Live report: Second day of US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s regime; Tehran names interim leadership

2026-03-01 - 13:13

The military conflict between the Iranian regime and the coordinated forces of the United States and Israel has entered its second day on March 1, 2026. The conflict erupted in the early hours of Saturday, February 28, when the US and Israel launched massive preemptive airstrikes across more than 20 Iranian provinces. The decapitation strikes successfully targeted the highest echelons of the regime’s leadership, completely destroying the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and confirming his death, alongside several senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As the Iranian regime reels from the sudden loss of its supreme leader and top military brass, it has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and US bases across the Gulf, expanding the conflict into a broader regional war. Roundup: Key developments for today Interim leadership formed: Following the death of Ali Khamenei, the regime has formed a temporary leadership council comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Guardian Council cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. Top regime officials confirmed dead: Regime media confirmed the deaths of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, senior official Ali Shamkhani, and senior Intelligence Ministry official Mohammad Baseri. New IRGC commander appointed: Ahmad Vahidi has been named the new commander-in-chief of the IRGC. Fresh strikes rock Tehran: Israel launched a new, broad wave of strikes targeting the regime’s sites in Tehran to achieve “air superiority,” causing massive explosions across the capital. Regime escalates regional attacks: The IRGC announced the sixth wave of its operations, claiming to have struck 27 US bases across the Middle East, as well as key Israeli military and defense headquarters in Tel Aviv. Explosions and fires were reported in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE. US President issues warning: President Donald Trump warned the regime of an unprecedented use of force if they continue to retaliate, while simultaneously offering immunity to regime military and security forces who lay down their arms and defect. Nationwide internet blackout: Internet connectivity in Iran has been down for over 24 hours, heavily restricting the flow of information amid the crisis. 14:00 CET – Regime scrambles to fill leadership void amid massive strikes on Tehran and regional escalation As the conflict enters its second day, the Iranian regime is struggling to project stability following the unprecedented decapitation strikes that eliminated its highest-ranking figures. Regime leadership in crisis State media and regime-affiliated outlets, including the Shargh daily, confirmed the casualties among the regime’s top military and intelligence apparatus. The casualties include Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, former SNSC secretary Ali Shamkhani, and senior Intelligence Ministry official Mohammad Baseri. An intelligence source told CBS News that approximately 40 Iranian officials were killed overall, including Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild. In a desperate bid to maintain control, the regime announced the formation of a temporary Leadership Council. According to the Guardian Council and the government’s Telegram channels, the interim council consists of regime President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Guardian Council cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. Furthermore, Ahmad Vahidi has been swiftly appointed as the new commander-in-chief of the IRGC. Regime officials pleaded for internal unity amid the chaos. Former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stated, “You burned our hearts. It is not like the enemy strikes and the story is over... Today is not the day to settle differences.” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf attempted to downplay the loss of the Supreme Leader, claiming that the country’s military and management structure has “moved away from being individual-centric” and urging officials not to “play in the enemy’s court.” Fresh Israeli and US strikes target Tehran The bombardment of the regime’s infrastructure continued into Sunday morning. The Israel military announced a “broad wave of strikes” toward targets in Tehran, stating the operations were designed to achieve air superiority. Eyewitnesses in eastern and northwestern Tehran reported massive, back-to-back explosions that violently shook buildings, with one resident noting the blasts were “worse than yesterday’s.” Plumes of dark smoke were seen billowing across the capital. US President Donald Trump released a statement celebrating the death of Ali Khamenei, calling him “one of the most evil people in History” and describing his elimination as the “single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” Trump issued a direct warning to the regime’s security apparatus, offering immunity to IRGC, military, and police forces who refuse to fight and merge with the Iranian people, while warning that the heavy and pinpoint bombing will continue uninterrupted. He also posted on X, warning the regime that any further retaliation would be met with “a force that has never been seen before.” To suppress domestic unrest during the strikes, the regime has imposed a near-total internet blackout, which the monitoring organization NetBlocks confirmed has now exceeded 24 hours. Regime retaliates across the Middle East The regime’s Supreme National Security Council announced that its armed forces have begun a “crushing response.” The IRGC issued its “Statement No. 6,” announcing the sixth wave of “Operation True Promise 4.” The regime claimed it launched widespread missile and drone attacks against 27 US military bases in the region, alongside Israeli targets including the Tel Nof base, the Hakirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, and a major defense industry complex. State news agency IRNA also claimed that regime fighter jets successfully bombed US bases in Gulf countries and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The regional fallout is escalating rapidly. Continuous loud explosions were reported for a second day in the Qatari capital of Doha, where thick smoke was seen billowing near the Barwa area. Explosions and fires were also reported in Kuwait, Bahrain’s capital Manama, the Jebel Ali port in Dubai, and an Omani commercial port following a drone attack. Qatari officials stated that the regime launched at least 65 missiles and 12 drones, resulting in injuries and damage, while the Iraqi government declared three days of public mourning in response to the regional events.