Coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering continued Iranian retaliation and a regional exchange of strikes that has resulted in hundreds of deaths. The U.S. reported three service members killed, and lawmakers are poised to debate a war powers resolution to limit further military action. In the U.S., a separate Austin-area bar shooting left two dead and investigators are probing motive. Other notable stories include international probes after the Jeffrey Epstein document release, a surge in AI-related child exploitation reports, and rising costs from measles outbreaks.
Supreme Leader Killed in Joint U.S.-Israeli Strikes; Regional Exchange of Fire Leaves Hundreds Dead — Weekend Rundown
AFP; Getty Images(AFP; Getty Images)
Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, touching off continued Iranian retaliation and a wider exchange of strikes across the region.
Escalation and Casualties
Iran responded by targeting Israeli positions and U.S. military assets in the region. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports more than 200 fatalities in Iran following the strikes; Israel has reported at least ten deaths (eight in a single strike), and two fatalities have been reported in the United Arab Emirates.
A law enforcement unit sits at the entrance to Buford's bar in Austin, Texas, on March 1, 2026. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)(Brandon Bell)
Hours after the attacks, the U.S. military reported three U.S. service members killed. President Donald Trump told NBC News: 'We expect casualties with something like this.'
U.S. Political Response
The strikes drew sharply divided reactions in Washington. Many Republican lawmakers praised the action, while many Democrats criticized the administration for acting without explicit Congressional authorization. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) defended the operation as necessary to curb Iran's influence; Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) publicly challenged the administration's goals.
When Congress reconvenes, members are expected to consider a war powers resolution that would require the president to secure Congressional approval for any further military operations against Iran.
Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, Mass., on Sept. 8, 2004. (Rick Friedman / Corbis via Getty Images file)(Rick Friedman)
Tehran After the Strike
For the first time in 37 years, Tehran awoke without its long-serving Supreme Leader. The capital was unusually quiet as citizens processed the news. Questions now loom over Iran's succession and the country's political future amid ongoing domestic dissent and economic strain.
Texas Bar Shooting
Separately, a shooting outside an Austin-area bar left two people dead and 14 injured. Authorities identified the suspect as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese-born naturalized U.S. citizen from Pflugerville, Texas. Sources told NBC News he had a history of mental illness. Investigators are exploring motive, including whether the attack could be terrorism-related; at the scene Diagne reportedly wore a sweatshirt bearing the phrase 'Property of Allah' with an Iranian-flag-themed shirt underneath.
Justine Goode / NBC News; Getty Images(Justine Goode)
Other Major Headlines
At least nine investigations have been opened across eight countries and within the European Union's anti-fraud unit following the U.S. Justice Department's release of millions of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein. A Justice Department and FBI memo previously said an 'exhaustive review' found no client list that would prompt new prosecutions in the United States, but the document disclosures have sparked renewed international scrutiny and calls for further action.
Experts and law enforcement officials warn that rapid advances in artificial intelligence are making it easier to produce child sexual abuse material. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported more than one million AI-related reports to its CyberTipline between January and September 2025, complicating victim identification and investigations.
A Spartanburg, S.C., mobile health unit. (Patrick Martin / NBC News)(Patrick Martin)
In West Texas, measles outbreaks in early 2025 highlighted the financial strain on local health systems. Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock public health, described the costs of vaccine clinics, staffing and quarantine monitoring. A Yale School of Public Health analysis warns that a steady decline in vaccination coverage could raise annual U.S. outbreak costs to $1.5 billion within five years.
Digital forensics continues to play a growing role in complex investigations. As traditional DNA leads stall in some missing-person cases, investigators increasingly rely on cell tower records, device data and cloud logs for new leads, experts say.
Quick Takes
- A Hunter College professor's remarks about Black students prompted an inquiry.
- Cher's son Elijah Allman was charged with simple assault and criminal trespass at a New Hampshire private school.
- Actor Shia LaBeouf attributed a New Orleans arrest to his stated personal fears.
- The LAPD launched a homicide probe after a 12-year-old died trying to protect her sister from alleged bullying.
- Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life without parole for a 2021 murder and attempted murder.
Note: This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
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