As Iran retaliates, largest US military base in Middle East hit by ballistic missile, Qatar says

No one was injured, according to the Qatari Ministry of Defense.

ByJon Haworth, Jack Moore, Nadine El-Bawab, David Brennan, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, and Leah Sarnoff
Last Updated: March 3, 2026, 10:02 PM EST

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday, with daytime strikes in the joint U.S.-Israel attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

On Sunday, Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran is responding to the U.S.-Israeli operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and Gulf nations. American diplomatic facilities have also been attacked.

In Lebanon, Israel is intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah militia.

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 02, 2026, 3:36 PM EST

Over 1,250 targets struck by US: CENTCOM

The U.S. struck more than 1,250 targets in Iran during the first two days of "Operation Epic Fury," according to U.S. Central Command.

Among the targets, 11 Iranian ships have been destroyed, CENTCOM said.

"Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO," CENTCOM said in a post on X while releasing an unclassified video of a strike. "The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades. Those days are over."

An Iranian ship is destroyed during Epic Fury in the Gulf of Oman.
U.S. Central Command
Mar 02, 2026, 3:20 PM EST

Qatar says it shot down 2 Iranian aircraft

Qatari air forces shot down two aircraft they claim were coming from Iran, the Qatari Ministry of Defense said Monday.

"The Ministry further emphasizes the Qatar Armed Forces possess full capabilities and resources to safeguard the state's sovereignty and lands, and to respond firmly to any external threat," the Qatari Defense Ministry said in a statement.

There are U.S. military assets in Qatar.

-ABC News' Kirit Radia

Mar 02, 2026, 3:03 PM EST

No injuries from fire at US embassy in Kuwait

No injuries resulted from an incident that sparked a large fire at the U.S. embassy compound in Kuwait earlier Monday, according to a U.S. official.

The cause of the fire was thought to be an Iranian drone strike, a second official said, noting that the incident was still being investigated.

Staff at the embassy were ordered to return to their residences and shelter-in-place when the fire started, leaving few if any employees inside the main embassy building at the time, according to officials.

The embassy has canceled all appointments for U.S. visas and American Citizen Services until further notice, per a security alert, which adds that information on how American citizens in Kuwait may obtain an emergency passport for travel is forthcoming.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

Mar 02, 2026, 2:56 PM EST

Over 70 drones and missile attacks reported in Erbil: Iraqi FM

More than 70 missile and drone attacks on the Iraqi city of Erbil have been reported in recent days, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Monday.

Iraq has become a "victim of this war," Hussein said he told the United Arab Emirates foreign minister in a phone call after the reported strikes, noting that different parties to the conflict were carrying out attacks on Iraqi territory.

The strikes targeted Erbil International Airport and the nearby Harir Air Base, according to a statement from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

-ABC News' Bader Katy

Sponsored Content by Taboola