership in Iran: Iran announced Sunday that an interim leadership council was ruling the country following the assassination of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran faces an opaque, fraught process — one complicated by the death of many senior officials in the initial strike and the ongoing war — to select a new leader.
- Iran reports more than 500 dead: Iran’s state broadcaster reported 555 killed in the ongoing airstrikes by the United States and Israel, citing figures from the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The Post could not independently verify the Iranian toll.
- Strikes across the region: Eight Arab countries reported attacks by Iran: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Qatar. In Israel, at least nine people were killed near Jerusalem; one person was reported killed in central Tel Aviv and more than 100 injured, Israel authorities said.
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Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said Monday morning that an unspecified number of U.S. military aircraft had crashed and that all crew members survived and were being transported for medical treatment in stable condition. The statement, which did not provide details, said Kuwait was coordinating with U.S. counterparts to investigate. The Defense Department declined to provide additional comment.
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