US, Israel attack in Iran: Trump says US has ‘capability to go far longer’ than 4 to 5 weeks

Iranian leaders said there will not be negotiations between the country and Israel and the U.S. after joint Israel-U.S. strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and at least 555 people.

Update 1 p.m. ET, March 2: President Donald Trump, during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, said that the U.S. has “the capability to go far longer” than the four to five weeks that had been projected for the fighting in Iran, The Associated Press reported.

But while he said that the mission would take four weeks, and that it could go longer, Trump also said that the removal of Iran’s military leaders was done quickly, “so we’re ahead of schedule there.”

Trump said the mission, however, is not complete, telling CNN the “big wave” is still coming.

The president said he did not rule out sending troops to Iran if “necessary,” CNN reported.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes despite frequently speaking out against the U.S.’s role in the Middle East. He said Iran stalled during negotiations over the past few weeks. He added that the U.S. strikes were designed to curb Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles, and to reduce the Iranian navy, the AP reported.

Original report: The strikes hit not only in Iran but also in Lebanon, where at least 31 people were killed, The Associated Press reported. Israel targeted a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut and hit weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure, The Washington Post reported. Lebanon was targeted after Hezbollah militants launched rockets from the country into Israel, The New York Times reported.

In Israel, at least 10 people were killed and more than 200 were hurt, CNN reported. But most of the missiles and drones sent into Israel had been intercepted, the Times reported.

A drone hit an oil tanker flying a Marshall Islands flag in the Gulf of Oman, The Associated Press reported. One person was killed.

Explosions were also heard in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and other areas, according to the Times.

A British air base in Cyprus was hit by a drone when it crashed on to the stronghold. Two other drones were moving toward the British base, but were intercepted, the AP reported.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he has agreed to a U.S. request to use British bases for “specific and limited defensive purpose,” to help destroy Iranian missiles “at source in their storage depots, or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles,” the Times reported.

Initially, the U.K was only deploying Typhoon jets in defense. Despite allowing the U.S. to use the UK bases, Starmer said his nation will “not join offensive action.”

A fourth member of the U.S. military has died, according to U.S. Central Command’s post on X.com. The person was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attack, officials said.

Three other U.S. military members were killed in Kuwait, the victims of a suspected drone strike. The fourth person who died was injured in the same attack, sources told CNN.

President Donald Trump said that more U.S. casualties are likely, the Post reported. The three killed were part of a sustainment unit.

Three U.S. fighter jets were shot down in an apparent friendly fire incident in Kuwait, where that country’s air defenses shot down the F-15E Strike Eagle jets late Sunday.

“During active combat — that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement, CNN reported. “All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”

The incident is under investigation and the U.S. military is working with Kuwaiti military officials on the probe, the Post reported.

On Monday morning, large explosions were seen in Iran’s capital city of Tehran, with several buildings appearing to be destroyed. The attacks were in response to those forged by Hezbollah that were launched after the death of Khamenei.

President Donald Trump said the attack on Iran is expected to last “four to five weeks,” The Washington Post reported.

Ali Larijani, Iran’s lead security official, pledged that the country will not negotiate with the U.S. in a post on X.com. The Wall Street Journal had reported that the countries were going to resume talks.

They had been discussing Iran’s nuclear program before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Saturday morning.

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