LIVE: 4 Americans Dead, Jets Shot Down by Ally as U.S.-Iran War Spirals Into Third Day
What started as a surgical strike has become a regional war. As the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran enters its third day, the death toll is climbing, oil prices are surging, and the world is holding its breath.
What We Know
OPERATION EPIC FURY UNDERWAY: The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran beginning Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous senior Iranian commanders. Israel says roughly 600 infrastructure sites have been struck using 2,500 munitions.
AMERICAN CASUALTIES: Four U.S. service members have been killed — all in the same suspected Iranian drone strike on a tactical operations center in Kuwait. Eighteen others have been seriously wounded. President Trump has warned that more deaths are likely.
FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENT: Three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat. All six aircrew members safely ejected and are in stable condition.
IRAN HITS BACK HARD: Tehran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones targeting Israel, Gulf states, and U.S. military installations. Explosions have been reported in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, Manama, and Muscat.
DEATH TOLLS RISING: Iran's Red Crescent reports 555 killed inside Iran. At least 31 are dead in Lebanon following Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. At least 11 have been killed in Israel. Deaths have also been reported in the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
ENERGY MARKETS IN TURMOIL: Oil prices surged over 8%, Qatar halted LNG production after Iranian drones struck its Ras Laffan facility, and European natural gas prices rocketed nearly 48%. U.S. stocks dropped at the opening bell.
TRAVEL IMPACTS: Dubai International Airport — the world's busiest by passenger volume — remains largely shut. Airspace across Iraq, Iran, and much of the Gulf is closed, leaving tens of thousands of travelers stranded.
NO TALKS: Iran's top national security official Ali Larijani declared Tehran "will not negotiate with the United States," contradicting Trump's claim that Iranian officials want to talk.
Live Updates
Trump Says He Does Not Rule Out Ground Troops in Iran: "I Don't Have the Yips"
March 2, 2026 | 12:00 PM ET
President Trump broke from the traditional presidential playbook on ground troops Monday, telling the New York Post he would not categorically rule out sending U.S. forces into Iran. "I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground. Like, every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump told the newspaper, adding he believed troops were "probably" not needed but would deploy them "if they were necessary." The comments put Trump at odds with Vice President JD Vance, who told the Washington Post before the strikes began that there was "no chance" the U.S. would be pulled into a drawn-out war in the Middle East.
Israeli Strike Kills Senior Islamic Jihad Commander in Beirut
March 2, 2026 | 11:10 AM ET
The top commander in Lebanon of the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. The group identified him as Adham Adnan al-Othman, describing him as having a long history of fighting Israeli forces. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, like Hamas, was formed in the 1980s as a radical Islamist movement. The killing signals Israel is broadening its targeting beyond Hezbollah as the conflict in Lebanon widens.
UAE Says It Has Intercepted Hundreds of Iranian Missiles and Drones Since Saturday
March 2, 2026 | 11:05 AM ET
The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 148 drones on Monday alone. Since Iran began its retaliatory campaign Saturday, the UAE Defense Ministry said it has repelled hundreds of Iranian projectiles in total. No deaths were reported on Monday, though three people were killed in Iranian attacks on Sunday.
BREAKING: Qatar Says Its Air Force Shot Down 2 Iranian Warplanes
March 2, 2026 | 11:00 AM ET
Qatar’s military announced Monday that its air force shot down two Iranian warplanes, in what would mark a dramatic escalation of direct military confrontation between Gulf states and Iran. No further details were immediately available.
Etihad Begins Limited Evacuation Flights Out of Abu Dhabi
March 2, 2026 | 10:57 AM ET
At least 15 Etihad flights departed Abu Dhabi's airport on Monday, offering a lifeline to thousands of stranded passengers. Destinations included Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Cairo, and London. Regular commercial flights, however, remain canceled. Emirates also announced limited flights beginning Monday evening, though it was not immediately clear if those had departed.
Bahrain Says It Intercepted 70 Iranian Missiles and 59 Drones in a Single Wave
March 2, 2026 | 10:50 AM ET
Bahrain's National Communication Center confirmed Monday that the kingdom's missile air defense system successfully repelled a major new wave of Iranian projectiles, intercepting 70 ballistic missiles and 59 drones. The announcement underscored the scale of Iran's retaliatory campaign as the war continued to rattle Gulf states across the region.
Putin Calls Leaders of Qatar and Bahrain, Condemns U.S.-Israeli Strike as "Flagrant Violation of International Law"
March 2, 2026 | 10:40 AM ET
Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls Monday with the Emir of Qatar and Bahrain's King, both of whom focused on the escalating regional conflict. The Kremlin described the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran as a "flagrant violation of international law" with "grave and tragic consequences for the Iranian people." Putin and Qatar's Emir expressed concern about the risk of third countries being drawn into the war and hope that Iran's retaliatory strikes would not harm civilians. Putin also confirmed Russia's readiness to use all available means to help stabilize the situation.
Stocks Drop at the Opening Bell in New York
March 2, 2026 | 10:26 AM ET
U.S. markets opened sharply lower as the Middle East conflict continued to expand. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each fell nearly 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 350 points. Oil surged more than 6%, and U.S. natural gas prices climbed over 4%. European natural gas futures rocketed roughly 45% after QatarEnergy announced it was pausing liquified natural gas production following Iranian strikes on its Ras Laffan facility.
Trump to Address the Nation on Iran at 11 AM ET
March 2, 2026 | 10:22 AM ET
President Trump is scheduled to speak on the Iran conflict from the White House at 11 a.m. ET. It will mark the first time the president has directly addressed reporters since Operation Epic Fury began Saturday. His previous statements were pre-recorded videos posted to Truth Social.
“Nowhere in Tehran Feels Safe,” NBC Reporter Says from Inside the Capital
March 2, 2026 | 10:11 AM ET
An NBC News correspondent reporting from inside Tehran described a city shrouded in smoke, with bombs striking areas close to residential neighborhoods. Military bases and police stations have been primary targets, though the correspondent noted that those stations are often located near civilian areas, leaving surrounding buildings damaged. “Nobody knows what or who will be targeted next,” the reporter wrote.
Dubai Airports Announce Limited Resumption of Flights
March 2, 2026 | 9:41 AM ET
Dubai authorities announced a limited reopening of both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport beginning Monday evening. Emirates and flydubai said they would resume some operations. Travelers were advised not to proceed to the airport unless directly contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time. Dubai International is the world’s busiest commercial aviation hub, handling more than 95 million passengers last year.
Israel Says It Has Dismantled 600 Sites in Iran Using 2,500 Munitions
March 2, 2026 | 9:28 AM ET
The Israel Defense Forces said approximately 600 infrastructure sites have been struck in Iran, including more than 20 targets tied to Iranian military leadership, more than 150 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, and over 200 Iranian aerial defense systems. Around 30 sites have also been struck in Lebanon. Israel has called up approximately 110,000 reservists. NBC News was unable to independently verify the figures.
Hegseth: Four U.S. Service Members Died When an Iranian Munition Pierced Fortified Operations Center in Kuwait
March 2, 2026 | 9:01 AM ET
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that all four American service members killed so far died when an incoming Iranian munition struck a fortified tactical operations center in Kuwait. “Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through,” Hegseth said. He added that the losses “only stiffen our resolve.”
Hegseth Says War in Iran “Is Not Endless” But Won’t Rule Out Ground Troops
March 2, 2026 | 8:55 AM ET
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against comparisons to the Iraq War, calling Operation Epic Fury “a clear, devastating, decisive mission.” He said there are currently no U.S. boots on the ground in Iran but declined to say whether ground troops could be deployed in the future. On the timeline, Hegseth deferred to Trump: “Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could move up. It could move back.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman Warns of More American Deaths: “We Expect to Take Additional Losses”
March 2, 2026 | 8:23 AM ET
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opened the Pentagon’s first on-camera press briefing in months by warning Americans to expect further casualties. “This is not a single overnight operation,” Caine said. “The objectives CENTCOM has been tasked with will be difficult and gritty work.” He said Trump gave the final “go order” on Friday at 3:38 pm ET — “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck,” — and the operation launched Saturday at 9:45 am local time.
Hegseth: “We Didn’t Start This War, But Under President Trump, We Are Finishing It”
March 2, 2026 | 8:13 AM ET
In opening remarks at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Hegseth framed the conflict as a response to nearly five decades of Iranian aggression, accusing Tehran of waging a “savage, one-sided war against America” since 1979. He said Iran had been “lying their way to a nuclear bomb” and that its conventional military buildup was designed to shield nuclear ambitions. “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation,” Hegseth said.
Three U.S. F-15s Shot Down by Kuwaiti Air Defenses in Friendly Fire Incident
March 2, 2026 | 6:16 AM ET
U.S. Central Command confirmed that three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat operations — a chaotic environment that included Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones. All six aircrew members ejected safely, were recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait acknowledged the incident, and a joint investigation is underway. Video geolocated by multiple outlets showed a jet descending in a steep dive near Al Jahra, Kuwait, and at least one pilot parachuting to the ground.
Qatar Halts LNG Production After Iranian Drone Strike on Energy Facility
March 2, 2026 | 7:53 AM ET
QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest LNG producer, announced it was halting liquified natural gas production after Iranian drones struck its facility in Ras Laffan. The news sent European natural gas prices surging more than 40%. Qatar accounts for roughly 20% of global LNG exports. A foreign ministry spokesperson said Qatar has faced “more than 100 missiles and scores of drones” and reserves the right to retaliate, warning “a price has to be paid.”
Iran’s Security Chief: “We Will Not Negotiate with the United States”
March 2, 2026 | 2:53 AM ET
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, flatly rejected any suggestion of diplomatic talks with Washington, posting on X that Tehran “will not negotiate with the United States.” The statement came in response to reports — and a Trump claim — that Iranian officials had sought to resume nuclear negotiations. Larijani also warned that Iran “has prepared itself for a long war” and vowed the country would “fiercely defend ourselves and our 6,000-year-old civilization regardless of the costs.”
Israel Launches Full Offensive Against Hezbollah Across Lebanon
March 2, 2026 | 6:13 AM ET
Israel announced a broad offensive against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon after the Iran-backed militant group fired missiles and drones at a military base in northern Israel overnight in what Hezbollah called revenge for the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei. Israel said it killed the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in a strike on Beirut and warned that Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem is now “a marked target for elimination.” Lebanon’s government, in a dramatic policy shift, banned Hezbollah’s military activities and called on the group to surrender its weapons. At least 31 people have been killed in Lebanon.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s Wife Dies of Injuries Sustained in Strike
March 2, 2026 | 1:00 AM ET
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, 79, the wife of killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died Monday of injuries sustained in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.