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Hamas Mourns Iran’s Khamenei, Condemns ‘Heinous’ US-Israel Attack

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
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Hamas Mourns Iran’s Khamenei, Condemns ‘Heinous’ US-Israel Attack

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)

Hamas on Sunday mourned Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a firm supporter of the Palestinian movement, after his death in what it described as a "heinous" US-Israeli attack. 

"We in Hamas mourn the passing of Ali Khamenei. He provided all forms of political, diplomatic and military support to our people, our cause, and our resistance," it said in a statement. 

"The US and the fascist occupation government bear full responsibility for this blatant aggression and heinous crime against the sovereignty of Iran, as well as for its serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region." 

Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, described Khamenei as the "main supporter of the Resistance Axis and its mujahideen". 

"All the support the Islamic Republic has provided over decades to our people and our resistance ... was delivered by his direct decision and under his full supervision," the Brigades said in a separate statement. 

"This substantial support has been a key factor in the development of the resistance and its tactics, culminating in the remarkable achievements" during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the group added. 

Armed group Islamic Jihad, which along with Hamas and its armed wing fought a war against Israel in Gaza for two years, said the killing of Khamenei was a "war crime" by the US and Israel in a "treacherous and malicious attack". 

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Arab World

Thai PM Says Preparing Evacuation of Citizens in Middle East

A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Thai PM Says Preparing Evacuation of Citizens in Middle East

A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Thailand is readying to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East by military or charter flights, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Sunday, after the US and Israel attacked Iran -- which answered with its own missile strikes.

The government has "coordinated with the Royal Thai Air Force to prepare aircraft to evacuate Thai citizens, prioritizing those in Iran", Anutin told reporters in Bangkok, adding that charter flights were also under consideration.

"We have to check the closure of airspace, whether we need to evacuate them to the third country first," he added.

Anutin said there were tens of thousands of Thai workers in the region, citing the labor ministry.

Nearly 59,000 Thais were registered with Thailand's labor office in Israel, and more than 11,000 were registered with Thailand's labor office in Abu Dhabi -- which covers the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Iran, according to the ministry.

"The Thai government will do everything to bring Thai citizens back safely. If they want to return, we will take them back," Anutin said.

The United States and Israel began launching waves of strikes against Iran on Saturday, sparking swift retaliation by Tehran.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to continue striking Iran until its government falls.

Iranian state television confirmed the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday, after Trump said he had been killed.

Fresh explosions were heard in Doha, Dubai and Manama on Sunday.

Amid the bombardments, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel all have closed their airspaces to civilian traffic, at least in part, and multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from the region.

Arab World

Iraq’s Sistani Urges Iranian Unity After Khamenei Death

A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
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Iraq’s Sistani Urges Iranian Unity After Khamenei Death

A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)

Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric on Sunday urged Iranians to remain united as Iraqis mourned supreme leader Ali Khamenei following his death in US and Israeli strikes. 

Baghdad announced a three-day mourning period for Khamenei, who had been Iran's hardline spiritual guide and top political authority since 1989. 

"With deep sorrow, I extend my condolences to the noble Iranian people and all Muslims on the martyrdom" of Khamenei, whose "unique role in leading the Islamic Republic of Iran for many years is evident to all", said Ali Sistani, himself born in Iran. 

"Through his martyrdom and the large-scale military assault on Iran, the enemies sought to inflict immense damage on this beloved country. 

"The great Iranian people are expected to maintain their unity, to stand firm and thwart the aggressors' sinister goals," Sistani added in a statement. 

Khamenei's death was met with anger in Baghdad, where hundreds of protesters have tried since the early hours of Sunday to storm the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located. 

Iran wields significant influence in Iraqi politics, and also backs armed groups whose power has grown both politically and financially. 

Iraq has for decades been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran. 

Government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement that "with deep sorrow, we extend our condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Muslim world" after "a blatant act of aggression" that killed Khamenei. 

He said the government had announced three days of mourning, while urging an immediate cessation of military operations that "are driving the region to unprecedented levels of violence". 

The Coordination Framework, a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran, said "with deep sorrow and profound grief, we mourn the passing of the martyred leader, Ali Khamenei". 

His "blood will remain a guiding light for all generations" and "the curse will continue to haunt the murderous Zionists for all time", the coalition added. 

Influential cleric Moqtada Sadr meanwhile said in a statement that "we extend our condolences to the Islamic world", and also declared a three-day period of mourning. 

Arab World

US Tells Lebanon: Israel Won’t Escalate if No Hostile Acts Come from Lebanese Side

Clouds cover is heavy over the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, at sunset Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP)
Clouds cover is heavy over the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, at sunset Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP)
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US Tells Lebanon: Israel Won’t Escalate if No Hostile Acts Come from Lebanese Side

Clouds cover is heavy over the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, at sunset Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP)
Clouds cover is heavy over the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, at sunset Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP)

Lebanon's presidency said on Saturday it had been told by the US ambassador that Israel would not escalate against Lebanon as long as there are no hostile acts from the Lebanese side, following the launch of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah, long one of Tehran's principal allies in the Middle East, expressed solidarity with Iran on Saturday but stopped short of saying whether it would get involved.

In ‌its statement, ‌Hezbollah said the US-Israeli actions would "affect everyone ‌without ⁠exception if left ⁠unchallenged".

"We are confident that the American and Israeli enemy will receive a major blow," it said.

Israel has warned Beirut that it would strike Lebanon hard, targeting civilian infrastructure including the airport, if Hezbollah involved itself in any US-Iran war.

The US embassy in Lebanon ⁠did not immediately respond to a request ‌for comment on a ‌statement from the office of President Joseph Aoun about the ‌message he had received from US Ambassador Michel Issa. ‌The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also did not comment.

Hezbollah has fought numerous conflicts with Israel since being established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, ‌but was severely weakened by Israel in a war in 2024 when its leader Hassan ⁠Nasrallah was ⁠killed.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would not accept anyone dragging Lebanon into "adventures that threaten its security and unity", a veiled message to Hezbollah.

In a statement released after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, Salam noted the "serious developments" in the region and called on "all Lebanese to act with wisdom and patriotism, placing Lebanon and the Lebanese people’s interests above any other consideration".