Where things stand
• Supreme leader killed: US President Donald Trump crossed “a very dangerous red line” after Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes, an Iranian official told CNN. Trump has indicated the strikes would continue through the week. Iran says one attack killed over 100 girls at an elementary school near a military base.
• Retaliatory strikes: Israel says it has carried out a new wave of strikes “in the heart of Tehran,” as Iran unleashes fresh attacks after Khamenei’s killing. Iran has already attacked US military bases, Israel and targets across the region. The conflict has damaged air hubs, rocked densely populated areas and disrupted oil shipments.
• Celebration and condemnation: The contrast of celebrations and mourning highlights deep divides in Iran. Across the US, people took to the streets, with some celebrating and others protesting the strikes on Iran.
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Death toll in UAE rises to 3 people, with 58 lightly injured
Three people in the United Arab Emirates have been killed in Iran’s retalitory strikes, the country’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Sunday.
Those killed were nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh who died as a result of Iranian drones that made it through the UAE air defenses, causing damage on the ground, the Defense Ministry said. At least 58 other people have experienced minor injuries.
In total, Iran launched 165 ballistic missiles on the UAE, of which 152 were destroyed by the country’s air defenses and 13 fell into the sea, the ministry said. A further two cruise missiles were detected and destroyed.
The ministry also said Iran launched a total of 541 drones, of which 506 were intercepted, while 35 fell within the country’s territory.
“Some debris fell in scattered areas of the country as a result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles and drones, leading to minor and moderate material damage in a number of civilian properties,” the ministry’s statement added.
Toll rises to six from Iranian missile attack near Jerusalem
Israeli police say the death toll has risen to six after an Iranian missile slammed into a residential building near Jerusalem. More than 20 people are being treated in hospital.
Drone debris damages Abu Dhabi complex housing Israeli embassy
Debris from an intercepted Iranian drone damaged a complex in Abu Dhabi that houses the Israeli embassy and other diplomatic missions.
A woman and her child were injured in the incident, which damaged the facade of one of the Etihad Towers buildings, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.
Three people were killed and 58 injured after Iran launched 165 ballistic missiles, 541 drones and 2 cruise missiles on the UAE since Saturday, the UAE’s defense ministry said in a statement.
The majority of projectiles were intercepted, according to the defense ministry, but 35 drones made impact.
Five killed after Iranian missile hits residential building in Israel, police say
Five people were killed in a direct missile hit on a residential building near Jerusalem, Israel police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
Approximately 18 people were injured in the strike on the city of Beit Shemesh, police said.
“As a result of the direct hit, severe damage and collapse of the building occurred,” police said.
Nearly 20 injured after Iranian missile hit residential building in Israel, rescuers say
Nearly 20 people were injured, including two critically, as an Iranian missile hit a residential building near Jerusalem, according to Israel’s emergency response service.
Two more were seriously injured, including a 10-year-old girl, Magen David Adom (MDA) said, and one person was moderately wounded.
Video from the scene from MDA showed firefighters trying to douse flames and smoke rising from what appears to be a major impact site.
This appears to be one of the few direct impacts on Israel despite waves of Iranian retaliatory attacks. We’ll bring you more as we get it.
Senior Iranian official denies Tehran attacking Arab states
A senior Iranian official has said Iran has no intention of attacking other countries in the region – only the️ US bases on their territory.
The head of Iran’s National Security Council, Ali Larijani, said such US military facilities “are not the territory of the countries of the region, they are the territory of the United States. We do not intend to attack the countries of the region.”
“We had told the United States through the Swiss embassy that if you attack this time, we will hit your bases,” he said in remarks carried by state media.
Many of the Iranian attacks since Saturday have struck civilian infrastructure in the Gulf, including airports in Dubai and Kuwait, hotels and other buildings. Dozens of missiles and drones have targeted the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
“We had many casualties in the previous war, but yesterday the number of our martyrs was very small,” Larijani claimed.
“The armed forces, with experience from the previous war, are in control.”
Dubai turns into a ghost town as Iranian strikes rattle the city
Dubai was almost unrecognizable on Sunday.
On a winter weekend – peak tourist season – the city’s beaches, malls and hotel brunches would normally be full. Instead, highways were largely empty and the sky was clear of the constant stream of arriving and departing aircraft. Dubai Marine, normally filled with yachts and boat parties, sat unsually still.
For many residents, it felt like a return to the Covid-19 lockdowns six years ago, when one of the world’s busiest transit hubs abruptly fell silent. Schools in the city have once again shifted online, and families are staying indoors.
“We feel like it’s Covid days. Quiet, sunny, birds chirping and no sounds of traffic or planes flying,” said Paul Devitt, a CNN videographer in Abu Dhabi.
Some residents made quick trips to supermarkets to stock up. Grocery delivery apps reported delays as demand surged. In neighborhoods that are usually crowded well into the evening, streets were empty.
With the UAE’s airspace closed, some people drove to quieter parts of the country. In Hatta, near the Omani border, at least one hotel turned a conference room into a makeshift shelter for tourists who had checked out but were unable to fly home. Some newly arrived guests said they were moving their families away from parts of Dubai that had come under attack.
Others crossed into Oman by road, at least initially the only country in the region untouched by Saturday’s Iranian strikes. On Sunday, however, Omani authorities said two drones had targeted a port there.
Dubai, a city that prides itself on safety and stability, has no public bomb shelters. Many residents instead spent Saturday night in underground parking garages. Parents shielded anxious children from the reality of the explosions overhead.
Several told their young sons and daughters that the blasts were Ramadan fireworks or cannons, traditionally fired at iftar time in Muslim countries.
Eleni Giokos contributed to this report.
Iran launches another wave of attacks on Middle East countries
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has launched another wave of missiles and drones on countries in the region.
Plumes of smoke were seen rising from an area near a port in Abu Dhabi after loud blasts were heard over the city. It’s unclear what struck the area.
Videos obtained by CNN showed smoke rising from the port, while residents reported hearing planes overhead.
Pope Leo expresses deep concern over Iran, calling for end to “spiral of violence”
Pope Leo XIV expressed “deep concern” about Iran and the wider Middle East, calling for an end to “the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”
Pope Leo added that he has appealed to the parties involved to cease the violence, warning of the “possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions.”
Israel “checking” reports of strike on school that Iran says killed more than 100
The Israeli military said it is “checking” reports of a strike on a girl’s school in Iran that a local official claimed killed nearly 150 people.
Ebrahim Taheri, a prosecutor in Minab, where the purported strike took place, said the toll stood at 148, with 95 wounded.
CNN is unable to independently verify the reports.
The international spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, told reporters in a briefing Sunday, “At this point, I am not aware of any Israeli or American strike on that location. I know both we and the Americans are checking.”
The US military earlier told CNN that the US was aware of the reports and “looking into them.”
Israel claims “majority” of Iran’s senior military leaders killed in strikes
Israel has claimed that a “majority” or Iran’s senior military leaders were killed in the opening wave of strikes during the joint US-Israel attacks on Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed 40 senior commanders, calling it a “historic strike” that was possible because of military intelligence. Most of the commanders were killed in simultaneous strikes on two separate sites, the IDF said, without providing the names of all those killed.
The IDF said the list includes Iranian Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdoorahim Mousavi. Iranian state media said Mousavi and other senior Iranian security leaders were among those killed in the US-Israeli strikes.
The Israeli military also said it had dismantled Iran’s aerial defense systems in western and central Iran as the country’s Air Force establishes air superiority over Tehran.
“The Israeli Air Force continues to operate extensively in both defense and offense, with the goal of removing threats posed to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.
Latest international reactions to death of Iran's supreme leader
We’ve been seeing reaction to the news that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday, and to Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the Middle East.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called the US-Israeli attack on Iran “unacceptable,” and condemned the “blatant killing of a sovereign leader and the incitement of regime change.”
The foreign minister also argued that the actions by the US and Israel “violate international law and the basic norms of international relations.” He added that China’s position is to call for the immediate cessation of military action.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Khamenei’s death a “defining moment in Iran’s history. She said, in a post on X, that the EU is working to find practical steps for de-escalation, adding, “What comes next is uncertain. But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape.”
North Korea: North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday that the Israeli attacks on Iran and the US military operation constitute “illegal aggression” as well as a violation of national sovereignty, according to state media Korean Central News Agency.
We will continue to bring you more reactions as we get them.
Elevated threat to shipping in Strait of Hormuz persists amid fresh strikes
The Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is facing a fresh day of disruption amid ongoing strikes across the Middle East.
Due to the security situation in the region, German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd suspended all vessel transit through the Strait until further notice, it said on Sunday, according to Reuters news agency.
The waterway is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. It’s the only way to ship crude from the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the rest of the world.
Oman’s maritime security center said Sunday that an oil tanker, called “Skylight,” was attacked about five nautical miles off the coast of Masandam in Oman, injuring four people.
Later Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that a tanker, which was struck after attempting an “unauthorized passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” is now said to be sinking after sustaining damage. It is not clear if the tanker is the one referenced by Omani authorities or not.
In an update on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said “no official closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been formally communicated to the maritime industry through recognised maritime safety channels.”
But it said there is “ongoing regional military activity contributing to elevated threat to commercial shipping.”
UKMTO also said it had received reports of two “incidents” off the coast of Oman. It said one vessel 50 nautical miles north of Muscat had reportedly been struck by an “unknown projectile,” resulting in a brief fire in the control room. Another vessel two nautical miles off the coast was evacuated after an “incident.”
Iran’s top clerics order Muslims to avenge Khamenei's killing
A leading Iranian Shiite cleric has issued an order for Muslims to wage jihad against the United States and Israel to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The 99-year-old Grand Ayatollah, Makarem Shirazi, said Khamenei’s revenge is the “religious duty of all Muslims in the world to eradicate the evil of these criminals from the world,” according to state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
Another leading cleric, Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani, issued a fatwa declaring an obligation for all Muslims “avenge the blood” of Khamenei, Tasnim said.
Travel chaos continues as major airlines shutter their Middle East services
Widespread travel disruption to and from the Middle East continued on Sunday as airlines cancel flights through key regional hubs that have become the target of Iranian retaliation for hosting US military bases.
Gulf carrier Etihad Airways said this morning that its operations continue to be affected, with flights suspended to and from Abu Dhabi until March 2, in light of regional airspace closures impacting services. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday implemented a partial closure of its airspace.
Qatar Airways, another Gulf airline, said in an update Sunday that its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. It added that a further update would be given on Monday.
Other notable airlines that have cancelled flights include Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Air India and Turkish Airlines.
Lufthansa has announced the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, citing the current situation in the Middle East.
Flights are not currently operating to and from Dubai, a popular tourist hotspot, after Dubai airports yesterday shuttered operations at its main airports.
Footage on Saturday showed passengers rushing to evacuate smoke-filled passageways at Dubai International (DXB), the busiest airport in the world for international passenger traffic, after a reported Iranian strike.
Overall, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain and Qatar have closed their airspaces while neighboring countries have also implemented restrictions. Live tracking from FlightRadar24 shows airlines have been forced to reroute and cancel services.
The closure of Iran’s airspace has now been extended until at least March 3, with further extensions possible, in a a new “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM), FlightRadar24 showed.
Flight tracking website FlightAware showed that a total of 7,716 flights have been delayed and 2,280 have been cancelled globally on Sunday as of 6 a.m. ET.
A day after the US and Israel started striking Iran, attacks are continuing. Catch up here
It has been more than a day since the United States and Israel launched strikes on cities across Iran, which we have since learned killed the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, alongside several members of his family as well as other powerful Iranian officials.
Tehran retaliated by launching attacks towards multiple countries in the region, which have continued into today. CNN teams have reported blasts in several capitals and major cities this morning, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain’s Manama.
If you’re just joining us, catch up on the latest developments here:
- Iran vows revenge: One of Iran’s most powerful surviving figures, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has vowed to “stab” America in the heart following yesterday’s attacks. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that his country views revenge as its “legitimate right and duty.”
- Israel continues attacks: Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force has carried out a new wave of strikes on Tehran, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The Iranian military headquarters was among its targets, it said.
- Civilians killed: At least 133 civilians have been killed in Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said last night. A girls’ school in southern Iran was hit in the US-Israeli strikes yesterday, killing 148 people, according to the local prosecutor.
- Mixed reactions inside Iran: Cheers and celebrations were heard in parts of Iran last night after Khamenei’s death was reported. Separately, pro-regime crowds gathered in Tehran this morning to mourn the death of the supreme leader.
- Trump doubles down: US President Donald Trump warned Iran against continuing its retaliatory strikes, saying it would be met with strong force from the US if it continues to do so. Trump previously said the US strikes, aimed at regime change, would continue throughout the week.
- Anti-US protests rage: In Karachi, Pakistan, at least nine protesters were killed after they stormed the heavily fortified US Consulate to protest its military action, Pakistan’s emergency services told CNN.
- Putin speaks out: Among the global leaders responding to the exchanging of strikes is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called the targeted killing of Iran’s supreme leader a “cynical murder,” according to Russian state media agency TASS.
CNN’s Brad Lendon, Laura Sharman, Todd Symons, Tim Lister, Eugenia Yosef, Kareem El Damanhoury, Helen Regan, Kareem El Damanhoury, Martin Goillandeau, Alireza Hajihosseini, Riane Lumer, Sophia Saifi and Jennifer Hansler and Sophie Tanno contributed to this reporting.
Iranian president says revenge is country's "right and duty"
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran views revenge for the attacks by Israel and the United States as its “legitimate right and duty.”
In a statement issued Sunday on Iranian state media, Pezeshkian said that the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed “at the hands of the most wicked villains in the world.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers bloodshed and revenge against the perpetrators and commanders of this historical crime as its duty and legitimate right will fulfil this great responsibility and duty with all its might,” Pezeshkian said.
He said that the killing of Khamenei was a “declaration of open war on Muslims, especially Shiites, in all corners of the world.”
Iran is majority Shiite, as is Iraq, while the populations of most Gulf countries and that of Egypt are predominantly Sunni Muslims.
This post has been updated
US Embassy in Jordan warns citizens to avoid diplomatic compound "as it may be targeted"
The US Embassy in Jordan warned US citizens on Sunday to avoid the diplomatic compound “as it may be targeted.”
In addition, the US Embassy in Qatar advised that “all non-essential personnel should avoid all military installations.”
The explicit warnings come as Iran has launched a barrage of attacks on countries throughout the region, especially those housing US military installations, following strikes by the US and Israel on Iran. US diplomatic facilities in Iraq and Pakistan were also targeted by pro-Iranian protesters on Sunday.
The US Embassy Jordan alert noted that the embassy “has instructed all Mission personnel to continue to shelter-in-place and avoid the U.S. Embassy Amman compound, as it may be targeted.”
“All Americans should exercise increased vigilance and avoid the U.S Embassy facility,” the embassy said in the alert, posted on X.
The US Embassy Qatar alert noted that it “continues to maintain a shelter-in-place for all personnel. We recommend all Americans do the same until further notice.”
“Please remain vigilant, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran,” the alert advised.
Crowne Plaza in Bahrain confirms "incident" affected the hotel
The Crowne Plaza hotel in Bahrain has been affected by an “incident” early this morning, its hotel group confirmed to CNN.
Smoke could be seen rising from the vicinity of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Manama, the country’s capital, in video geolocated by CNN.
“All guests and staff are accounted for, and the situation is now in the hands of the local authorities,” a representative from the Intercontinental Hotel Group - who owns Crowne Plaza Bahrain - said in a statement to CNN.
The incident comes as Bahrain’s air defenses responded overnight to “hostile Iranian missile attacks” and intercepted at least 45 missiles and nine drones, state media reported Sunday.
Bahraini state media reported that “limited debris resulting from the destruction operations was reported across a number of areas,” in an update Sunday morning and said the attacks “constitute a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty.”
The US embassy in Manama said it was tracking the incident at the hotel and that it resulted in injuries.
“We advise U.S. citizens in Bahrain that hotels might be a target for future attacks, and encourage U.S. citizens to avoid hotels in Manama,” the embassy stated.
This post has been updated with additional reporting.
