LIVE UPDATES | US fighter jet crashes in Kuwait; explosions rock Dubai and Abu Dhabi 16 Hours later as Hezbollah joins war against Israel
Iran has escalated its attacks across the Middle East. Following warnings of missile strikes, explosions were heard over Jerusalem.
According to news agency reports, blasts were also heard in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, and Manama in Bahrain.
Iran has launched drone and missile attacks on Israel and four other countries in the Middle East in retaliation.
Earlier, Iran had also targeted American bases located in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In the UAE, drone strikes were reported near the Palm Hotel and Resort and close to Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the country’s most populous city.
At least two persons have been killed in an attack on Iran’s Sanandaj city, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.
The report said the city was targeted by enemy missiles, which destroyed several residential buildings located next to a police station.
Tasnim News Agency reported that US and Israeli forces launched six missiles at various parts of the city, including densely populated areas. Footage shared online shows one of the strikes, with massive clouds of fire and smoke rising into the sky.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the closure of its main stock exchanges at the start of the trading week as regional conflict intensifies.
The country’s Capital Market Authority said the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Authorities stated they will continue to monitor the regional situation closely and take further steps if necessary.
Nasdaq Dubai has also suspended trading for both days.
Dubai is the Gulf region’s primary business hub, while Abu Dhabi serves as a key financial centre and is home to some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
Meanwhile, the benchmark index of the Saudi Exchange, the region’s largest stock market, declined by 2.2 percent on Sunday.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have claimed the lives of 31 persons so far. In the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital city, 20 persons were killed and 91 others were injured.
In southern Lebanon, 11 persons lost their lives and 58 were reported injured. The attacks occurred after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets toward northern Israel.
Two workers sustained minor injuries after debris fell inside the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery near Kuwait City, according to a report by the official Kuwait News Agency.
The incident occurred as tensions escalated across the Gulf following fresh Iranian strikes targeting US-linked assets in the region. Air raid sirens were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain, while loud explosions were heard over Doha in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities have not indicated any major damage to the refinery and further details about the source of the debris were not immediately available. The developments come amid heightened security alerts across several Gulf nations.
The United States Embassy in Kuwait has issued an urgent security advisory instructing American citizens in the country to remain indoors as concerns grow over possible missile and drone activity in the region.
In the alert, the embassy urged US nationals to shelter in place and avoid any non-essential movement outside their homes. Officials also advised citizens not to travel to the embassy premises, stating that diplomatic staff are themselves following shelter-in-place protocols as a precautionary measure.
Guidance shared through the US State Department’s TravelGov platform directed Americans to stay on the lowest level of their buildings, keep away from windows and immediately take cover if air raid sirens sound or explosions are heard. The advisory further warned residents to avoid areas with debris following any strike, highlighting the risk posed by falling fragments from intercepted missiles or drones.
The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing security concerns across the Gulf.
February 28
Multiple explosions were reported in several areas of Tehran, Iran’s capital.
Targets included IRGC command centres, nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Qom and Karaj, as well as the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to the Iranian public for regime change.
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in retaliatory strikes against Israel.
American military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq were targeted. Internet blackouts were reported in Tehran, along with explosions in multiple cities.
March 1
Confirmation of the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran.
In Iran, 207 persons were reported killed, including casualties in a school strike; 747 were injured.
In Israel, 10 persons were killed and 78 injured. Three American soldiers were also reported dead.
In an interview with NBC, Trump claimed that 48 Iranian leaders had been killed.
Air raid sirens in Tel Aviv: Sirens wailed across Tel Aviv after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned of a new wave of Iranian missile attacks.
Blasts heard across Gulf capitals: Explosions were reported in Dubai, Doha and Manama shortly after the renewed strikes began.
Third day of escalation: The developments come as the US-Israel military campaign against Iran entered its third day.
Leadership loss in Iran: The initial strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials, causing extensive destruction.
Iran targets Gulf neighbours: In retaliation for US-Israeli air raids, Tehran expanded its strikes to include Gulf nations hosting American military bases.
Missiles intercepted over Israel: Several Iranian missiles were intercepted over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem by Israeli air defence systems.
Drones downed near Erbil: Air defence systems intercepted at least two drones near Iraq’s Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition forces and a major American consulate complex.
Strategic Gulf presence: Oil-rich Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE, host key US military installations.
Rising casualties in Iran: Iranian officials claim more than 200 persons have been killed since the conflict began.
Wider regional strikes: Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting Israel, US military sites in the Gulf, the Saudi capital Riyadh, and Dubai.
Interim leadership council formed: Iran has appointed a 66-year-old cleric to join a three-member leadership council that will govern the country until a new supreme leader is selected.
UPDATE: All appointments for U.S. visas and American Citizen Services are canceled for today, March 2 at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore. For more info: https://t.co/LLRbFcy7bZ
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) March 2, 2026
Iran has firmly rejected the possibility of engaging in talks with the United States. Senior national security official Ali Larijani said Tehran would not enter into any negotiations with Washington. He made the statement on social media platform X, responding to reports suggesting that Iran was attempting to reopen diplomatic channels with the US.
Larijani also criticised Donald Trump, accusing him of destabilising the region through what he described as “false promises.” He said Trump is now concerned about the deaths of American soldiers after contributing to heightened tensions.
In a sharp remark, Larijani added that Trump had shifted his slogan from “America First” to what he called “Israel First,” alleging that American troops were being sacrificed to strengthen Israel’s position in the conflict.
US President Donald Trump has said that the ongoing conflict with Iran could continue for as long as five weeks. Earlier, he had indicated that the war might last around four weeks, but he has now revised his estimate, saying it could extend to “four or even five weeks.”
Trump also claimed that the United States had targeted individuals who were seen as potential successors to Iran’s current leadership. According to him, all of those individuals were killed within the first two days of “Operation Epic Fury.”
LIVE UPDATES | US-Israel-Iran War enters Day 3: The conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran entered its third day on Monday, with large-scale military operations escalating across the region. According to reports, joint US-Israeli forces have targeted more than 1,000 locations across Iran since the hostilities began.
In the first 30 hours alone, over 2,000 bombs were reportedly dropped as part of coordinated air operations aimed at key military and strategic sites.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that attacks on Tehran will intensify in the coming days, signaling a broader and more aggressive military campaign. He said Israel remains committed to eliminating what it describes as existential threats from Iran.
Iran retaliates, strikes US bases in 9 countries
In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks targeting American military bases in nine countries, including installations in Israel and across the Middle East. The counterstrikes have significantly widened the scope of the conflict, raising fears of a prolonged regional war. The fighting, which began on February 28, saw a dramatic development on the very first day. During initial bombardments, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed, a development that has sent shockwaves through global diplomatic and security circles. However, independent confirmation of this claim remains limited.
Hezbollah joins the conflict
The situation further escalated after Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah entered the conflict. The group carried out multiple strikes inside Israeli territory, opening another active front.
In response, Israel evacuated approximately 50 villages located near its northern border with Lebanon, anticipating further attacks.
Heavy civilian casualties in Iran
Airstrikes have reportedly targeted at least 10 major Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran. Iranian authorities claim that more than 200 persons have been killed and at least 740 injured since the fighting began.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred when a missile struck a school, killing 180 schoolgirls and injuring 45 others. The attack has drawn widespread international concern over civilian safety and the growing humanitarian crisis.
The rapid escalation has heightened fears of a broader Middle East war involving multiple regional and global powers. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions appear limited as military operations continue on multiple fronts.
With both sides signaling further action, the coming days are expected to be critical in determining the trajectory of the conflict.
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- With inputs from agencies
