By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Plainville USD 270 voters will decide on Tuesday, March 3, on a bond proposal totaling about $12.5 million.

If approved, the bond would fund improvements at Plainville Elementary School and Plainville Junior-Senior High School. The proposal will appear as a two-question ballot, with each question addressing a separate group of projects.

Question one focuses on facility upgrades and major replacements of building systems. The projects include renovations at both schools, such as HVAC, electrical updates, LED lighting installation, restrooms and replacing the more than 30-year-old roof.

Question two covers additional upgrades, including further renovations to classrooms and entrances at both schools. It also proposes improvements to the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym.

Proposition one totals $5.49 million and proposition two totals $7.05 million. Both would be repaid over 30 years.

District voters may approve or reject both proposals. However, USD 270 Superintendent Chris Rinehart said proposition two can only take effect if proposition one is approved. If proposal one passes, voters may then choose whether to approve proposal two.

"From my seat as superintendent, I definitely see both questions as addressing high priorities in my mind," he said.&nbsp;

According to a <a href="https://www.plainville270bond.net/">USD 270 website explaining the proposal</a>, Kansas law restricts bond funds to capital improvements, while capital outlay funding is for smaller projects.

Issuing bonds allows the district to spread the cost of the projects over time. Each ballot question carries a different estimated impact on the mill levy.

If only question one is approved, the estimated increase is one mill. If both question one and question two pass, the combined estimated increase would be 10 mills.

On a $100,000 home, a one mill increase would be $11.50 per year and a 10 mill increase would be $115 per year. The median home value in Rooks County is $88,200.

Rinehart emphasized the importance of approving both questions on the ballot.

"Question one: We definitely need to address our restrooms because we are not meeting ADA compliance with that. Not only for students who may have those needs, but for any of our community members," he said.

"Question two would allow us to address safe and secure entrances for both our schools. The safety and security of being able to simply reconfigure our entrances is something I definitely see as a high priority as well."

Under question two, voters would also decide whether the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym receive renovations. The Rock Gym would be converted from a weight room into a multi-purpose space for the elementary school, with added space for community use.

"It is probably the oldest section of our facility. It was built in the early 1930s," Rinehart said. "What I would really like is to allow that to be used for elementary PE because right now, our elementary PE classes are going into our main Cardinal Gym. We have a lot of everyday foot traffic that's going in and out of that gym, and I would like to reduce some of the wear and tear on that building."

For the Cardinal Gym, the plan includes adding a new room designed as a storm shelter with a capacity of 550 people, enough for all students and staff.

"For me, it's not a weight room. It's a storm shelter that could be double-purposed and provide us with that opportunity for a weight room," Rinehart said.

The shelter would be available to the public outside school hours. The Cardinal Gym would also include restrooms, locker rooms and storage space.

Rinehart said 2026 was the year to pursue the proposal because the district’s 20-year bond, approved in 2005 and funded construction of the Cardinal Gym, is set to expire in September. A facilities assessment conducted in October identified several additional needs that are now included in the bond plan.

"The first real action was the board wanted to carry over and continue with the current 5.7 mills that we were already budgeting," he said. "Knowing our old bond was sunsetting... we could move forward and continue meeting the needs of our facilities."

If approved, Rinehart said the next step is to continue working with Gravity Works Architecture, develop final designs and drawings and begin the contractor interview process.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plainville Township Hall, 108 S. Jefferson St.

In-person advance voting is open until noon on Monday at the Rooks County Clerk's Office, 115 N. Walnut St., in Stockton.

"I understand there are people in the community who have questions and don't feel like this is the time. I'm hopeful that as we move forward, it'll be my best effort to lead the district and be a good steward of the funding that we have," Rinehart said.

You can learn more about the bond proposal <a href="https://www.plainville270bond.net/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772212110479.png" alt="Plainville Junior-Senior High School. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Plainville Junior-Senior High School. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostPlainville USD 270 voters will decide on Tuesday, March 3, on a bond proposal totaling about $12.5 million.If approved, the bond would fund improvements at Plainville Elementary School and Plainville Junior-Senior High School. The proposal will appear as a two-question ballot, with each question addressing a separate group of projects.Question one focuses on facility upgrades and major replacements of building systems. The projects include renovations at both schools, such as HVAC, electrical updates, LED lighting installation, restrooms and replacing the more than 30-year-old roof.Question two covers additional upgrades, including further renovations to classrooms and entrances at both schools. It also proposes improvements to the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym.Proposition one totals $5.49 million and proposition two totals $7.05 million. Both would be repaid over 30 years.District voters may approve or reject both proposals. However, USD 270 Superintendent Chris Rinehart said proposition two can only take effect if proposition one is approved. If proposal one passes, voters may then choose whether to approve proposal two."From my seat as superintendent, I definitely see both questions as addressing high priorities in my mind," he said.&nbsp;According to a <a href="https://www.plainville270bond.net/">USD 270 website explaining the proposal</a>, Kansas law restricts bond funds to capital improvements, while capital outlay funding is for smaller projects.Issuing bonds allows the district to spread the cost of the projects over time. Each ballot question carries a different estimated impact on the mill levy.If only question one is approved, the estimated increase is one mill. If both question one and question two pass, the combined estimated increase would be 10 mills.On a $100,000 home, a one mill increase would be $11.50 per year and a 10 mill increase would be $115 per year. The median home value in Rooks County is $88,200.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772221413817.png" alt="The annual estimated cost to homeowners on an annual basis if proposition one, or both, were approved. Plainville USD 270" />
 <figcaption>The annual estimated cost to homeowners on an annual basis if proposition one, or both, were approved. Plainville USD 270</figcaption>
 </figure>Rinehart emphasized the importance of approving both questions on the ballot."Question one: We definitely need to address our restrooms because we are not meeting ADA compliance with that. Not only for students who may have those needs, but for any of our community members," he said."Question two would allow us to address safe and secure entrances for both our schools. The safety and security of being able to simply reconfigure our entrances is something I definitely see as a high priority as well."Under question two, voters would also decide whether the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym receive renovations. The Rock Gym would be converted from a weight room into a multi-purpose space for the elementary school, with added space for community use."It is probably the oldest section of our facility. It was built in the early 1930s," Rinehart said. "What I would really like is to allow that to be used for elementary PE because right now, our elementary PE classes are going into our main Cardinal Gym. We have a lot of everyday foot traffic that's going in and out of that gym, and I would like to reduce some of the wear and tear on that building."For the Cardinal Gym, the plan includes adding a new room designed as a storm shelter with a capacity of 550 people, enough for all students and staff."For me, it's not a weight room. It's a storm shelter that could be double-purposed and provide us with that opportunity for a weight room," Rinehart said.The shelter would be available to the public outside school hours. The Cardinal Gym would also include restrooms, locker rooms and storage space.Rinehart said 2026 was the year to pursue the proposal because the district’s 20-year bond, approved in 2005 and funded construction of the Cardinal Gym, is set to expire in September. A facilities assessment conducted in October identified several additional needs that are now included in the bond plan."The first real action was the board wanted to carry over and continue with the current 5.7 mills that we were already budgeting," he said. "Knowing our old bond was sunsetting... we could move forward and continue meeting the needs of our facilities."If approved, Rinehart said the next step is to continue working with Gravity Works Architecture, develop final designs and drawings and begin the contractor interview process.Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plainville Township Hall, 108 S. Jefferson St.In-person advance voting is open until noon on Monday at the Rooks County Clerk's Office, 115 N. Walnut St., in Stockton."I understand there are people in the community who have questions and don't feel like this is the time. I'm hopeful that as we move forward, it'll be my best effort to lead the district and be a good steward of the funding that we have," Rinehart said.You can learn more about the bond proposal <a href="https://www.plainville270bond.net/">here</a>.

Plainville USD 270 voters to decide $12.5 million bond for school upgrades

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball finished in a tie for fifth place in the MIAA regular season standings and will be the No. 6 seed in the MIAA Tournament next week in Kansas City at historic Municipal Auditorium. They will take on No. 3 seed Rogers State in the quarterfinals Friday night at 8:15 pm.

The top 10 teams in the final regular season standings qualified for the tournament. The No. 7-through-10 seeds play first-round games on Wednesday, then the top six seeds will open play in the quarterfinals with two games on Thursday and two more on Friday. Both semifinal games will be played on Saturday before the championship game on Sunday.

The Fort Hays State men are the defending MIAA Tournament champions after winning the 2025 edition as the No. 2 seed. FHSU finished the 2025-26 regular season at 19-9 overall with an 11-8 mark in MIAA play.

Rogers State also posted an overall record of 19-9 this season like the Tigers, but put together a 13-6 mark in MIAA play.

If the Tigers advance to the semifinals on Saturday, they will play again at 8:15 pm. against either No. 2 seed Central Missouri, No. 7 seed Missouri Southern, or No. 10 seed Northwest Missouri State. The championship game of the tournament is on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Fans can still take advantage of discounted all-session passes for the 2026 tournament by stopping by the Fort Hays State Athletics office before Wednesday (March 4) at noon. All-session passes are significantly discounted when purchased through the athletic department compared to the box office in Kansas City.

2026 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 Opening Round Game 1: #8 Pittsburg State vs. #9 Central Oklahoma, 6 p.m. Game 2: #7 Missouri Southern vs. #10 Northwest Missouri, 8:15 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Men's Quarterfinals Game 3: #1 Washburn vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m. Game 4: #2 Central Missouri vs. Winner Game 2, 8:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Men's Quarterfinals Game 5: #4 Missouri Western vs. #5 Arkansas-Fort Smith, 6 p.m. Game 6: #3 Rogers State vs. #6 Fort Hays State, 8:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Men's Semifinals Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m. Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6, 8:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Men's Championship Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772342653746.jpeg" alt="MIAA image" />
 <figcaption>MIAA image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball finished in a tie for fifth place in the MIAA regular season standings and will be the No. 6 seed in the MIAA Tournament next week in Kansas City at historic Municipal Auditorium. They will take on No. 3 seed Rogers State in the quarterfinals Friday night at 8:15 pm.The top 10 teams in the final regular season standings qualified for the tournament. The No. 7-through-10 seeds play first-round games on Wednesday, then the top six seeds will open play in the quarterfinals with two games on Thursday and two more on Friday. Both semifinal games will be played on Saturday before the championship game on Sunday.The Fort Hays State men are the defending MIAA Tournament champions after winning the 2025 edition as the No. 2 seed. FHSU finished the 2025-26 regular season at 19-9 overall with an 11-8 mark in MIAA play.Rogers State also posted an overall record of 19-9 this season like the Tigers, but put together a 13-6 mark in MIAA play.If the Tigers advance to the semifinals on Saturday, they will play again at 8:15 pm. against either No. 2 seed Central Missouri, No. 7 seed Missouri Southern, or No. 10 seed Northwest Missouri State. The championship game of the tournament is on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.Fans can still take advantage of discounted all-session passes for the 2026 tournament by stopping by the Fort Hays State Athletics office before Wednesday (March 4) at noon. All-session passes are significantly discounted when purchased through the athletic department compared to the box office in Kansas City.2026 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 Opening Round Game 1: #8 Pittsburg State vs. #9 Central Oklahoma, 6 p.m. Game 2: #7 Missouri Southern vs. #10 Northwest Missouri, 8:15 p.m.THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Men's Quarterfinals Game 3: #1 Washburn vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m. Game 4: #2 Central Missouri vs. Winner Game 2, 8:15 p.m.FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Men's Quarterfinals Game 5: #4 Missouri Western vs. #5 Arkansas-Fort Smith, 6 p.m. Game 6: #3 Rogers State vs. #6 Fort Hays State, 8:15 p.m.SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Men's Semifinals Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m. Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6, 8:15 p.m.SUNDAY, MARCH 8 Men's Championship Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m.

🏀 Tiger men earn No. 6 seed for MIAA Tournament

PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's track and field team sits in sixth place through two days of the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships after collecting 17 team points on Saturday . The Tigers saw one school record go down in addition to five national qualifying marks.

Bradley Nkosi ran a blazing 8.12 in the 60m hurdles, breaking an eight-year-old record by seven-hundredths of a second. The junior placed 10th in the prelims with a time that is also a national qualifying performance.

Drew Tolar and Dean Clark finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the long jump after both cleared the national qualifying threshold. Tolar posted a top mark of 23-8.75 on his third attempt, improving his PR by two inches and moving to fifth on the FHSU DII era performance chart.

Clark recorded a top leap of 23-7.75 on both his third and sixth tries, good for seventh on the DII era list. The pair combined for nine team points, five from Tolar and four from Clark.

Tolar also contributed three team points with his sixth-place finish in the heptathlon. The multi-athlete collected 4,855 points across the seven events, surpassing the national qualifying mark in a heptathlon for a third time this season.

Elsewhere on the track, Avrey Albright ran a national-qualifying time in the 400m prelims, crossing the line in 48.22 to finish in 15th place. That time ranks him fourth on the FHSU DII era performance chart.

Farrin Mangelson placed sixth in the 5,000m run, completing the race in 14:41.56 to chip in three team points. The sophomore trimmed nearly six seconds off his season-best time, moving to sixth on the FHSU DII list.

The distance medley relay team of Luke Wessel, Jayden Michaelis, Kamryn Golub and Taran Castro capped off the night with a seventh-place finish, combining for a time of 10:35.03 to add two team points to the total.

Fifteen Tigers will compete in 12 entries on the final day of the championships, slated to begin at noon Sunday (March 1).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772337960013.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Bradley Nkosi clears a hurdle during the 60m hurdles at the MIAA Championships on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Pittsburg, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Daniel LIttle)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Bradley Nkosi clears a hurdle during the 60m hurdles at the MIAA Championships on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Pittsburg, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Daniel LIttle)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsPITTSBURG, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's track and field team sits in sixth place through two days of the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships after collecting 17 team points on Saturday . The Tigers saw one school record go down in addition to five national qualifying marks.Bradley Nkosi ran a blazing 8.12 in the 60m hurdles, breaking an eight-year-old record by seven-hundredths of a second. The junior placed 10th in the prelims with a time that is also a national qualifying performance.Drew Tolar and Dean Clark finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the long jump after both cleared the national qualifying threshold. Tolar posted a top mark of 23-8.75 on his third attempt, improving his PR by two inches and moving to fifth on the FHSU DII era performance chart.Clark recorded a top leap of 23-7.75 on both his third and sixth tries, good for seventh on the DII era list. The pair combined for nine team points, five from Tolar and four from Clark.Tolar also contributed three team points with his sixth-place finish in the heptathlon. The multi-athlete collected 4,855 points across the seven events, surpassing the national qualifying mark in a heptathlon for a third time this season.Elsewhere on the track, Avrey Albright ran a national-qualifying time in the 400m prelims, crossing the line in 48.22 to finish in 15th place. That time ranks him fourth on the FHSU DII era performance chart.Farrin Mangelson placed sixth in the 5,000m run, completing the race in 14:41.56 to chip in three team points. The sophomore trimmed nearly six seconds off his season-best time, moving to sixth on the FHSU DII list.The distance medley relay team of Luke Wessel, Jayden Michaelis, Kamryn Golub and Taran Castro capped off the night with a seventh-place finish, combining for a time of 10:35.03 to add two team points to the total.Fifteen Tigers will compete in 12 entries on the final day of the championships, slated to begin at noon Sunday (March 1).

👟 School record set for Tiger men at MIAA Indoor Championships

PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's track and field team sits in fourth place at the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships after collecting 25.5 team points on Saturday. The Tigers saw one school record go down while posting three national qualifying marks and earning three trips to the All-MIAA podium.

The Tigers claimed two All-MIAA honors in field events after Katie Linenberger tied for first in the high jump with a top clearance of 5-9 on her first attempt. The freshman then went to a jump off against a Pittsburg State competitor, with the Hays native officially finishing second to add eight points to the team total.

Annabeth Baalmann had no problem with her first bar in the pole vault, entering the competition with a clearance at 13-4.75 to finish in a tie for third. Her fourth All-MIAA honor contributed 5.5 team points.

On the track, Emily Diercks McCullough shaved more than nine seconds off her school record in the 5,000m run, crossing the line in 16:40.59 to finish second and earn All-MIAA honors. That time currently ranks 20th in Division II. The senior led by six-tenths of a second heading into the final lap before a PSU runner made a pass over the final 300 meters. She is now a six-time All-MIAA honoree.

Reba Mader and Amelia Foster will both compete in the finals of the 600y run after Mader placed fifth in the prelims with a time of 1:23.57 and Foster placed seventh in 1:24.26. Mader improved her PR that ranks second on the FHSU DII era performance chart, while Foster is now third on the DII era list.

Hailey Brown completed the 200m prelims in 25.44, moving up one spot to ninth on the DII era performance list.

Donna Jackson ran a personal-best 8.91 in the 60m hurdles prelims, ranking eighth on the DII era chart and finishing ninth to miss finals by one-hundredth of a second.

The distance medley relay team of Taylor Hoskinson, Makenzie Premer, Janae Fugitt and Abbye Hudson combined to place fifth, earning four team points with a time of 12:21.38.

Elsewhere in the field events, Natalee North reached the finals in the weight throw after a top heave of 55-2, ranking second-best at FHSU during the DII era.

Fifteen Tigers will compete in 14 events on the final day of the championships, slated to begin at noon Sunday (March 1)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772334886034.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Katie Linenberger clears the bar at the MIAA Championships on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Pittsburg, Kan, (FHSU Athletics photo/Derek LIvingston, PSU Athletics)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Katie Linenberger clears the bar at the MIAA Championships on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Pittsburg, Kan, (FHSU Athletics photo/Derek LIvingston, PSU Athletics)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsPITTSBURG, Kan. - The Fort Hays State women's track and field team sits in fourth place at the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championships after collecting 25.5 team points on Saturday. The Tigers saw one school record go down while posting three national qualifying marks and earning three trips to the All-MIAA podium.The Tigers claimed two All-MIAA honors in field events after Katie Linenberger tied for first in the high jump with a top clearance of 5-9 on her first attempt. The freshman then went to a jump off against a Pittsburg State competitor, with the Hays native officially finishing second to add eight points to the team total.Annabeth Baalmann had no problem with her first bar in the pole vault, entering the competition with a clearance at 13-4.75 to finish in a tie for third. Her fourth All-MIAA honor contributed 5.5 team points.On the track, Emily Diercks McCullough shaved more than nine seconds off her school record in the 5,000m run, crossing the line in 16:40.59 to finish second and earn All-MIAA honors. That time currently ranks 20th in Division II. The senior led by six-tenths of a second heading into the final lap before a PSU runner made a pass over the final 300 meters. She is now a six-time All-MIAA honoree.Reba Mader and Amelia Foster will both compete in the finals of the 600y run after Mader placed fifth in the prelims with a time of 1:23.57 and Foster placed seventh in 1:24.26. Mader improved her PR that ranks second on the FHSU DII era performance chart, while Foster is now third on the DII era list.Hailey Brown completed the 200m prelims in 25.44, moving up one spot to ninth on the DII era performance list.Donna Jackson ran a personal-best 8.91 in the 60m hurdles prelims, ranking eighth on the DII era chart and finishing ninth to miss finals by one-hundredth of a second.The distance medley relay team of Taylor Hoskinson, Makenzie Premer, Janae Fugitt and Abbye Hudson combined to place fifth, earning four team points with a time of 12:21.38.Elsewhere in the field events, Natalee North reached the finals in the weight throw after a top heave of 55-2, ranking second-best at FHSU during the DII era.Fifteen Tigers will compete in 14 events on the final day of the championships, slated to begin at noon Sunday (March 1)

👟 Three All-MIAA honors for FHSU women Saturday

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>, who assembled theocratic power in Iran over the decades as its supreme leader and sought to turn it into a regional powerhouse, bringing it into confrontation with Israel and the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-government-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-6acdb64d36fcbe05b3ee725d8a585d96">over its nuclear program</a>&nbsp;while crushing democracy protesters at home, has died. He was 86.

(Video below of Iran President Ali Khamenei at the UN Sept. 22, 1987-CSPAN)

Iranian state media reported the death early Sunday, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">a major attack</a>&nbsp;launched by Israel and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said hours earlier that Khamenei had been killed in the joint operation.

Khamenei dramatically remolded the Islamic Republic since he took the reins after the death of Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3042785d564d4acaa2e4a18bfc206d25">Ruhollah Khomeini</a>&nbsp;in 1989. Khomeini was the fiery, charismatic ideologue who led the overthrow of the shah and installed rule by Shiite Muslim clerics tasked with spreading religious purity. It fell to Khamenei, a stodgier figure with weaker religious credentials and a leaden demeanor, to turn that revolutionary vision into a state establishment.

He ended up ruling far longer than Khomeini. He greatly expanded the Shiite clerical class and built the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1a91d52c042141e4b7c8e93e6a20040e">paramilitary Revolutionary Guard</a>&nbsp;into the most important body underpinning his rule. The Guard became a military and business behemoth, the country’s most elite force and head of its ballistic missile arsenal, with hands across Iran’s economic sectors.

But the strains became harder to contain. Political repression and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/soaring-cost-of-food-and-essentials-squeeze-iranian-families-amid-tensions-with-us-4fca82ab094b4cedb3e8ad630b704c40">the faltering economy</a>&nbsp;fueled successively bigger waves of mass protests. Anger over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-mahsa-amini-crackdown-f26a5f687d87785841241d266ca3e872">2022 death of Mahsa Amini</a>, detained for not wearing her mandatory headscarf properly, escalated into demonstrations against social restrictions. In early January, hundreds of thousands marched in cities across the country, many chanting, “Death to Khamenei.”

Khamenei responded with the deadliest crackdown seen in nearly 50 years of clerical rule as security forces opened fire on crowds, killing thousands.

At the same time, the Mideast wars sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-deaths-numbers-3e74e053814fd798fc1321c44f3e3c34">Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel</a>&nbsp;set in motion the collapse of the regionwide “Axis of Resistance” built by Khamenei. Israel and Iran attacked each other directly for the first time in 2024. I&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c">srael struck Iran again in June 2025</a>, as it and the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea-sanctions-728b811da537abe942682e13a82ff8bd">targeted the country’s nuclear program</a>&nbsp;and killed top military officers and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated by sending missiles and drones at Israel.

Khamenei’s death raises questions about the future of the Islamic Republic.

The 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of mostly hard-line clerics, will choose Khamenei’s replacement. But no clear successor is in place.

As he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">launched the bombing</a>&nbsp;in February, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iranians to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-trump-address-f662a4f3378535d81197be699fb35a3e">“take over your government. It will be yours to take.</a>&nbsp;This will be probably your only chance for generations.” What happens next may depend greatly on bodies like the Revolutionary Guard, which has repeatedly shown its willingness to use overwhelming force to keep power even as many of Iran’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">90 million people grow disenchanted</a>.

“Culturally, the government is bankrupt,” said Mehdi Khalaji, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in 2017. “The ideology of the Islamic Republic did not work at all.”

From a questioned start to a hard-line grip on Iran

Ali Khamenei was born into a religious family in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, a hotbed of revolutionary fervor during the struggle against the Western-allied shah,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/343d87fdb960424e9ec0f4a90dc64fcb">Mohammad Reza Pahlavi</a>.

Like many other Iranian leaders, he studied under Khomeini at the seminary in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, in the early 1960s, before the Khomeini's exile to Iraq and France.

Khamenei joined the anti-shah movement, facing time in both prison and in hiding. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3042785d564d4acaa2e4a18bfc206d25">Khomeini returned to Iran in triumph in February 1979</a>&nbsp;and proclaimed the Islamic Republic, Khamenei was appointed to the secretive Revolutionary Council. In 1981, he was elected Iran's third president; that same year, a bombing by opponents left him with one hand paralyzed.

With his thick, heavy-framed glasses, Khamenei lacked the steely gaze and fiery aura of Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Revolution. He fell far short of Khomeini’s religious scholarship, holding the relatively low rank of “hojatolislam” in the Shiite clerical hierarchy.

After being named supreme leader after Khomeini's death, he bounded overnight to the level of grand ayatollah, at the top of the hierarchy, and for years had to deal with skepticism over his credentials.

Khamenei acknowledged the doubts with humility. “I am an individual with many faults and shortcomings and truly a minor seminarian,” he said in his first speech in his new post.

Despite his lack of charisma, Khamenei stabilized Iran after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-5da81b6ba552db5f9ad6eb9bf4cc8525">the 1980s war with Iraq</a>&nbsp;and governed for over three decades — far longer than Khomeini.

Hard-liners considered him second only to God in his authority. Khamenei created an ever-growing bureaucracy of Shiite clerics and governmental agencies that blurred responsibilities and left him as the ultimate arbiter. As Iran questioned whether to keep the Revolutionary Guard after the war with Iraq, Khamenei came to its rescue and allowed the paramilitary force to gain a powerful grip on Iran’s economy. He also used a system of appointees to undercut the civilian government elected by its people.

The rise and fall of Iran’s proxy forces

Under Khamenei's reign, Iran shifted fully from conventional warfare to support for proxies, building the so-called Axis of Resistance to advance its interests in the region. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-hezbollahisrael-lebanon-b4daa0a6084df27099cef45b59120034">Lebanese militant group Hezbollah</a>, established with Iran's help in the 1980s, drove Israel from southern Lebanon in 2000 and battled it to a stalemate in the monthlong 2006 war.

Through Hezbollah, Iran perfected a strategy of making local militant groups its allies to project power — often through violence. Iran followed that model when backing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>, who in 2014 seized the country's capital, Sanaa, and held on for over a decade in a stalemated war in the Arab world's poorest nation — despite facing a Saudi-led coalition and later,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-israel-f820b848eb76fa3ecc8056ca332cabae">U.S.-led airstrikes over their attacks in the Red Sea</a>&nbsp;corridor.

Elsewhere, suspected Iranian-backed militants bombed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-bombing-jewish-community-center-921ee279365a80a729f819117ca905ce">Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994</a>, killing 85 people. Iran also was allegedly linked to the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 members of the U.S. military. Iran denied responsibility for both attacks.

Iran emerged as a prime beneficiary of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-invasion-war-timeline-saddam-hussein-50828061c98e410063753045179bdcfb">U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003</a>, which replaced its main regional threat, Saddam Hussein, with a friendly Shiite-led government. Iranian-backed militias waged a brutal insurgency against U.S. forces and embedded themselves within the country's political landscape.

Khamenei used the Guard's expeditionary Quds Force most successfully after the Sunni extremists of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">Islamic State group seized large swaths</a>&nbsp;of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Guard troops advised Shiite militias, the best fighters in Iraq, and gave crucial support to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31">President Assad in Syria’s civil war</a>.

That secured Assad for a decade, until the chaos sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">Hamas' attack on Israel</a>&nbsp;in 2023. Israel devastated the Gaza Strip and launched airstrikes and ground operations pulverizing Hamas, which Iran had armed and funded for years. Israel is widely believed to have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hamas-israel-30968a7acb31cd8b259de9650014b779">Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh</a>&nbsp;in an operation in Tehran in 2024, further embarrassing the Islamic Republic.

Hezbollah found its ranks targeted by exploding pagers and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hezbollah-lebanon-israel-nasrallah-8da2e424e85152f0f41aa142391075ed">Israeli campaign killed its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah</a>. Then, in December 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-ousted-rebel-offensive-timeline-8c54a8b97803d4b10cde53b97227128e">rebel fighters toppled Assad</a>&nbsp;in an offensive in Syria, ending a half-century of his family's autocratic rule.

Nuclear program advances to near-weapons-grade levels

The supreme leader remained deeply suspicious of the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-presidential-election-us-israel-hamas-war-analysis-b876feed55807a36aef03ea44fd1c10d">referring to it as the “Great Satan”</a>&nbsp;even after President Barack Obama came into office in 2009, offering dialogue and a fresh start.

He shrugged off U.N. sanctions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-nuclear-watchdog-iaea-iran-4706276a489b1a4cce2ca6260d0b3182">pushed ahead with Iran’s nuclear program</a>, which the U.S. and its allies say hid a secret project to build a nuclear weapon up until 2003. Khamenei issued a verbal fatwa, or religious ruling, that nuclear weapons are un-Islamic, but vowed the country would never give up its right to develop what he called a peaceful nuclear energy program.

Under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Tehran agreed to drastically reduce its stockpile and enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. But only three years later, Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew Washington from the accord, arguing it didn't go far enough.

Iran has since broken all the limits of the nuclear deal and accumulated a stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels, now large enough to pursue several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so. Diplomatic efforts to restore the deal under President Joe Biden stalled.

In a March 2011 speech, Khamenei used toppled Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who had given up his own nuclear program years earlier, as an example of why Iran’s nuclear program remained so important&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-middle-east-islamic-state-group-coronavirus-pandemic-tunisia-26e27da4a70743eafb25a5bcf5d61ba1">in the wake of the Arab Spring</a>&nbsp;upheavals in the Middle East.

“Just the way you give a lollipop to a child, Westerners gave ‘incentives’ to them and they gave up everything,” Khamenei said.

Protests and demands for change intensified

Khamenei's first major challenge came in 1997, when pro-reform politicians gained control of parliament and cleric&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ea865319f1ff4afebe4ce358d89ab217">Mohammad Khatami was elected president</a>&nbsp;by a landslide, riding a large youth vote. The reformists demanded a loosening of the strict social rules imposed by the revolution and called for improved ties with the outside world, including the U.S.

Khamenei-backed hard-liners moved to contain the liberal movement, fearing it would eventually call for an end to clerical rule. Khamenei stopped parliament from loosening restrictions on the media in an unusually overt intervention. Clerical bodies blocked other key liberal legislation and banned many reformist lawmakers from running for reelection, ensuring a return of hard-liner control in the 2004 elections.

That set the stage for the election of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-election-raisi-ahmadinejad-557dd8e41a9abf78e0ad02e0e21d4e00">hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a>&nbsp;in 2005 and his disputed reelection in 2009 amid charges of vote-rigging. Mass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab649e2190834e19b1f006f76493645f">protests broke out, posing the greatest threat</a>&nbsp;in decades to Iran’s clerical leadership. The Revolutionary Guard, Basij militia and police unleashed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b94b46844e9646c08d8cd0764d8cd840">crackdown in which dozens were killed</a>&nbsp;and hundreds arrested.

The turmoil, and reports of protesters being tortured to death or raped in prison, dealt a severe blow to Khamenei’s prestige.

As sanctions bit further, popular unrest rose. Economic protests broke out in 2017 and demonstrations escalated in 2019 over a rise in government-set gasoline prices. A bloody crackdown that followed killed over 300 people, according to activists.

Although Khamenei struggled to preserve the ideological purity of the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s government has largely failed to rid the country of Western influence. Satellite dishes, banned in theory, crowd Tehran’s rooftops. Banned social media sites are widely used, even by some prominent politicians, despite being blocked.

Protests erupted again in 2022 over the death of Amini, a young woman detained for not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities. More than 500 people were killed and tens of thousands arrested when security forces crushed the demonstrations again.

In late December 2025, new economic protests erupted and would grow into what appeared to be the biggest protest movement ever. Hundreds of thousands across the country took to the streets, overtly demanding an end to the Islamic Republic. Some even chanted for the return of the shah's son, living in exile since 1979. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/iran-security-forces-threaten-staff-at-hospitals-packed-with-protesters-aff95a0ba6a34f9496eddc0b5e44abb1">ferocity of the crackdown</a>&nbsp;stunned Iranians.

With U.S. President Donald Trump, Khamenei faced a more aggressive and unpredictable American drive to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Trump unilaterally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal</a>&nbsp;with world powers in 2018, bringing a return of sanctions.

The two sides came close to war with the United States after an American drone strike killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-tehran-international-news-iraq-ali-khamenei-5597ff0f046a67805cc233d5933a53ed">Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani</a>&nbsp;in January 2020. At Soleimani’s mass funeral that drew millions to the streets,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ali-khamenei-ap-top-news-iraq-iran-united-arab-emirates-14792cc1d7f73ffec8f8c425b73b44fb">Khamenei wept over the casket</a>&nbsp;of the man he once called a “living martyr.” Two days later, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner</a>&nbsp;after its takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard.

Iran ramped uranium enrichment back up, reaching 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Still, when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-deal-khamenei-us-tensions-bc11763f45041ac84171ebc3866f1273">Khamenei resumed talks,</a>&nbsp;underscoring the deep toll the sanctions had taken.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-rial-currency-us-7077a417560efcb6d9cbf7102cbc8b57">Iran’s long-ailing economy</a>&nbsp;entered a freefall worsening domestic unrest.

But a deal remained elusive. In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, inflicting heavy damage, though how far back it set the program remained unclear.

During the crackdown on nationwide protests in January, Trump renewed threats to strike, demanding Iran make major concessions at the negotiating table. Then came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-embassy-staff-436162f886bdaed30c8dd0cdbe1b5aea">three rounds of indirect talks</a>. Then came Saturday.

Former Associated Press writer Brian Murphy contributed.

Iranian state media confirms Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post Sports

PARK CITY - Hays High boys wrestling left Park City with five medals from the 5A State Wrestling Championship.

Seniors Jaxson Chartier and Johnny Rigler were the Indians' top finishers in third place.&nbsp;

Rigler won his first two matches at 190 pounds to reach the semifinals where he lost a 14-1 major decision. He then picked up his second victory by fall in the consolation semifinals to make the third place match. Rigler ended his prep career with a record of 44-6 following a win by sudden victory.

Chartier also made the semifinals before losing his first match of the championships at 215. He opened the tournament with a fall then a 12-6 decision. His semifinal loss came in a 4-0 decision. Chartier bounced back with a pair of wins. The first by decision score of 7-2 and then a 59 second fall to claim bronze and finish he career at 41-14.

Archer Amrein concluded his first season in a Hays High singlet with a fourth place finish. He won his first round match by fall but fell in the quarterfinals by the same result. Amrein then won three straight matches, two by fall and onw with a 1-0 decision. Those consecutive victories put Amrein into the third place match where he lost by fall. The sophomore finished the season with a 49-8 record.

Tanner Geist placed fifth at 285. The junior opened the two-day tournament with a third period fall and then a three overtime 3-3 victory. Geist the lost back-to-back matches in the semifinals and and consolation semifinals. He won the final match of his season with another tiebreaker victory. Geist finished the season at 43-6.

Gaven Deneault earned a sixth place medal with a 3-3 record. He opened the state tournament with a 17-2 tech fall victory. A loss in the second round put Deneault on the backside of the bracket where he won his next two matches by a 15-0 tech fall and pin in 1:24. Denault came up just short in the consolation semifinals by a score of 7-6 and in the fifth place match 11-6. He finishes the season at 35-20.

Ethan Branaman and Grady Lind each went 1-2 at the state tournament. Branaman ends the season with a 19-27. Lind's record finished at 34-21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771904964622.jpeg" alt="KSHSAA image" />
 <figcaption>KSHSAA image</figcaption>
 </figure>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post SportsPARK CITY - Hays High boys wrestling left Park City with five medals from the 5A State Wrestling Championship.Seniors Jaxson Chartier and Johnny Rigler were the Indians' top finishers in third place.&nbsp;Rigler won his first two matches at 190 pounds to reach the semifinals where he lost a 14-1 major decision. He then picked up his second victory by fall in the consolation semifinals to make the third place match. Rigler ended his prep career with a record of 44-6 following a win by sudden victory.Chartier also made the semifinals before losing his first match of the championships at 215. He opened the tournament with a fall then a 12-6 decision. His semifinal loss came in a 4-0 decision. Chartier bounced back with a pair of wins. The first by decision score of 7-2 and then a 59 second fall to claim bronze and finish he career at 41-14.Archer Amrein concluded his first season in a Hays High singlet with a fourth place finish. He won his first round match by fall but fell in the quarterfinals by the same result. Amrein then won three straight matches, two by fall and onw with a 1-0 decision. Those consecutive victories put Amrein into the third place match where he lost by fall. The sophomore finished the season with a 49-8 record.Tanner Geist placed fifth at 285. The junior opened the two-day tournament with a third period fall and then a three overtime 3-3 victory. Geist the lost back-to-back matches in the semifinals and and consolation semifinals. He won the final match of his season with another tiebreaker victory. Geist finished the season at 43-6.Gaven Deneault earned a sixth place medal with a 3-3 record. He opened the state tournament with a 17-2 tech fall victory. A loss in the second round put Deneault on the backside of the bracket where he won his next two matches by a 15-0 tech fall and pin in 1:24. Denault came up just short in the consolation semifinals by a score of 7-6 and in the fifth place match 11-6. He finishes the season at 35-20.Ethan Branaman and Grady Lind each went 1-2 at the state tournament. Branaman ends the season with a 19-27. Lind's record finished at 34-21.

🤼‍♂️ Hays boys bring home five medals at state

PARK CITY - Four Hays High Lady Indians returned to Hays with 5A State Wrestling medals from the two-day state tournament in Park City.

Audrey Yarmer ended her freshman season with a third place finish a 33-11 record. Yarmer received a bye in the first round and then won a 13-2 major decision in the quarterfinals at 100 pounds. Yarmer came up just short in a sudden victory loss in the championship semifinals. She bounced back nicely on the backside of the bracket with a pair of wins by pin. The third place match ended in just 51 seconds.

Elanor Stoffel placed third at 190 pounds with a 4-1 record. Each of her four victories came via pin. The first two wins placed Stoffel in the championship semifinals where she lost for the only time in the two day. Stoffel bounced back from the loss by pin with two more pins of her own. The third place match was the second time that she beat Jaycee Crummet of Kansas City-Turner. The first time the match lasted 4:45. The second time she earned the win in just 52 seconds. Stoffel ended the year at 23-6.

Reese Vehige ended her prep career with a fifth place medal at 130. Vehige made it to the championship semifinals with a first period fall in the opening round and then 20-6 major decision in the quarterfinals. She lost for the first time in the tournament during her semifinal match, a third period fall. Vehige won a 6-4 decision before falling in the third place match by fall for a 29-17 season record.

Timber Lovewell opened the 145 pound weight class by recording a victory via pin. She did not advance past the quarterfinals after suffering a second period fall. Lovewell won her next two matches to guarantee herself a state medal. Both victories came by fall in the second period. Lovewell lost her consolation semifinal match by a 1-0 decision and then claimed fifth with a 11-1 decision. She finished the season with a 31-7 record.

Hays ended the tournament with 16 pins, fourth most.

Hays took 12 wrestler to the state tournament. Other wrestlers included: 110 - Chloe Robben (11-18) - 0-2 record 115 - Chassidy Carlisle (14-19) - 1-2 record 120 - Kenlee Vehige (25-14) - 2-2 record 125 - Addison Nueberger (22-22) - 1-2 record. 140 - Crystal Walters (18-20) - 1-2 record 155 - Lexi Barnett (26-7) - 1-2 record 170 - Audrey Gutierrez (20-7) - 1-2 record 235 - Emily Casas (9-17) - 1-2 record

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771904964622.jpeg" alt="KSHSAA image" />
 <figcaption>KSHSAA image</figcaption>
 </figure>By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER Hays Post SportsPARK CITY - Four Hays High Lady Indians returned to Hays with 5A State Wrestling medals from the two-day state tournament in Park City.Audrey Yarmer ended her freshman season with a third place finish a 33-11 record. Yarmer received a bye in the first round and then won a 13-2 major decision in the quarterfinals at 100 pounds. Yarmer came up just short in a sudden victory loss in the championship semifinals. She bounced back nicely on the backside of the bracket with a pair of wins by pin. The third place match ended in just 51 seconds.Elanor Stoffel placed third at 190 pounds with a 4-1 record. Each of her four victories came via pin. The first two wins placed Stoffel in the championship semifinals where she lost for the only time in the two day. Stoffel bounced back from the loss by pin with two more pins of her own. The third place match was the second time that she beat Jaycee Crummet of Kansas City-Turner. The first time the match lasted 4:45. The second time she earned the win in just 52 seconds. Stoffel ended the year at 23-6.Reese Vehige ended her prep career with a fifth place medal at 130. Vehige made it to the championship semifinals with a first period fall in the opening round and then 20-6 major decision in the quarterfinals. She lost for the first time in the tournament during her semifinal match, a third period fall. Vehige won a 6-4 decision before falling in the third place match by fall for a 29-17 season record.Timber Lovewell opened the 145 pound weight class by recording a victory via pin. She did not advance past the quarterfinals after suffering a second period fall. Lovewell won her next two matches to guarantee herself a state medal. Both victories came by fall in the second period. Lovewell lost her consolation semifinal match by a 1-0 decision and then claimed fifth with a 11-1 decision. She finished the season with a 31-7 record.Hays ended the tournament with 16 pins, fourth most.Hays took 12 wrestler to the state tournament. Other wrestlers included: 110 - Chloe Robben (11-18) - 0-2 record 115 - Chassidy Carlisle (14-19) - 1-2 record 120 - Kenlee Vehige (25-14) - 2-2 record 125 - Addison Nueberger (22-22) - 1-2 record. 140 - Crystal Walters (18-20) - 1-2 record 155 - Lexi Barnett (26-7) - 1-2 record 170 - Audrey Gutierrez (20-7) - 1-2 record 235 - Emily Casas (9-17) - 1-2 record

🤼‍♀️ Hays girls bring four medals home from state

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

Aerial footage posted to social media by U.S. Central Command showed U.S. munitions striking what appeared to be a variety of targets from drones to buildings.

The video montage was released Saturday afternoon. It showed black and white aerial footage of what appeared to be a drone on a runway, a radar tower, a missile battery, and a compound of buildings. They were all being struck by what seemed to be bombs or missiles and followed by large explosions.

The footage features the words “unclassified” at the top of the screen and a targeting reticle in the middle.

U.S. Central Command did not provide more details about the video.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772310653586.png" alt="Image from U.S. Central Command video" />
 <figcaption>Image from U.S. Central Command video</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.Aerial footage posted to social media by U.S. Central Command showed U.S. munitions striking what appeared to be a variety of targets from drones to buildings.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow. <a href="https://t.co/B0k5gV4YnU">pic.twitter.com/B0k5gV4YnU</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2027814907119321481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The video montage was released Saturday afternoon. It showed black and white aerial footage of what appeared to be a drone on a runway, a radar tower, a missile battery, and a compound of buildings. They were all being struck by what seemed to be bombs or missiles and followed by large explosions.The footage features the words “unclassified” at the top of the screen and a targeting reticle in the middle.U.S. Central Command did not provide more details about the video.

🎥US posts aerial footage showing strikes on variety of targets

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, saying his passing is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

The death occurred after a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites.

Trump in his post called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history.”

Trump said that Khamenei “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”

Dubai,UAE(AP)-Israeli officials told The Associated Press Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>&nbsp;is dead. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. or Iran on his status.

The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw its future into doubt.

In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.

Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750936010746.png" alt="File photo Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to a group of people and officials in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 21, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to a group of people and officials in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 21, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, saying his passing is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei...&quot; - President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/oXZTFGg5pS">pic.twitter.com/oXZTFGg5pS</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027863139136479347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://t.co/P7uXSEG5dU">pic.twitter.com/P7uXSEG5dU</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2027860992944726087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The death occurred after a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites.Trump in his post called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history.”Trump said that Khamenei “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”Dubai,UAE(AP)-Israeli officials told The Associated Press Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>&nbsp;is dead. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. or Iran on his status.The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw its future into doubt.In a nationally televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.Shortly after the address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.

Trump says Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead

TOPEKA - The Kansas State High School Activities Association released Sub-State brackets for Classes 4A, 5A and 6A Saturday morning. The Hays High girls are the No. 2 seed in 5A West while the boys are the five-seed. Both will play first-round games at home next week.

Schools were placed into two groups of 18 schools. The top 16 seeds were placed into four sub-states of four teams. All games will be played at the higher seeded team. First round boys games in Class 5A will be played at the higher seeded team on Tuesday, March 3 and first round girls games on Wednesday, March 4. Boys finals will be played at the higher seeded team on Friday, March 6 with the girls finals on Saturday, March 7.

2026 Boys Class 5A Sub-State West Sub-State&nbsp;Sub-State 4 Tues. 3/3 @ Seaman HS [4] Topeka Seaman (19-4) vs.&nbsp;[13] Valley Center(10-13), 6:00 p.m. Tues. 3/3 @ Hays HS [5] Hays (18-4) vs. [12] Goddard Eisenhower (10-12), 6:00 p.m. Fri. 3/6 @ TBD Sub-State championship game, 6:00 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

2026 Girls Class 5A&nbsp;Sub-State West Sub-State Sub-State 2 Wed. 3/4 @ Hays HS [2] Hays (21-1) vs.&nbsp;[15] Topeka West (7-16), 6:00 p.m. Wed. 3/4 @ Andover Central HS [7] Andover Central (13-10) vs.&nbsp;[10] Hutchinson (11-11), 6:00 p.m. Sat. 3/7 @ TBD Sub-State championship game, 5:00 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771436634404.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsTOPEKA - The Kansas State High School Activities Association released Sub-State brackets for Classes 4A, 5A and 6A Saturday morning. The Hays High girls are the No. 2 seed in 5A West while the boys are the five-seed. Both will play first-round games at home next week.Schools were placed into two groups of 18 schools. The top 16 seeds were placed into four sub-states of four teams. All games will be played at the higher seeded team. First round boys games in Class 5A will be played at the higher seeded team on Tuesday, March 3 and first round girls games on Wednesday, March 4. Boys finals will be played at the higher seeded team on Friday, March 6 with the girls finals on Saturday, March 7.2026 Boys Class 5A Sub-State West Sub-State&nbsp;Sub-State 4 Tues. 3/3 @ Seaman HS [4] Topeka Seaman (19-4) vs.&nbsp;[13] Valley Center(10-13), 6:00 p.m. Tues. 3/3 @ Hays HS [5] Hays (18-4) vs. [12] Goddard Eisenhower (10-12), 6:00 p.m. Fri. 3/6 @ TBD Sub-State championship game, 6:00 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;2026 Girls Class 5A&nbsp;Sub-State West Sub-State Sub-State 2 Wed. 3/4 @ Hays HS [2] Hays (21-1) vs.&nbsp;[15] Topeka West (7-16), 6:00 p.m. Wed. 3/4 @ Andover Central HS [7] Andover Central (13-10) vs.&nbsp;[10] Hutchinson (11-11), 6:00 p.m. Sat. 3/7 @ TBD Sub-State championship game, 5:00 p.m.

🏀 Hays High boys and girls get Sub-State home games

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.

From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.

They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: <a href="https://t.co/LimJmpLkgZ">pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027654336138924410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s Trump’s address in full:A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

Read President Trump’s statement on Iran in full

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;urged the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

Some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">the first strikes</a>&nbsp;on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. Smoke rose from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive “as far as I know,” and called the attack “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.”

In a video announcing the “major combat operations," Trump told Iranians that “when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that goal, called for “the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."

The strikes during the holy fasting month of Ramadan opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, and marked the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program. Weeks earlier, a U.S. military operation captured Venezuela’s president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">Nicolás Maduro</a>.

The targets included members of Iran's leadership, according to a U.S. official and another person briefed on the attacks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. There was no immediate information on whether top officials were killed.

Even if Iran's top leaders are killed, regime change is not guaranteed. Neither the U.S. nor Israel have articulated a vision for what new leadership might look like.

Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance of the attack.

The U.N. Security Council said it would meet Saturday afternoon. In a letter to the council, Araghchi said “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives.”

Iran also requested an urgent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors about “these threats to safeguarded nuclear facilities,” according to a letter posted by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said on X it was closely monitoring developments and had seen “no evidence of radiological impact.”

Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program at a moment when the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-economy-prices-aa1c14906b39f79b88cdf47616a4a755">struggling at home</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-protests-students-nuclear-khamenei-096e7ede9bc9c1e7b889878af9d6e750">growing dissent</a>&nbsp;following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">nationwide protests</a>.

The immediate trigger for Saturday’s strikes appeared to be the unsuccessful latest round of nuclear talks. But they also reflected dramatic changes that have left Iran’s leadership in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.

Israeli and American strikes last June greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. A regionwide war, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has left Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East greatly weakened. U.S. sanctions and global isolation, meanwhile, have decimated Iran’s economy.

Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Israel’s military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted and no serious injuries reported. Barrages continued after sundown.

In southern Iran, at least 57 people were reported killed after a girls’ school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The White House and Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flights across the Middle East were disrupted and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.

Attack was coordinated between Israel and US

The U.S. military has for weeks amassed forces in the region, even as U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks in Switzerland and Oman.

“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, key mediator, said on X. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this," he said.

Israel said the operation has been planned for months with the U.S. “Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at significant personal risk and in coordination with U.S. strikes,” Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.

Trump, in seeking to justify the military action, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, despite asserting last year the program had been “obliterated” by an earlier round of strikes. He acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.”

It was a notable call from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an “America First” platform and vowed to keep out of “forever wars.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772280778680.png" alt="People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on&nbsp;<a href="https://israel's%20defense%20minister%20says%20his%20country%20has%20attacked%20iran%20and%20declares%20a%20state%20of%20emergency/">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;urged the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump on the United States military combat operations in Iran: <a href="https://t.co/LimJmpLkgZ">pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027654336138924410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar a Lago alongside members of his national security team. The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone. Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional…&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2027777973319766251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026">the first strikes</a>&nbsp;on Iran appeared to hit near the offices of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. Smoke rose from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive “as far as I know,” and called the attack “unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.”In a video announcing the “major combat operations," Trump told Iranians that “when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that goal, called for “the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."The strikes during the holy fasting month of Ramadan opened a stunning new chapter in U.S. intervention in Iran, and marked the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program. Weeks earlier, a U.S. military operation captured Venezuela’s president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">Nicolás Maduro</a>.The targets included members of Iran's leadership, according to a U.S. official and another person briefed on the attacks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. There was no immediate information on whether top officials were killed.Even if Iran's top leaders are killed, regime change is not guaranteed. Neither the U.S. nor Israel have articulated a vision for what new leadership might look like.Democrats decried that Trump had taken action without congressional authorization. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance of the attack.The U.N. Security Council said it would meet Saturday afternoon. In a letter to the council, Araghchi said “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives.”Iran also requested an urgent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors about “these threats to safeguarded nuclear facilities,” according to a letter posted by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said on X it was closely monitoring developments and had seen “no evidence of radiological impact.”<h2>Rising tensions</h2>Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program at a moment when the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-economy-prices-aa1c14906b39f79b88cdf47616a4a755">struggling at home</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-protests-students-nuclear-khamenei-096e7ede9bc9c1e7b889878af9d6e750">growing dissent</a>&nbsp;following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-memorials-chehelom-71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb">nationwide protests</a>.The immediate trigger for Saturday’s strikes appeared to be the unsuccessful latest round of nuclear talks. But they also reflected dramatic changes that have left Iran’s leadership in its weakest position since the Islamic Revolution nearly half a century ago.Israeli and American strikes last June greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. A regionwide war, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has left Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East greatly weakened. U.S. sanctions and global isolation, meanwhile, have decimated Iran’s economy.Iran responded to the latest strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and strikes targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.Israel’s military said Iran fired “dozens” of missiles at Israel, with many intercepted and no serious injuries reported. Barrages continued after sundown.In southern Iran, at least 57 people were reported killed after a girls’ school was struck, and dozens more were wounded, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The White House and Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Flights across the Middle East were disrupted and air defense fire thudded over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' commercial capital. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the UAE capital killed one person, state media said.<h2>Attack was coordinated between Israel and US</h2>The U.S. military has for weeks amassed forces in the region, even as U.S. and Iranian envoys held talks in Switzerland and Oman.“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, key mediator, said on X. “Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this," he said.Israel said the operation has been planned for months with the U.S. “Air Force pilots are striking hundreds of targets across Iran, at significant personal risk and in coordination with U.S. strikes,” Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.Trump, in seeking to justify the military action, claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, despite asserting last year the program had been “obliterated” by an earlier round of strikes. He acknowledged Saturday that there could be American casualties, saying “that often happens in war.”It was a notable call from a U.S. leader who swept into office on an “America First” platform and vowed to keep out of “forever wars.”Trump’s statement listed grievances beyond the nuclear program, stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic, following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from an American ally into a fierce foe.The U.S. president said he was aiming to “annihilate” the Iranian navy and destroy regional proxies supported by Tehran. He called on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, pledging members would be given immunity, while warning they would face “certain death” if they didn’t.Trump had threatened military action, but held off, following Iran's recent crackdown on protests spurred by economic grievances that evolved into a nationwide, anti-government push against the ruling clerics.The Human Rights Activists News Agency says it confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-campus-protests-crackdown-54149e9d49fe022d840f71eb5f5be106">more than 7,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;in the crackdown and is investigating thousands more. The government has acknowledged more than 3,000 killed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-enrichment-c0079c38746a896e2967a9a9cc2799d5">Iran has said it hasn’t enriched uranium since June</a>, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-nuclear-enrichment-satellite-d5c78b5fe974ec2fc338b8ad6d6a7d68">shown new activity at two of those sites</a>, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.Iran said it hoped to avert a war, but maintained its right to enrich uranium. Its leaders did not want to discuss other issues, such as its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.<h2>Regional effects</h2>The strikes could rattle global markets, particularly if Iran is able to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic. A third of total worldwide oil exports transported by sea passed through the strait in 2025.Saudi Arabia said in an announcement on state-run media that Iran had targeted its capital and its eastern region in an attack that was repelled.Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said a drone targeted the main international airport, injuring several employees. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar. Jordan said it “dealt with” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel said staffers were told to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice.”___Toropin and Madhani reported from Washington and Boak from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report.