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Satellite images reveal damage to several Iranian military bases

Satellite images reveal damage to several Iranian military bases
By Ted Regencia, Virginia Pietromarchi, Alma Milisic, Caolán Magee and Fiona Kelliher
Published On 8 Mar 2026

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8 Mar 2026 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

Thanks for joining us

You can read all about Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, here.

For more on the US and Israel’s war on Iran, you can find the latest updates here.

8 Mar 2026 - 23:55
 (23:55 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here are the day’s main developments:

  • Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts to succeed his late father as supreme leader after the father’s killing last week in the US-Israel war.
  • Top Iranian officials, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Assembly of Experts have declared their allegiance to Khamenei and called on Iranians to follow suit.
  • The US and Israel continued to strike Iran, hitting oil storage depots and refining facilities in Tehran for the first time.
  • Israel claimed credit for killing five people, including three alleged commanders of the IRGC’s Quds Force, in an attack on a Beirut hotel.
  • A seventh US soldier died from wounds sustained during an Iranian attack on a US base, this time in Saudi Arabia, CENTCOM said.
  • An Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a water desalination plant in Bahrain.
  • An Israeli military spokesman has warned that the current US-Israel operations could continue “for a long time”.
8 Mar 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

US cardinal slams ‘sickening’ White House war montage video

An American cardinal close to Pope Leo XIV has described a White House video montage mixing Hollywood film clips with real footage of strikes on Iran as “horrifying” and “sickening”.

“A real war with real death and real suffering being treated like it’s a video game – it’s sickening,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said in a statement on the diocese’s website.

In the 42-second video posted on X on Friday with the caption, “Justice the American way”, Hollywood heroics are interspersed with footage released by the US military showing real strikes on various targets in Iran.

It was a “horrifying portrayal”, as “more than 1,000 Iranian men, women and children” have been killed by US and Israeli missiles, he wrote.

“Our government is treating the suffering of the Iranian people as a backdrop for our own entertainment, as if it’s just another piece of content to be swiped through while we’re waiting in line at the grocery store.

He warned: “We lose our humanity when we are thrilled by the destructive power of our military.”

“I know that the American people are better than this,” he wrote.

Cupich is the archbishop of Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown and one of the largest dioceses in the United States.

8 Mar 2026 - 23:40
 (23:40 GMT)

Israel says 13 killed, nearly 2,000 injured in Iranian attacks

At least 13 Israelis have been killed and 1,929 others wounded in Iranian attacks on Israel since last week.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that 157 people were injured in Iranian strikes over the last 24 hours.

Some 112 people are still hospitalised, including nine in serious condition. The ministry urged Israelis to rush to bomb shelters “with caution”, noting that people have been injured while running to shelters.

8 Mar 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)

Sri Lanka plans to issue free visas for Iranian sailors

Sri Lanka will issue monthlong visas for the Iranian sailors evacuated outside its waters after a US submarine attack sank another ship in the same area, killing more than 80 sailors.

Public Security Minister Anada Wijepala told the media that the government will issue “a free visa” for the Iranian sailors, adding “it will take some time for them to leave this country”.

On Saturday, 204 sailors were transferred to a Sri Lankan naval base from their ship IRIS Bushehr, which was taken under Sri Lankan custody.

The ship sought help from Sri Lanka, reporting an engine failure. The appeal followed the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US torpedo attack off Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday.

The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies. The strike marked one of the rare instances since World War II in which a submarine sank a surface warship.

8 Mar 2026 - 23:20
 (23:20 GMT)

Qatar PM urges de-escalation during US-Israel attacks on Iran

‌Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed ⁠bin Abdulrahman ⁠Al Thani has urged all sides ⁠involved in the Middle East war to de-escalate.

“We will continue talking to ⁠the Iranians; we will continue trying to seek de-escalation,” the prime minister said in a Sky News interview.

Sheikh Mohammed said that recent events delivered “a huge shake-up” to the trust underpinning the relationship with Iran.

“For the US, we would like to see a de-escalation. We would like to see … a diplomatic solution that ⁠addresses our concerns as well ⁠as their concerns,” he added.

“We need to ensure first that Iran should stop all attacks against ⁠Gulf countries and other countries that they ⁠are attacking and are not ⁠party of this war,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran last week, ‌prompting Tehran to fire missiles towards Israel and several Gulf locations hosting US ‌military ‌facilities.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani [File: Karim Jaafar/AFP]
8 Mar 2026 - 23:10
 (23:10 GMT)

How will Israel react to Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment?

By Rory Challands

Reporting from Amman, Jordan

This news is being analysed in Israel very closely indeed. What we’re going to get is two linked but slightly separate approaches.

The first is what Israel will be saying in public, which is that this essentially doesn’t really change anything at all: that the new leader of Iran will be a target just like the old leader of Iran was, that he will be hunted, and they will look for any opportunity to strike.

The Israelis have a position that the man at the top and his personality don’t matter. It’s the system that they feel is an enemy of Israel, and they’ll continue their policies against Iran as long as the leadership continues its politics against Israel.

But beyond that, they’ll be interested in who this new guy is, and what his appointment says about the stability of the regime.

If Iran is now moving into a dynastic situation, is that a suggestion that the cracks are starting to widen within the regime? That is the kind of thing the Israelis will be looking at now.

8 Mar 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

Gulf countries likely to be concerned over new supreme leader

By Ali Hashem

Reporting from Doha

For the Gulf, it’s a de facto war situation. They are being hit with Iranian drones and missiles on a daily basis, so they’re already in a state of hostility with Iran.

The way Gulf countries will react to Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection is going to be with a lot of concern.

At the same time, they’ll be watching: maybe he’ll come with something new, and maybe he’ll surprise them.

But it’s not the right time now, because this is war.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:47
 (22:47 GMT)
Houthi

Iran’s armed forces declare allegiance to Khamenei

Iran’s armed forces are the latest to announce support for new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

In a statement published on state media, the military described Khamenei as “just, knowledgeable … pious and resourceful”, and said the Assembly of Experts had “proven their intelligence” by selecting him.

The IRGC also congratulated Khamenei and declared its “sincere and lifelong allegiance” to him.

Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran in 2019 [File: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
8 Mar 2026 - 22:45
 (22:45 GMT)
Analysis

New supreme leader choice makes US-Israel war ‘even more senseless’

The choice of Ayatollah Khamenei’s son as Iran’s top leader has raised questions about the decision to attack by the US and Israel and replace one hardliner with another, an analyst says.

“It’s a real finger in the eye of Donald Trump, who previously said he didn’t want Mojtaba Khamenei,” said Barbara Slavin from the Stimson Institute.

“So it makes the whole US-Israeli war even more senseless, to kill Ayatollah Khamenei and simply get his son in his place – somebody who’s going to be furious, of course, at the murder of his father, his mother, his wife, and one of his children in the Israeli strike just a week ago.”

Slavin noted that Mojtaba has been governing with his father for years, “and given the existential threat that the Islamic Republic faces, it seems quite logical to put [him] there, because he knows everyone and everything”.

However, she added, “he’s not someone who seems likely to bring more human rights and democracy to Iran”.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

Iranians to ‘remain divided’ over Mojtaba Khamenei as new leader

By Mohamed Vall

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

The internet blackout here has caused a reduction in the amount of information that is flowing in Iran. Everyone expected the supreme leader announcement to take time, and this development tonight may surprise many.

At the same time, there have been names talked about, and speculation about whether the leadership would take a hard line – which is what happened – or whether they would select someone closer to the reformists.

Iranians will, of course, remain divided about this announcement, because the reformists have been on the streets demanding change in Iran, and I don’t think that situation will change.

But under the current circumstances of war, we have seen their voices being hushed – not by the authorities, but the feeling among many Iranians that this is not the time to rally.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:20
 (22:20 GMT)

Trump previously called new Iranian supreme leader ‘a lightweight’

The White House has not immediately responded to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader, but Trump has previously stated a dim view.

Trump derided the 56-year-old – who has never been elected or appointed to a government position – as “a lightweight”.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said in an interview with Axios last week.

“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump said, referring to the acting president in the South American country.

Trump earlier on Sunday repeated that he expects to have a say in picking Iran’s next leader, warning that a new leader “is not going to last long” if the person doesn’t have his approval.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:15
 (22:15 GMT)

Who is in control in Iran, and how will Gulf states react to attacks?

Tehran has carried out more attacks on Gulf states despite an apology by the president to Iran’s neighbours.

Civilian targets have been hit, including airports and vital infrastructure.

Who is in control in Iran, and how will Gulf states react as the attacks continue?

Watch Inside Story below:

8 Mar 2026 - 22:14
 (22:14 GMT)
Houthi

Top Iranian officials call for allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei

More high-profile members of the Iranian government have publicly affirmed their support for Khamenei and called on Iranians to do the same.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, called the Assembly of Experts’ decision “precise” and said following Khamenei is Iranians’ “definitive religious and national obligation”.

Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, called for unity around the new leader and thanked the assembly for its “clear” decision.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:04
 (22:04 GMT)
Houthi

Revolutionary Guard pledges allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei and recognised him as Iran’s new supreme leader.

In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC declared its “sincere and lifelong allegiance” to Khamenei, “emphasising that … they will listen to orders and be ready to implement” them.

Khamenei’s election by the 88-member Assembly of Experts “proved to everyone that the movement of the Islamic system does not stop, and the revolution and the Islamic system do not depend on individuals”, the IRGC added.

8 Mar 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

Many observers believed Mojtaba Khamenei would not replace father

By Ali Hashem

Reporting from Doha, Qatar

Mojtaba Khamenei’s name has been circulating for years within the Iranian elite.

There has been this discussion as to whether it works or doesn’t. Many thought it wouldn’t happen because succession within the same family could give a resemblance to the monarchy.

Yet the new circumstances – the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – meant Mojtaba Khamenei could ascend and become Iran’s new supreme leader.

We will be waiting to see how President Trump will react and whether Mojtaba Khamenei will try to continue this war.

8 Mar 2026 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)
Analysis

Choosing Mojtaba Khamenei as leader is ‘act of defiance’ from Iran

The choice of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader is a signal of both continuity and rebellion among Iran’s clerical leaders, an analyst has told Al Jazeera.

“This is kind of an act of defiance… telling the Americans and Israelis, ‘You wanted to get rid of our system? Well, in your face! This is a more radical person than his father who was assassinated,'” said Rami Khouri, a political analyst at the American University of Beirut.

“This is a sign of continuity, and we’ll see what that brings,” he added.

8 Mar 2026 - 21:35
 (21:35 GMT)
Explainer

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader?

Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war with the United States and Israel.

In recent years, he has increasingly been touted as a top potential replacement for his father.

Although Iran’s ruling ⁠ideology frowns on ⁠the principle of hereditary succession, he has a powerful following within ‌the Revolutionary Guard and his late father’s still-influential office.

Read more here.

8 Mar 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Latest developments from occupied West Bank

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that Israeli forces detained a Palestinian man and seized his vehicle in the village of Duma, south of Nablus.

Israeli settlers established a new illegal outpost on Palestinian-owned land between al-Lubban Asharqiya, south of Nablus, and Yasouf, east of Salfit, it said.

Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers in their village near Ramallah on Saturday night, in what local reports describe as the third deadly attack in a week of escalating violence across the occupied territory.

A sixth Palestinian died on Saturday after inhaling military-grade tear gas fired by Israeli forces, according to reports.

8 Mar 2026 - 21:24
 (21:24 GMT)
Houthi

Assembly of Experts calls on Iranians to pledge support to new leader

Iran’s Assembly of Experts – the ⁠clerical body that named Iran’s next supreme leader as Mojtaba Khamenei a few minutes ago – has called upon Iranians to maintain unity and pledge support to Khamenei.

In a statement circulated on state media, the assembly said Khamenei was chosen based on a “decisive vote”.

It urged all Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities”, to “pledge allegiance to the leadership and maintain unity”.