Live: 'Wave of missiles and drones' detected in Kuwait, explosions in Riyadh
What you need to know
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday after the US and Israel conducted joint strikes on the country to trigger regime change.
- In Iran, more than 550 people have been killed in the strikes, including dozens at a girl's school in the country's south.
- In response, Iran launched attacks throughout the Middle East with strikes reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait - places with US military bases or that are allied.
- Six US service members have been killed in action and five seriously wounded.
- Americans in the Middle East were being urged to "DEPART NOW".
- PM Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have acknowledged the US-Israeli attack and condemned Tehran's retaliatory strikes.
- Oil prices have risen sharply and international travel has been plunged into chaos as major hub airports in the region suspend services. Kiwis are among those stranded.
First lady Melania Trump presides over the United Nations Security Council at United Nations headquartersAssociated Press
US first lady Melania Trump presided over a US Security Council meeting focusing on children in conflict, one of her signature issues, and acknowledged she was doing so in “challenging times” as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran.
“The US stands with all of the children throughout the world," she said, speaking generally and not specifically about the new war in the Middle East. "I hope soon peace will be yours.”
Hanging over the meeting was what Iranian state media says was an airstrike that hit a girls' school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people and wounding dozens more. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area. The US military said it was looking into the reports.
Speaking in Parliament about the escalating conflict in the Middle East today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the New Zealand government “deplores civilian casualties and calls on all parties to respect international law", while also calling for a “diplomatic process and the de-escalation of activities”.
Luxon said Iran was currently ruled by an “evil regime”.
“One that has directly menaced peace and security, one that has claimed countless lives in Iran and internationally.”
But he also acknowledged there were “different views” on the legitimacy of the actions taken by the US and Israel.
“I respect those views, and the vigour with which they have been offered. New Zealand, unlike Iran, is a flourishing democracy. But surely there can be no doubt about the importance to all of us of preventing Iran from continuing on its pathway of repression, state sponsored terrorism and a well-documented pursuit of nuclear weapons.”
Mar 03 • 07:25am 'Wave of missiles and drones' detected in KuwaitIn a statement to social media, the Kuwaiti Army said a "wave of missiles and drones" had been detected in the country's airspace.
The armed forces were "carrying out their tasks in confronting and handling them".
The General Staff affirms its full readiness to address all threats and ensure the protection of the country's lands and airspace, as well as the safety of citizens and residents.
Mar 03 • 07:21am Explosions heard in Riyadh, reports US Embassy on fireThere have been reports of explosions in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, quoting sources, a fire has broken out at the US Embassy.
CNN reports the embassy was hit by two Iranian drones.
One source told the outlet there were no reports of injuries.
In a post to X, the embassy said it had issued a "shelter in place" notification for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran.
According to the Saudi Arabia Defence Ministry, the drone strike resulted in a "limited" fire and minor material damage.
Mar 03 • 07:16am US House Speaker says Israel’s determination to act left Trump with a 'very difficult' decision
speaks to reporters following a House and Senate Intelligence Committee briefing about the Iran war at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 2, 2026. AP
A classified briefing at the Capitol left lawmakers with little clarity about the purpose, cost and next steps in the US operation against Iran.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson described the US attack as a “defensive operation” because he said Israel was determined to act on their own against Iran, “with or without American support”.
Johnson said Trump had a “very difficult decision” to make, and determined that Iran would immediately retaliate against US personnel and assets.
But Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said, “There was no imminent threat to the United States of America by the Iranians. There was a threat to Israel.”
Rubio, Hegseth and others briefed the lawmakers, but Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he found their answers “completely and totally insufficient”.
The Trump administration will likely seek supplemental funds from Congress to pay for the operation, they said.
Mar 03 • 07:08am Israeli defences intercept missiles
Reuters
Mar 03 • 07:06am Israeli strike hits Hezbollah-aligned media building in BeirutIsraeli military struck a building housing Al-Manar channel studios in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation warning, the channel said. Israeli military said it targeted “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities in Beirut”.
Plumes of smoke were seen billowing over the skyline. No immediate details on casualties were available.
The strike followed Hezbollah missile and drone attacks on northern Israel shortly after midnight Sunday, prompting waves of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, which killed at least 52 people and wounded 154, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
In a statement early Tuesday, Hezbollah said “confrontation is a legitimate right”, describing its firing of rockets toward Israel as “a reaction to the aggression", and adding that it had repeatedly warned that Israeli attacks “could not continue without a response”
Mar 03 • 07:04am Photos show damaged Iranian drone facility
Choqa Balk-e Alireza drone base in Iran, February 27, 2026. Reuters
March 2, 2026Reuters
According to Al Jazeera, explosions are being heard in Doha, Qatar, while the UAE said it was working to intercept a missile strike from Iran.
“Emirati air defences are currently dealing with a barrage of ballistic missiles coming from Iran,” the UAE Defence Ministry said in a statement.
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It added that it “affirms its full readiness to deal with all threats to ensure the protection of the country’s territory and the safety of citizens and residents”.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera's reporters in Doha reported hearing multiple explosions overhead.
