Livewire Trump: ‘Major Combat Operations’ Underway to ‘Obliterate’ Iranian Missile Factories 1/3

The United States has launched a major military operation alongside Israeli forces against the Islamist regime in Iran on Saturday, in what is being described as one of thelargest regional concentrations of “American military firepower in a generation”. U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “is dead” and has called on the people of Iran to rise up and topple the government in Tehran.

Live updates below. All updates in Eastern time

Live updates below. All updates in Eastern time

5:45 PM: The crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, hailed the death of “bloodthirsty” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he said will be “erased from the pages of history”.

“With his death, the Islamic Republic has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history,” the son of the late Shah of Iran said.

Pahlavi, who is widely tipped to lead a potential interim government should the Islamist regime fall in Tehran, said that “any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to failure from the outset. Whoever they place in his stead will have neither legitimacy nor survival; and without doubt, they will also be complicit in the crimes of this regime.” (I doubt the crowned Price is going to get back in. His father is reason for the war, and kicked out.)

He redoubled his call for the military, security, and police forces to stand down and abandon the “collapsing regime” and take their “last chance to join the people” and “ensure Iran’s stable transition to a free and prosperous future; and to have a share in building that future.”

“This marks the beginning of our great national celebration; but it is not the end of the road. Stay vigilant and prepared. The time for a massive and decisive presence in the streets is very near. Together, united and steadfast, we will secure the final victory, and we will celebrate Iran’s freedom across our Ahura-created homeland.”

5:15: The Times of Israel reported that a woman in her 40s was killed during an Iranian ballistic missile strike on the city of Tel Aviv. According to the Magen David Adom ambulance service, 20 others were injured during the attack, including a man in his 40s who is in serious condition.

Meanwhile, the government of Dubai has confirmed that the city’s international airport suffered “minor damage” amid retaliatory strikesfrom Iran throughout the Gulf in response to the military operation waged by the United States and Israel. The Dubai Media Office said that four staff members suffered injuries and have since received medical attention.

4:45 PM:U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “is dead”. Writing on his Truth Social platform, President Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in History.”

“This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and thosepeople from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to avoid our Intelligence andHighly Sophisticated Tracking Systemsand, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” President Trump wrote.

“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us,”== he continued.

“As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’Hopefully, the IRGC and Policewill peacefully mergewith the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves. That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated.The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objectiveof PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/28/trump-major-combat-operations-underway-against-iran/

>>24321846

2/3

4:40 PM: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President DonaldTrump has spoken with the leaders of leaders of the UK, Kuwait, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and NATOSecretary General Mark Rutte to discuss the military operation in Iran. Meanwhile, the White House has released its first photograph of President Trump monitoring the strikes in Iran. (https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/28/trump-major-combat-operations-underway-against-iran/

4:25 PM: Breitbart News Network Washington Bureau Chief MatthewBoyle reported that senior White House officials briefed reporters that there were indications that the Iranian regime was planning a preemptive strike against U.S. bases, prompting President Donald Trump to make the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury.

Boyle also reported that topadministration officials said that there was evidence that Iran was actively attempting to rebuild its nuclear weapons programafter it was largely destroyed last year during Operation Midnight Hammer.

4:05 PM: NBC reporter KristenWelker said that she asked U.S. President Donald Trump if he could confirm the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.She said that President Trump responded by saying:“I’ve spoken to a lot of people. We feel that is a correct story… A large number of their leaders have also been killed.”

Welker further reported that PresidentTrump confirmed that a large number of the Iranian leadership have been killedand said that the operation is already being seen as a “success”.

3:55 PM: Fox News has reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated and killed during an Israeli air strike on his compound in Tehran.According to the Jerusalem Post, pictures of the Ayatollah’s body taken from the rubble were shown to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

An Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrintold the New York Times that they had killed several top Iranian defense officials, including Defence Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, and Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Khamenei. Defrin did not mention the Supreme Leader among the killed, according to the Times.

3:45 PM: U.S. Central Commandhas reported that zero U.S. casualtieswere recorded during retaliatory strikes from Iran on Saturday.

CENTCOM further reported that strikes against U.S. Military facilities only encured “minor” damageand that no operations were impacted. Central Command described Operation Epic Fury as the “largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation.”

***

Original story below…

Joint American-Israeli strikes against Iran took place over night, with U.S. President Donald Trump addressing both the nation and the people of Iran. Announcing the strikes to eliminate “imminent threats from the Iranian regime” which “directly endangers the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world”, Trump said: “A short time ago, the United States Military began major combat operations in Iran”.

Iranian retaliatory strikes have been launched against Israel.

The strikes are intended to destroy Iran’s stockpiles of missiles and to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s missile production industry, the President said. Most importantly, Trump said, was preventing Iranian nuclear-tipped long-range missiles from ever threatening the American mainland or America’s allies in Europe.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/28/trump-major-combat-operations-underway-against-iran/

>>24321850

3/3

President Trump said:

Iran is the world’s no.1 state sponsor of terror and has recently killed tens of thousands of its own people [… which is]developing long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could seen reach the American homeland.

…for these reasons the United States military has undertaken a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It’s going to be totally, again, obliterated.

While noting “every possible step” to minimise threat to U.S. military personnel had been taken, President Trump warned the combat operations afoot were of sufficient scale that there may be casualties. He said:

I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war.

But we’re not doing this for now, we’re doing it for the future and it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way and we trust that with his help the men and woman of the armed forces will prevail.

The U.S. President called on the armed forces, paramilitary, and police of Iran to lay down their weapons. If they did so they would receive “complete immunity” and be treated fairly, he said, but else would face “certain death”. To the Iranian people, he called on them to take this opportunity to rise up against the government, stating “the hour of your freedom is at hand” and that a second opportunity to take control was likely not coming. He said:

Stay sheltered, don’t leave your home, it’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will, probably be your only chance for generations… now is the time to seize control of your destiny

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his people early Saturday morning stating the joint strikes with the U.S. were to remove the “existential threat”. Netanyahu said: “For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called out ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America.’ It has shed our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people… This murderous terror regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity”, reports The Times of Israel.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as Iran launched retaliatory ballistic strikes, it was stated. The Israeli Defence Force said in a series of statements of what it said were multiple Iranian “barrages”: “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israel… At this time, the IAF is operating to intercept and strike threats where necessary to remove the threat.”

Additionally, the BBC reports blasts were heard in Bahrain’s Manama, the home port of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/28/trump-major-combat-operations-underway-against-iran/

Persians are literally dancing in the streets of DC, outside the White House, and Raheem is in the middle of it

Raheem J. Kassam

@RaheemKassam

Wow it’s crazy in downtown dc right now as hundreds of Persians descend on the White House to celebrate the ouster of the Iranian Islamic regime

https://x.com/RaheemKassam/status/2027842077455687746?s=20

Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal

🚨🇮🇷 More footage of the reported strike on fmr President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's home.

https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2027698441015726468?s=20

Live updates: Trump says Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead

President Donald Trump called Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history" in a Truth Social post announcing his death after predawn strikes in Iran today.

What to know

•SUPREME LEADER REPORTED DEAD: President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed today after the U.S. and Israel launched a predawn assault on the country. Iranian state media has disputed the claim.

•MAJOR JOINT ATTACK: The U.S. launched "major combat operations"in Iran, joined by Israel, Trump announced earlier in a video message.

•IRAN'S LEADERS TARGETED: Israel targeted Iranian political and military leaders, two U.S. officials told NBC News, while the U.S. aimed to take out Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

•TRUMP URGES REGIME CHANGE: Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government” when the strikes are over. “The hour of your freedom is at hand,” he said.

•DEATH TOLL: The Iranian Red Crescent said more than 200 people have been killed and roughly 700 others have been injured

•IRAN RETALIATION: Iran responded by firing missiles at Israel, as well as at U.S. bases across the region in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, sending ripples across the Middle East.

•TEHRAN WILLING TO TALK: In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was interested in de-escalation and willing to talk if the U.S. and Israel halted attacks. He told Trump that regime change was "mission impossible."

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/israel-iran-live-updates-rcna261099

RT was reporting earlier that 200 American troops were killed! They knew it wasn’t Americans.

>>24322083

I find it weird Iran only wanted to talk during the strikes were happening. Too late!

Trump says ‘evil Ayatollah’ is dead, strikes will continue ‘uninterrupted’ until peace is secured.

Hailing death of ‘evil’ Khamenei, Trump says strikes on Iran will continue ‘uninterrupted’ until peace is secured

Woman killed by Iran missile hit in Tel Aviv, as regime keeps up barrages * Israel confirms killing several of 30 key leaders targeted in initial strikes of joint op with US * Netanyahu: Campaign will last until Iranian people are free * Israel airspace closed

1min ago

‘Desperate, floundering’ Iran wrong to claim Israel dragged US into conflict — Trump official

4min ago

Medics say no injuries reported in latest Iranian barrage; shrapnel starts several fires

9min ago

Arab diplomat: Khamenei’s death would be massive blow, but regime prepared for withstanding the scenario

23min ago

Sirens sound in central, northern Israel and Jerusalem area

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-28-2026/

Arab diplomat: Khamenei’s death would be massive blow, but regime prepared for withstanding the scenario

By JACOB MAGID

A senior Arab diplomat tells The Times of Israel that while the apparent killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is a massive blow to the Islamic Republic, the regime in Tehran has prepared for how to withstand that scenario.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that Khamenei put in place detailed plans for his succession and emergency chains of command should he, or other top leaders, be killed in potential US or Israeli strikes, elevating longtime loyalist Ali Larijani to manage the crisis.

“Iran knows that the US wants this military campaign to end as quickly as possible and will seek to drag it out,” the senior Arab diplomat says.

“Mere survival, at this point, would be considered a victory” for the regime, the diplomat adds, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes on neighboring Arab states have further damaged its regional standing, but Tehran is hoping they will lead the countries hit to intensify their pressure on Washington to wrap up its military campaign sooner, the diplomat speculates.WTF?

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-28-2026/