Israel Attacks Iran Highlights: PM Modi chairs Cabinet Committee on Security meeting

News agency ANI reported that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met last evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the evolving situation in West Asia.

The Committee was briefed on the air strikes in Iran on 28 February and the subsequent escalation, including attacks in several Gulf countries.

It expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region.

The CCS also reviewed the difficulties faced by Indian travellers transiting the region and students appearing for scheduled examinations, as well as the broader implications for regional security and economic and commercial activities.

The CCS directed all concerned departments to take necessary and feasible measures to assist Indian nationals affected by the developments. It underscored the importance of an early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Trump says he sees three ‘choices’ of who could lead Iran, he said in an interview, AFP reported.

The United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates released a joint statement, strongly condemning “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks against sovereign territories across the region, including Bahrain, Iraq — including the Iraqi Kurdistan Region — Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.”

“These unjustified strikes targeted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations, and damaged civilian infrastructure,” the statement read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke “by phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the current regional situation.”

“I expressed India's concern regarding the recent developments, and emphasized that the security of citizens is the utmost priority. India reiterates the need for an early cessation of hostilities,” PM Modi said.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah vowed Sunday to confront the United States and Israel over their strikes on the group's backer Iran, AFP reported.

"We will undertake our duty of confronting the aggression," Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem was quoted as saying in a statement, adding that his movement would not leave "the field of honour and resistance".

Israel Defence Forces “continues to strike targets of the Iranian terror regime in waves of extensive attacks in Iran,” the country said in a post on X.

“Initial: The Air Force, guided by Military Intelligence, has now launched another wave of strikes targeting the Iranian terror regime's assets in the heart of Tehran,” it added.

Israeli Air Force posted on X, “Following alerts that were activated in several areas in the north of the country, the Air Force intercepted a launch that crossed from Lebanon; individual launches fell according to policy. No injuries or damage were reported.”

The IDF said earlier that Hezbollah fired several missiles from Lebanon towards Israel on Sunday, two days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran entered a second day Sunday following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an event that has cast doubt over the Islamic Republic’s future and heightened fears of instability across the region, as reported by the Associated Press.

Explosions were reported in Tehran as Israel said it was expanding its offensive to the “heart” of the Iranian capital. In response, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel, U.S. military bases in the Gulf, as well as the Saudi capital and the major commercial center of Dubai, AP reported. Read here.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s forces are “crushing the enemy’s bases” after Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes. An interim council has taken charge as Tehran vows revenge. Read here

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it attacked the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf after the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by US and Israeli air strikes, as per Al Jazeera.

"The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles," the Guard said in a statement carried by local media, warning "the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors," Al Jazeera reported.

Ambassador of Israel to India, Reuven Azar, clarified on Sunday that Israelis targeting over 2,500 military targets amid the military escalation against Iran.

Azar told ANI that Israel doesn't intend to hit schools, but "terrorists blame Israel for different things."

Azar said: "We are targeting more than 2,500 military targets. We do not have the intention of attacking schools or anything of that sort. We have to be very careful with the information that comes out of Iran. We've seen in the past attempts not only by the Iranians, but also, by terrorist organisations to blame Israel for different things. We do not know what hit that school. It might have been a misfire. It might have been something else. We are checking that, because we want to make sure that no civilian targets are being hit by our forces."

Earlier on February 28, Israeli media had reported that atleast 40 Iranians were killed in an Israeli strike on a school in the city of Minab in the Hormozgan province, in the southern part of Iran.

The US military on Sunday said three service members have been killed and five seriously wounded in the operation against Iran -- the first casualties of any kind announced on the US side.

"Three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury. Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions -- and are in the process of being returned to duty," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

"Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified."

US military said that three service members have been killed and five seriously wounded in the Iran operation, mentioned a report by AP

The US Embassy in Jerusalem said that it is not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel, and advised US citizens to “shelter in place.”

Geopolitical tensions in the Gulf led to a market downturn, prompting Boursa Kuwait to suspend trading indefinitely – which comes after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory actions, reported Reuters. Read here

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly declared Khamenei's killing a “declaration of war against Muslims”.
He warned: “Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime,” reported AFP.

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said that Iran fired missiles towards civilians in the neighborhood of Beit Shemesh.

The IDF said in a post on X, "The Iranian Regime directly fired missiles toward the civilian neighborhood of Beit Shemesh, killing innocent civilians. The Iranian regime purposely targets civilian targets while we precisely target terror targets. This is who we're operating against--a regime who uses civilian casualties as their war tactic."

Following the death of Iran's Supreme leader, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a televised address was quoted by AP as saying, You have crossed our red line and must pay the price…we will deliver such devastating blows that you yourselves will be driven to beg.”

According to AP, an explosion shook Iran’s capital on Sunday as Israel announced plans for “non-stop strikes” targeting its leaders and military. In response, Iran launched more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states, retaliating for the assassination of its supreme leader in the unexpected US and Israeli attack that escalated the conflict.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies approved a larger-than-expected increase in oil production next month, as tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran continue to escalate, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Air India has announced that passengers can now opt for either full refund or reschedule without additional charges for flights to Middle East.

"For bookings made on or before 28 February 2026, with travel originally planned up to 5 March 2026, you can:

– Reschedule your flight at no additional charge, or

– Request a full refund to your original form of payment," Air India said in a post on X.

Iran launched strikes across the Gulf on Sunday after vowing to avenge slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defying a threat from President Donald Trump to strike with unprecedented force.

As crowds gathered in capital city Tehran with some grieving and others celebrating, explosions rang out and the Israeli military announced it was again striking targets in the heart of the capital, reported AFP

The current situation in the Middle East following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran has not affected supplies of crude oil and fuel to Poland, Reuters reported, citing Polish pipeline operator PERN, on Sunday.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marked a "turning point" as his country waged a war with the Islamic republic.

"He led the campaign of destruction against the State of Israel, he built the entire axis of evil around us, and within Iran itself he pursued an uncompromising line against the State of Israel," Katz said, referring to Khamenei, reported AFP.

More than a thousand demonstrators marched toward the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Athens on Sunday, voicing opposition to the strikes in Iran. Many participants, largely linked to the Communist Party of Greece, carried banners reading “Hands off Iran” and “close Souda base," reported Reuters.

Reports suggest that at least 150 tankers, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas vessels, have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz. The development comes after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the region into a renewed military confrontation, Reuters reported.

The tankers were clustered in open waters off the coasts of major Gulf oil producers, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as LNG giant Qatar, according to the Reuters news agency estimates based on ship-tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform.

Pope Leo on Sunday (local time) said that he is following the events in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and appealed to stop what he described a “spiral of violence,” Al Jazeera reported.

— Iranian strikes and drone attacks targeted northern Iraq, where US troops are deployed amid protests in Baghdad over killing of Khamenei.

– Baghdad, which has been a key ally of Iran, has announced a three-day mourning period for Khamenei, and Iraq's top cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani urged Iranians to remain united against what he described as “aggressors,” reported AFP.

– Khamenei was killed on Saturday as US and Israel launched a wave of strikes on the Islamic republic.

A small oil tanker, which appeared to be sanctioned by the US for helping Iran export fuels, was targeted off Oman’s northern coast, the first maritime attack since war broke out in the Middle East over the weekend, mentioned a report by Bloomberg.

The council is made up of Iran’s sitting president - Pezeshkian, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament

With reference to board exams in the Middle East from 5 march onwards, CBSE has said that the situation is set to be reviewed, given the conflict between Iran and US-Israel.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condoled Khamenei's killing by the US and Israel in a joint strike, describing it as "deeply tragic and shameful" point in history. "Today marks a deeply tragic and shameful point in history with Israel and USA boasting about the killing of Iran's beloved leader Ayatollah Ali Khanenei," Mufti said in a post on X.

Italy said it would work with G7 partners to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from escalating for the sake of regional stability and trade.

A widening of the conflict pitting Iran against the United States and Israel "could compromise regional security and stability, as well as the freedom of trade in an area that is crucial for our exports", Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X.

North Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that Israel's attacks on Iran and the US military operation were "illegal aggression" and a violation of national sovereignty, state media Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday.

The US military operation against Iran was "within the range of expectations," the spokesperson said, calling it an inevitable outcome given the "hegemonic and gangster-like" nature of the United States.

Massive protests erupted in Kashmir over Ayatollah Khamenei's killing. Pulwama Police has appealed to all media organisations, journalists, social media users, digital platforms and the general public to act with responsibility and discretion while reporting or sharing any information concerning law and order, security-related matters or public gatherings in the district, reported ANI

Schools in Kashmir would remain closed for 2 days amid the massive protests in the region over Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's killing, as per local media reports.

The interim council, which will also include the president and the head of the judiciary, will lead the country until the Assembly of Experts “elects a permanent leader as soon as possible,” said expediency council spokesman Mohsen Dehnavi in a post on X.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences over Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, describing it as a “cynical” act.

"Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law," Putin said in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, reported Reuters.

At least 10 people were killed, and several were injured after clashes broke out between police and protesters as they tried to storm the gates of the US Consulate in Pakistan's port city of Karachi.

The clashes broke out following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli air strike, as per multiple reports.

In a post on X, Owaisi said the attacks are absolutely condemnable and described them as an immoral and unlawful act, expressing his sincere condolences to those affected.

“Trump-Israel's attacks on Iran are absolutely condemnable. This, especially when Iran and the US were in Geneva. More than 200 people have been killed across Iran, including 108 who were killed when strikes hit a girls' school. Ayatollah Khamenei’s assassination is an immoral and unlawful act,” the Hyderabad MP said. Read here

– On Sunday, two people were injured in Dubai after shrapnel from drones fell over two houses when they were intercepted, a Dubai media office statement said.

— Dubai's international airport, and its landmark Burj Al Arab hotel and man-made Palm Jumeirah Island all suffered damage.

— Thick black plumes of smoke was spotted at the Jebel Ali port area, where one of the berths caught fire on Sunday because of debris from an intercepted missile, mentioned a report by Reuters.

Senior cleric Alireza Arafi will serve as Iran’s interim Supreme Leader following the killing of Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran, the state-linked ISNA news agency reported.

Ayatollah Arafi has been named the jurist member of an interim leadership council tasked with carrying out the Supreme Leader’s duties during the transition period, until a successor is chosen under Iran’s constitutional process.

Ayatollah Arafi has been appointed as the jurist member of leadership council, and has been tasked with temporarily fulfilling supreme leader's role after Khamenei's death said the ISNA

An Oman port and an oil tanker off its coast were attacked Sunday, official media said, marking the first strikes on the sultanate – which mediated US-Iran talks – since Tehran launched a retaliation campaign, reported AFP

All flight operations at both Dubai airports – Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International (DWC) – continue to remain suspended “until further notice” as retaliatory strikes from Iran enter a second day on Sunday. Click here to know more