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 4, 2026, 3:02 AM GMT

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, 10:54 PM GMT

Strait of Hormuz is 'closed': IRGC

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, 2026.
Sahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander said the Strait of Hormuz is "closed."

"The strait is closed, and whoever wants to cross, our heroes in the navy of the IRGC and army will set those ships on fire," Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabari said on Iranian state TV earlier.

The Strait of Hormuz is one world's most important chokepoints for oil. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Mar 02, 2026, 10:46 PM GMT

IDF says it has targeted headquarters of Iranian state broadcaster

The Israel Defense Forces said the Israeli Air Force has "struck and dismantled" the Iranian state broadcaster "a short while ago."

"The center was also recently used by the Iranian regime's forces to advance military activities under the guise of civilian activity and assets, in addition to the propaganda activities that emanate from the communications center," the IDF said in a statement.

"The IDF will continue to strike the Iranian regime's infrastructure across Tehran," the statement added.

Mar 02, 2026, 10:33 PM GMT

State Department urges US nationals to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries

The State Department is urging Americans to leave 14 countries in the Middle East immediately "due to serious safety risks," Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar said on X.

The State Department posted this graphic, March 2, 2026.
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs/X
Mar 02, 2026, 10:21 PM GMT

'Hardest hits are yet to come from US': Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the media on the day of a briefing for Congressional leaders on the situation in Iran, on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 2, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Before heading into a briefing for members of the Gang of 8 on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that "the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military."

"The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now," he said.

Rubio said that he did not know how long the hostilities could last.

"We have objectives. We will do this as long as it takes to meet those objectives," he said.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

Sponsored Content by Taboola