As of this writing on March 2, 2026, the latest credible updates in international media (especially Reuters and other live coverage) reflect that the escalation has moved into its third day, with the geography expanding from inside Iran to Lebanon and the Gulf, and increasing indications of a "wave war" (successive air strikes matched by missile/march launches), with escalating casualty figures and global aviation and energy disruptions.
First, on the level of strikes in recent hours, Reuters reported that Israel launched additional "new strikes" on Iran, with explosions heard in "different parts of Tehran," and also mentioned a strike in the city of Sanandaj in the Kurdistan province of western Iran that killed at least three people, according to Iranian official media.In the same context, Reuters quoted the Israeli military as announcing that it continues to target centers associated with command, security and intelligence inside the capital, and that the air force has "established superiority." Citing the US military: US forces said their planes and warships have struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets since "major combat operations" began on Saturday. This figure is so far the most documented published figure that approaches the "volume of strikes" across the entire campaign, not just the "last hour.
Second, in terms of the Iranian response on the same day, Reuters reported that Iran fired a "new wave of rockets" at Israel, and reported that sirens sounded "shortly after 7 a.m." in large areas inside Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.Reuters quoted Iranian official media as saying that missiles were fired "from central Iran" toward "enemy positions," while the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement (according to Reuters) that the wave targeted the "government compound" in Tel Aviv, "military and security" centers in Haifa, and areas in East Jerusalem, vowing that the attacks will expand and that the sirens "will not stop."
Third, the most prominent development today is the expansion of the escalation to Lebanon. Reuters reported that Israel expanded its attacks to include striking "Hezbollah-related targets" in Lebanon after Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets and marches towards Israel "in response" to the killing of Khamenei.The agency reported, citing the Lebanese National Information Agency, that a preliminary toll showed 31 dead and 149 injured in the strikes, which Israel said targeted the Hezbollah-controlled "southern suburbs" in Beirut, with Israel saying it also targeted "senior militants."
Fourth, on the Gulf line, Reuters reported a series of simultaneous incidents: Kuwait said that its air defenses intercepted "hostile marches," in parallel with a warning issued by the US embassy in Kuwait calling for shelter due to the threat of missiles and marches. Reuters also reported a security presence, ambulances and fire trucks near the embassy, and a video obtained by the agency showing "black smoke" near the area.In the UAE and Qatar, witnesses told Reuters that they heard loud explosions in Dubai and Doha, as well as in Samha (about 50 km from Abu Dhabi). These details alone do not imply confirmed casualty locations, but they do reflect the breadth of alarms/reverberations within economically sensitive urban centers.
Fifth, in an unusual development on the line of Western bases outside the immediate region, Reuters reported that a drone strike hit the RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, according to the President of Cyprus and the British Ministry of Defense, calling it the first attack on the base since 1986 and a significant escalation.
Sixth, regarding your question about casualties, there are more than one level of numbers in the sources. On the level of Iran, CBS coverage broadcast a figure attributed to the Iranian Red Crescent (via AFP within the coverage) saying that 555 people have been killed across Iran since the US and Israeli strikes began two days ago, and that 131 cities have been affected so far. This is a large number and specific in time and space (number of cities), but it is still a figure issued by an entity inside Iran as reported by international coverage, and may change with updates.In Lebanon, as before, Reuters reported 31 dead and 149 wounded in the southern suburbs of Beirut as a preliminary toll. In Iran, in Sanandaj, Reuters reported at least three dead. As for US casualties, Reuters reported that the first US casualties in the campaign were confirmed on Sunday, including the killing of three soldiers on a base in Kuwait, according to US officials.
Seventh, in the "last hour" in terms of its global impact, international press coverage focuses on two elements: aviation and energy. Reuters reports that the standoff has led to major disruptions in air travel, with major airports in the Middle East remaining closed, including Dubai, which Reuters described as the world's busiest international airport.In energy, Reuters published more precise operational details about navigation near the Strait of Hormuz: Sunday's attacks damaged three tankers, killed one sailor, and prompted about 200 ships to anchor near the strait to avoid risks, then said that insurance companies canceled war risk coverage on Monday, amid expectations of a sharp rise in shipping costs, and that oil prices rose by about 9% after jumping as much as 13% earlier.
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