U.S. and Israel Launch Major Strikes on Iran; At Least 201 Dead as Both Sides Trade Fire

The United States and Israel launched what former President Trump described on March 1 as a "major military operation" targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile and naval capabilities, and leadership, BlockBeats reports. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump both cited indications Supreme Leader Khamenei may have been killed, though Iranian officials and state media firmly rejected the claims, saying he remains "safe and commanding the battlefield." The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported at least 201 deaths and more than 700 injured across 24 provinces, including areas near the presidential palace and Khamenei's residence in Tehran, while sources close to the residence reported deaths of Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and one daughter-in-law; some reports said a primary school was hit, causing dozens of student deaths and pushing total casualties close to one thousand. Iran responded by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israeli territory and U.S. bases in the Middle East, including in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, leaving at least one person dead in Abu Dhabi, and the Revolutionary Guard announced "unlimited, no-redline" retaliation and said it had shut the Strait of Hormuz, according to the same report.