At least three US troops have lost their lives since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, sparking a huge counterattack and throwing the region into chaos.
Updated: 5:38 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Smoke is rising after an explosion from the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in Tehran.
Quick Summary
- War with Iran: The fighting is spreading, with explosions in Lebanon and Cyprus. Check out where the strikes happened. President Donald Trump admitted there might be more US casualties after three Americans were killed.
- Hezbollah enters the fight: The Iran-backed group said it attacked an Israeli army base in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Briefings challenge White House story: Pentagon officials told congressional staff that Iran wasn’t planning to hit US forces in the Middle East unless Israel struck first, which contradicts the administration’s claim of an imminent threat from Tehran as the reason for the attacks.
- Global effects: The violence is blocking oil supplies and messing with flights. Oil prices jumped in the first trades since the conflict started, while stock futures dropped hard.
Updates 5:35 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Patients were evacuated from a hospital in northern Tehran after it was heavily damaged in strikes. Footage shows the damaged outside of the Gandhi hospital, with debris and glass all over the street. Patients, including babies, were moved out after the strike. Two witnesses said the strikes hit the hospital in the Gandhi Street area, causing major damage and patients being carried out. Reports of the hospital being damaged in the bombardment are really concerning. Health facilities are protected under international law.
5:19 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Multiple explosions have been heard in Tehran and the city of Karaj recently. Just moments ago, sounds of several explosions came from some areas of Tehran. Several loud explosions were also heard around Karaj.
5:04 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Iran put out a video showing Revolutionary Guard drone tunnels stocked with weapons used to target US bases. Rows of drones are lined up in an underground tunnel or loaded on rocket launchers. The walls have the Iranian flag and pictures of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rockets and drones are shown launching from different spots and firing at what were called US bases. This slick video is part of Iran’s push after the joint US-Israeli strikes. It’s unclear when or where it was filmed, or if it shows drones and rockets from Iran’s response.
5:07 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
The Lebanese government is holding an emergency meeting at 8 a.m. Monday local time (8 a.m. SAST). Some schools in Beirut are opening up to shelter evacuees after the Israeli military ordered evacuations in 52 settlements in the south and confirmed strikes on Hezbollah. People are getting evacuation calls on their phones.
5:23 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
US Central Command released a short video on X with footage from Operation Epic Fury. US forces are taking strong action to remove imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Strikes are ongoing.
5:24 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Videos and satellite images break down how US and Israeli strikes killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and took apart the regime’s command structure.
4:34 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
President Donald Trump told reporters that his administration expects quite a bit higher casualties than the three service members killed so far in the war with Iran, based on Pentagon projections. Three is three too many as far as I’m concerned. If you look at projections, they do projections… it could be quite a bit higher than that. The three died in a suspected drone strike early Sunday in Kuwait.
4:24 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
The Pentagon is holding a news conference on the US operation in Iran at 3 p.m. SAST Monday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine will brief reporters. It’ll be the first time top Trump administration members speak publicly about Operation Epic Fury.
4:12 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
The United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates put out a joint statement condemning Iran’s missile and drone strikes on neighboring countries. The Islamic Republic’s actions represent a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of multiple states and threatens regional stability. Targeting civilians and countries not in the fight is reckless and destabilizing. We stand united in defense of our citizens, sovereignty, and territory, and reaffirm our right to self-defense in the face of these attacks.
4:46 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Israel has issued evacuation orders for 52 settlements in southern Lebanon and confirmed plans to target Hezbollah. The military is striking targets after Hezbollah launched projectiles toward Israel early Monday. The Israeli Defense Forces do not wish to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the villages by at least 1,000 meters to open areas. Anyone who is near Hezbollah fighters, facilities, or combat equipment is putting their life at risk. At least four villages have been struck so far. Wide scale evacuations due to Israeli military action are not uncommon in Lebanon, displacing thousands. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, Israel continues to strike targets in Lebanon, citing alleged Hezbollah violations, which the group denies.
Check:CIA Monitored Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei for Months, Shared Critical Intel with Israel Leading to Expedited Strike
4:41 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
At least 10 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in Israel since the military operations against Iran started. Since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, teams have provided medical treatment and evacuated 238 casualties to hospitals. The numbers include 10 fatalities, 2 seriously injured, 5 moderately injured, and 221 mildly injured, of whom 175 were hurt on their way to finding shelter. Nine of the fatalities were from the city of Beit Shemesh, where a missile hit a bomb shelter. Medical treatment was given to a 102-year-old man who was injured on his way to a shelter. He was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Videos show plumes of smoke rising from a site, with medical and police vans and a fire truck nearby. In another video, workers are at a site with destroyed buildings and piles of rubble.
3:55 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
The Israeli military confirmed it struck senior Hezbollah terrorists in the Beirut area early Monday local time. Additionally, they struck a central Hezbollah terrorist in southern Lebanon. Evacuations are underway after a series of Israeli strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. Hezbollah had warned earlier that it would fulfill its duty in confronting the aggression in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. It has since confirmed launching missiles and a swarm of drones at an Israeli army base south of Haifa in revenge for the killing.
3:48 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
President Donald Trump on Sunday compared the US actions in Venezuela to the situation in Iran, saying it’s a perfect example of how a leadership change could happen amid questions about power transition after strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect scenario. Everybody’s kept their job except for two people. In contrast with the Maduro ouster, which left the rest of Venezuela’s government intact, the president said earlier that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed during the ongoing strikes. When asked who he would like to see lead Iran, Trump said, I have three very good choices. I won’t be revealing them now. Let’s get the job done first. He also suggested the Iranian people could replace their government. That’s going to be up to them about whether or not they do. They’ve been talking about it for years so now they’ll obviously have an opportunity. The two ideas highlight the uncertainty about Iran’s political future after the strikes.
4:16 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
The UK’s Ministry of Defence is responding to a suspected drone strike at a British military base on Cyprus. Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people. The blast hit the Royal Air Force Akrotiri airbase at midnight local time and there were no casualties. This is a live situation and more info will come. The strike involved an unmanned drone which caused limited damage. It’s not said who launched the drone. It comes after the UK boosted its military bases in Cyprus with enhanced defenses like radar, counter-drone systems, F-35 jets, and ground-based air defense to support Middle East security. Any confirmed attack on a British military installation could be big because under NATO Article 5, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. But the country would need to invoke Article 5 to get others involved.
4:18 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
President Donald Trump has returned to the White House for the first time since the strikes on Iran. He didn’t respond to questions on Iran from reporters. This is a change from his usual routine where he talks to press on Air Force One. While he didn’t answer on Iran, he stopped to look at new statues at the White House. Hezbollah fired at Israel, launching missiles and a swarm of drones at an army base in revenge for Khamenei’s killing. Israel said earlier it intercepted a projectile from Lebanon. A new briefing undercuts Trump’s claim: Pentagon officials told staff Iran wasn’t planning to strike US forces unless Israel attacked first, contradicting the argument that Iran posed an imminent threat. More on US deaths: The three service members died in a suspected drone strike in Kuwait. The UK approved a US request to use its bases for operations against Iranian missile sites. US cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Phoenix have increased police around sensitive spots like houses of worship. Oil futures surged: US crude rose about $8 a barrel, or 12%, to around $75. Brent crude jumped more than 12% to about $82 a barrel.
3:54 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Stock markets in Asia Pacific opened lower on Monday after the US and Israel strikes on Iran sent oil prices up and US stock futures down. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 1.26%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.9%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.5%. China’s Shanghai Composite dipped less than 0.1%. South Korea’s market is closed.
3:57 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Israel began striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after intercepting a projectile launched from Lebanon into Israel. Several projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries or damages reported. Hezbollah took responsibility. Multiple drone sirens went off in northern Israel. The Hezbollah terrorist organization is operating on behalf of the Iranian regime, opening fire against Israel and its civilians. The IDF will operate against Hezbollah’s decision to join the campaign and won’t allow the group to threaten Israel or harm civilians in the north. Hezbollah’s attacks mark the first rocket fire by the group since the November 2024 US-brokered ceasefire.
3:45 AM SAST, March 2, 2026
Hezbollah said it launched missiles and a swarm of drones at an Israeli army base south of Haifa in revenge.