BREAKING — March 1, 2026 — As dawn broke over the Middle East on Sunday, the crisis unleashed by Operation Epic Fury entered its second devastating day. Israel announced a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting “the heart of Tehran,” Iran’s emergency transitional council held its first session, and explosive new reports revealed how CIA intelligence pinpointed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s location — enabling the strike that killed him.
The situation is evolving by the hour. Here’s everything we know.
Israel Launches New Strikes on Tehran
The Israeli military confirmed Sunday morning that its air force launched “a broad wave of strikes in the heart of Tehran,” targeting what it described as military-industrial production sites. An enormous explosion rocked the Iranian capital, with video showing massive plumes of smoke rising over the city skyline.
An Israeli military official stated that the IDF had effectively gained “control of Iran’s skies,” a claim that, if accurate, would represent a dramatic escalation in the operational scope of the campaign that began Saturday as a joint U.S.-Israeli assault.
Meanwhile, Iran continued launching missile and drone barrages against Israeli territory for the second consecutive day. A child was seriously injured and several others hurt when an Iranian missile struck the city of Beit Shemesh. Additional casualties were reported in central Israel from separate strikes.
Iran’s Emergency Transitional Council Takes Power
In what may be the most consequential political development to emerge from the crisis, Iran has activated Article 111 of its constitution and formed a three-member transitional council to assume the duties of the Supreme Leader.
The council consists of:
- President Masoud Pezeshkian — Iran’s elected head of government
- Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei — head of Iran’s judiciary
- Ayatollah Alireza Arafi — a senior cleric, member of the Guardian Council, and head of the Basij paramilitary force, appointed as the jurist member of the council
Ali Larijani, Iran’s head of security, announced the council would be formally established on Sunday. Its authority will hold until the Assembly of Experts — an 88-member body of elected clerics — selects a permanent successor to Khamenei.
But behind the constitutional formality lies a brutal power struggle. According to The National Interest, an IRGC military junta had effectively already begun replacing Khamenei’s authority even before the transitional council was announced. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, is also seen as a contender — though his elevation would raise uncomfortable questions about dynastic succession in a republic born from anti-monarchical revolution.
How the CIA Pinpointed Khamenei
A bombshell New York Times report revealed Sunday that CIA intelligence was instrumental in locating Khamenei before the fatal strike. According to the report, the agency had been tracking the Supreme Leader’s movements for months.
The CIA learned that a meeting of Iran’s top leadership was scheduled for Saturday morning at a leadership compound in central Tehran. Most critically, intelligence indicated Khamenei himself would be present.
Roughly two hours and five minutes after Operation Epic Fury commenced at approximately 7:00 AM local time, precision-guided munitions struck the compound at around 9:40 AM Tehran time. Senior national security officials were gathered in one building, while Khamenei was in a nearby structure. Satellite imagery later showed black smoke rising and heavy damage at the compound.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Sunday morning that Khamenei was killed “in the opening blow” of the attack.
A separate Reuters exclusive revealed that prior to the strikes, the CIA had assessed that if Khamenei were killed, he would likely be replaced by hardline IRGC elements — a scenario that appears to be playing out in real time as the Revolutionary Guards assert growing influence over Iran’s wartime decision-making.
Iran Retaliates Across the Region
Iran’s retaliation has not been limited to Israel. Tehran declared 40 days of mourning and launched strikes targeting what it claimed were “27 US bases in the Middle East.” Multiple Gulf Arab states hosting American military assets have come under fire.
Sirens warning of incoming missiles sounded again in Bahrain on Sunday morning, where the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet is headquartered. The interior ministry of Bahrain confirmed the renewed attacks. Strikes also hit targets near Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait in what has become a regionwide conflagration.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned both the initial strikes and the retaliatory attacks, saying they “undermine international peace and security.” Protests have erupted in Pakistan and Iraq, with at least nine people killed in the demonstrations.
Iran’s Dwindling Window
Military analysts warn that Iran’s ability to sustain its retaliatory campaign may be limited. According to The Guardian, Iran is estimated to possess around 2,000 ballistic missiles — a stockpile that could be depleted within days at the current rate of fire.
“Its ability to retaliate at scale may only last a few days,” the analysis noted, “while the US can sustain a bombing campaign that could last weeks.”
This asymmetry has created a desperate urgency in Tehran’s response. Iran’s top security official warned the US and Israel of trying to “dismantle Iran” and threatened “secessionist groups” with severe consequences if they attempt to exploit the chaos. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Trump and Netanyahu that they had “crossed a red line” and would “pay for it.”
What Comes Next
The crisis now stands at an inflection point. Israel has signaled it will continue strikes. Iran’s transitional council must simultaneously manage a war, a succession crisis, and growing domestic unrest. The IRGC’s increasing dominance raises the specter of Iran transforming from a theocratic republic into something closer to a military dictatorship.
Trump and Netanyahu have publicly urged Iranians to topple their leaders — a call that could either galvanize resistance or deepen the regime’s resolve.
The next 48 hours will be critical. If Iran’s missile stocks run dry before a ceasefire materializes, Tehran could face a devastating strategic defeat. If the IRGC consolidates power, the world may be dealing with an even more unpredictable adversary than the one it just decapitated.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update as new information becomes available.