US–Iran Conflict LIVE Updates: Iran Fires 40 Missiles as Khamenei Funeral Proceeds
Authorities in Iran said public mourning events for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin late Wednesday night, with further ceremonies planned over the coming days. Iranians are set to pay their respects from 22:00 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Musallah, according to state media.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had launched around 40 missiles targeting U.S. and Israeli positions on the fifth day of the Middle East conflict. A statement broadcast on state television described the attacks as the 17th wave of “Operation Honest Promise 4,” though no further details were provided.
Escalation Across the Region
Explosions were reported in the Lebanese capital as Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran, signaling a widening war across the region. The U.S. has struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran, marking what Admiral Brad Cooper described as the largest Middle East military buildup in a generation. He stated that Iran’s air defenses had been severely degraded, with hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones destroyed.
The conflict intensified on Tuesday, with explosions reported in Tehran, Lebanon, and Gulf countries. Iran has fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted. Eleven civilians have died in Israel, while four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers and two additional service members were killed in a drone strike on a command centre in Kuwait.
Israeli and Iranian Military Actions
Israel’s military said it had begun a “broad wave of attacks” across Iran, targeting missile launch sites, air defense systems, and other infrastructure. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes on U.S.-linked installations in Gulf countries. Fresh explosions were also reported in Tehran, Tabriz, and Urmia, while Israel targeted Tehran’s Mehrabad airport and Bushehr airport, destroying an Iranian air carrier on the ground. Iran fired missiles at the Tel Aviv area, with first responders reporting 12 injuries across multiple impact sites.
Iran’s foreign ministry rejected any talks with the U.S. and Israel, declaring it is “standing against evil.” Earlier, Iranian drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage and a limited fire, according to Saudi authorities.
Political Developments
Iran’s Assembly of Experts reportedly selected Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Khamenei, as the next Supreme Leader.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the “worst case” would be a new Iranian leader as bad as Khamenei and said it was “too late” for talks, asserting that U.S. operations could last several more weeks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that “the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes would continue but insisted it would not be an “endless war.”
Impact on India
India is monitoring the situation closely. So far, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign airlines have been canceled due to airspace restrictions. On Tuesday, Indian carriers operated 24 flights, while Emirates and Etihad operated nine from the Gulf. Plans for March 4 include 58 flights by Indian carriers, subject to airspace and operational conditions. (Agency)
