Daily Peace and Crisis Report

Compiled March 02, 2026, 08:05 AEDT

Breaking: US-Israel Launch War on Iran, Supreme Leader Killed

The Middle East has been plunged into a new, large-scale conflict after the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," against Iran on February 28, 2026. The initial strikes resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, who had ruled the country for over three decades. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on at least 27 US military bases and Israeli facilities across eight countries, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. (Al Jazeera)

The rapidly escalating conflict has drawn international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemning the military escalation and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on February 28 to address the crisis. The attacks have already resulted in significant casualties across the region. As of March 1, at least 201 people have been killed and 747 injured in Iran. Israel has reported 9 killed and 121 injured. US Central Command has confirmed that 3 American service members have been killed and 5 seriously wounded. (UN News)

Gaza & West Bank: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Regional Turmoil

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. As of February 28, 2026, the total death toll since October 7, 2023, has reached at least 72,095, with over 171,784 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Even after a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, an additional 628 people have been killed. (WAFA) The crisis is compounded by the closure of the Rafah crossing by Israel on March 1 and a now-frozen ban on 37 international NGOs. Only 42% of health service points in Gaza are functional, and all hospitals rely on failing backup generators. (OCHA)

In the West Bank, violence continues to surge. Since October 2023, over 2,494 Palestinians have been killed and more than 18,135 injured. Settler violence is on the rise, with 312 Palestinian structures demolished in the first six weeks of 2026 alone.

Ukraine-Russia War: Peace Talks Stall as Conflict Enters Fifth Year

Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain deadlocked. Russia has indicated it may halt talks unless Ukraine agrees to cede the Donetsk region. The next round of US-mediated talks is tentatively scheduled for March in Abu Dhabi, but their viability is now uncertain given the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has stated will impact the negotiations. (Reuters) The war continues to take a heavy toll, with casualty estimates from January 2026 suggesting up to 325,000 Russian military deaths and up to 140,000 Ukrainian military deaths. The UN has confirmed 15,954 civilian deaths. (Russia Matters)

Global Crisis Hotspots

Several other regions are experiencing severe conflict and humanitarian crises. In **Sudan**, nearly three years of civil war have led to over 11,300 civilian deaths in 2025 alone, with the UN warning of a risk of "genocidal violence" in Darfur and Kordofan. (UN News) In **Myanmar**, military airstrikes continue to cause civilian casualties, with over 40 killed in the past week. In the **Democratic Republic of Congo**, over 170 bodies were discovered in mass graves following the withdrawal of M23 rebels from Uvira. In **Somalia**, 6.5 million people are facing high levels of hunger, and in **Yemen**, 22.3 million people require humanitarian assistance.

Statistics Table