Today is Monday, March 2nd. We're talking about what some are calling the most consequential action

President Trump has ever taken, what we know about American strikes in Iran and Iran's retaliation

all around the Middle East. Also, a new terror investigation in Austin, Texas, and the chance

of more potential threats on U.S. soil. Plus, the impact of Mid-East violence on oil and gas prices, the Pentagon's new artificial

intelligence deal, and Hollywood's last big award show before the Oscars.

Those stories and even more news coming up.

Welcome to The Newsworthy, all the day's news in less than 15 minutes.

I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here.

Let's do this. The U.S. and Israel launched a major coordinated strike against Iran over the weekend.

They hit and killed the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Haminae, who has ruled over Iran with ultimate power since 1989.

Haminae was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, as well as the head of the judiciary,

the legislature, and the executive branch. He was also designated as the most senior guardian

of the Shiite faith. Reports say, through his 37 years in power, Haminae, more than any other single

individual, shaped the course of the modern Middle East. He imposed a harsh, theocratic system based on

Sharia law, including strict dress codes, censorship, and severe punishments for dissent.

Other top leaders in Iran were reportedly also killed. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth called the attack the, quote,

most lethal, most complex, and most precision aerial operation in history.

It was officially dubbed Operation Epic Fury, and the U.S. and Israel have continued hitting targets

in Iran ever since.

Iranian leaders say the death toll has topped 200, including at least 165 people who died when a

girl's elementary school was struck. The Israeli military said it was not aware of that strike.

The U.S. military said it would look into the report while going after more targets.

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