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

Mar 04, 2026, 12:06 AM EST
Death toll in Lebanon rises to at least 50 killed, over 300 injured: Health officials
Mar 03, 2026, 11:54 PM EST
US embassy in Jordan issues shelter-in-place order
Mar 03, 2026, 10:01 PM EST
Canadian PM says US-Israeli actions may be 'inconsistent with international law'
Mar 03, 2026, 9:19 PM EST
Qatar says Al Udeid Air Base hit by ballistic missile
Mar 03, 2026, 9:06 PM EST
Rubio says 'intensity' of attacks on Iran to ramp up

Here's how the news is developing.

Mar 03, 2026, 12:08 PM EST

Top House Democrats request answers from Trump admin on Iran

Five top House Democrats, in a letter, ask the briefers from the Trump administration to address the legal justification, cost and goals of the military operations in Iran at the all-House members briefing today at 5:00 p.m.

The letter was sent to Hegseth, Rubio, Ratcliffe and Caine on Monday but was publicly released today.

"Congress has a constitutional responsibility in matters of war and that requires complete and candid information," the Democrats stated.

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, March 3, 2026.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

"A number of our brave service members have already lost their lives in this conflict, and the American people are entitled to clear answers, including why this conflict began, what objectives justify continued military engagement, and what guardrails are in place to prevent a broader or protracted regional war," the letter said.

--ABC News' Lauren Peller

Mar 03, 2026, 11:25 AM EST

US Embassy in Lebanon closed until further notice

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut announced it’ll be closed until further notice.

-ABC News’ Shannon Kingston

Mar 03, 2026, 11:18 AM EST

19,000 flights canceled since war began

Since Saturday, 19,000 out of the 32,000 flights scheduled to arrive or depart from the Middle East have been canceled, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

Airspaces are currently closed in Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria. Some countries are scheduled to reopen airspaces at 4 or 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

People arrive at the International Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, after being evacuated from Dubai on a commercial flight, March 3, 2026.
Michael Probst/AP

-ABC News’ Clara McMichael

Mar 03, 2026, 11:01 AM EST

Netanyahu: 'We will continue to do what is necessary to protect ourselves'

Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah inside Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.

"The Lebanese government needs to understand, and the Lebanese people need to understand, that Hezbollah is dragging them into a war that is not theirs, just because of the death of that mass murderer they have nothing to do with," Netanyahu said. "They need to take care of themselves, and they should do so as soon as possible. We will continue to do what is necessary to protect ourselves."