live Iran War Enters Its Second Week

Iran has been plunged into a "near-total" Internet blackout as the United States and Israel carry out a massive, coordinated aerial bombing campaign across the country.

According to the Internet watchdog NetBlocks, connectivity in the country plummeted to just 4 percent of ordinary levels on February 28, severely limiting the flow of information as military operations intensify.

The digital shutdown began shortly after several Iranian news websites, including the official IRNA news agency, reported they had been targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks.

NetBlocks noted that the current disruption "matches measures" taken by the Iranian government during the 12-day conflict with Israel last June, suggesting the blackout is a state-enforced effort.

The military operation, which US President Donald Trump described as "major combat operations," was launched jointly with Israel to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure.

In a video address, the president stated that the objective is to eliminate "imminent threats" to the American people and allies. Directly addressing the Iranian public, he declared that "the hour of your freedom is at hand," urging citizens to "take over your government" once the military phase concludes—a move signaling that the operation's ultimate goal is the collapse of the Islamic republic.

In Tehran, the strikes have targeted the highest levels of the Islamic republic’s leadership. Missiles reportedly struck the residential compounds of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masud Pezeshkian in the city’s downtown district. News wires quoting informed sources say both leaders were moved to secure locations and remain safe.

The escalation comes amid a state of emergency in Israel and a retaliatory wave of Iranian missile strikes targeting regional bases.

Meanwhile, Barak Ravid, global affairs correspondent for Axios, a US political news website known for its insider reporting on Washington and foreign policy, says that President Donald Trump is expected to discuss the strikes in an address to the nation later today.

British media are quoting government sources as saying the UK did not participate in strikes on Iran carried out earlier on February 28 by the United States and Israel.

A UK government spokesman did not comment on the reports in a statement, but did say that "Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution."

Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential voice on US national security policy and a longstanding advocate of a tough stance on Iran, has strongly endorsed the latest strikes against the Islamic republic.

“My mind is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will soon be no more,” Graham said.

“This operation has been well-planned. It will be violent, extensive and I believe, at the end of the day, successful," he added.

Arguing that Tehran bears responsibility for American deaths, Graham said, “the demise of the ayatollah’s regime with American blood on its hands is necessary and more than justified.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been responding to developments in the Middle East, saying his country "stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression."

In a post on X, he said Australia supported the United States "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security."

He described the Iranian regime as a long-standing “destabilizing force” and that it “can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.”

Albanese said international calls for Tehran to respect “the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens” had “gone unheeded,” pointing to a “brutal crackdown” that left “thousands of Iranian civilians dead,” and arguing that “a regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.”

He also pointed out that Iran had directed “at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024,” prompting diplomatic expulsions and sanctions. Australia has upgraded travel warnings for Iran, Israel, and Lebanon and activated its Crisis Centre to assist citizens.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the initiation of US and Israeli air strikes against Iran, and Tehran's retaliation at targets around the Middle East, are "perilous."

In a post on X, she said the bloc is "coordinating closely with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths."

"Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law is a priority," she said. "Our consular network is fully engaged in facilitating departures for EU citizens. Non-essential EU personnel are being withdrawn from the region."

Meanwhile, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the latest developments are "greatly concerning" amid fears of further escalation.

Its being reported by a number of media outlets that the first wave of strikes in today's joint US-Israeli operation targeted officials of the Islamic republic.

There have been no reliable reports from inside Iran regarding the status of these officials or whether they are alive or dead.

The first report of an attack said a missile struck near Pasteur Square in Tehran, where the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located. A source told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

At the same time, a video has circulated on social media claiming to show the aftermath of a missile strike on the residence of former Iranian hardline president Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The Netblocks digital rights watchdog and connectivity monitor says Iran is "now in the midst of a near-total internet blackout."

Last month, access to the Internet in Iran was cut for an extended period of time during weeks of deadly protests. Rights groups said the move was intended to conceal human rights violations by Iran's security forces during a clampdown on anti-government demonstrations.

In a video message posted on X, Reza Pahlavi -- the son of Iran's last shah -- says “decisive moments lie ahead of us” and claims the assistance promised by the US president “has now arrived,” describing it as “a humanitarian intervention” targeting “the Islamic Republic -- its apparatus of repression and killing machine -- not the great country and nation of Iran.”

He added that “the final victory will still be achieved by us” and declared that “the time to return to the streets is near.”

Addressing security forces, he said: “You have sworn to protect Iran and the Iranian nation, not to protect the Islamic republic,” urging them to “join the people” or “sink with [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei and his broken regime.”

He also asked US President Donald Trump to exercise “the utmost caution to protect the lives of civilians” and told Iranians to “remain in your homes” for now, adding, “We are very close to final victory.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country and the United States have launched strikes on Iran “to remove the existential threat" posed by its "terror regime” and to “create the conditions” for Iranians to change their destiny.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, a short while ago Israel and the United States launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terror regime in Iran,” he said in an X post in Hebrew, thanking “our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”

“This murderous terror regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” he said, according the The Times of Israel, urging Israelis: “Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the future of Israel.”