Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Iran's next supreme leader, Iranian state media reports
He is the son of assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.
Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His successor is yet to be named.
Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
(Read previous Iran live updates here.)
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Key Headlines
- Iran’s near-total internet blackout continues, tracker says
- Israel warns of strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs
- Israel says its working to intercept Iranian missiles
- Iranian missiles, drones targeting UAE, ministry says
- US orders evacuation of non-emergency government employees from Saudi Arabia
- More missile and drone attacks reported in the region
IDF begins 'broad wave of strikes' as more missile, drone attacks reported throughout region
The Israel Defense Forces said it began a "broad wave of strikes" on infrastructure targeting the Iranian regime in Tehran on Thursday -- as more missile and drone strikes were reported across parts of the region overnight.
The Qatar Ministry of Defense said its air defense forces had successfully intercepted a drone attack targeting the Al-Udeid Air Base.
The Bahrain Interior Ministry said Iran targeted a hotel and two residential buildings in the capital, Manama, with no loss.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed both a missile and a drone.
The Kuwait Army said air defenses were dealing with "hostile missile and drone attacks that have breached the airspace of the State of Kuwait."
IRGC general claims Iran is ready to fight for a long time
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said Iran has prepared for a "long-term war," according to state media.
"Today we can continue to fight for as long as the country's authorities want," he said, according to state media.
House votes to reopen DHS as Operation Epic Fury continues
The House voted Thursday to reopen the Department of Homeland Security -- as Republicans continue to call on Democrats to end the ongoing partial shutdown amid ongoing hostilities in Iran and a heightened threat level in the United States.
By a vote of 221-209, the measure prevailed in the lower chamber. Four Democrats -- Reps. Henry Cuellar, Jared Golden, Donald Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez -- voted with the united GOP majority.
The measure heads back to the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome Democratic opposition to the funding, which lapsed on Feb. 14.
"Despite bipartisan majorities in both chambers, Senate Democrats continue to hold this funding hostage," House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole stated after Thursday's vote. "Shielding the homeland should never be treated as a political bargaining chip."
-ABC News' John Parkinson
US government employees advised not to travel to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan region
The State Department advised U.S. government personnel not to travel to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan region in a new security alert issued Thursday.
The alert comes after Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said earlier Thursday that drones struck the city of Nakhchivan, just north of the country's border with Iran. One drone hit the city's airport, the ministry said.