Special 7NEWS Bulletin to Broadcast Live Coverage of Escalating Middle East Conflict
A special bulletin will be broadcast across 7NEWS and its streaming platform 7plus, providing comprehensive updates on the rapidly unfolding conflict in Iran and the broader Middle East region. This coverage comes in response to a significant military operation that has sent shockwaves across the globe.
Operation Epic Fury: US and Israel Launch Coordinated Attack on Iran
On Saturday, the United States and Israel executed a joint military strike under the codename Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iran's top leadership and calling for the overthrow of its government. The operation has resulted in hundreds of suspected fatalities within Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in regional tensions.
Among those reported dead is Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, whose death brings an end to more than three decades of rule characterized by brutal oppression of dissenters. Iranian state-run media confirmed his death around 5 a.m., shortly after revealing that his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were also killed in the attacks.
Rising Death Toll and Retaliatory Strikes Across the Middle East
The death toll is expected to climb across the Middle East, with local authorities confirming fatalities in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. In response to the initial strikes, Iran has launched retaliatory missile attacks on the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, where 7NEWS Chief Reporter Chris Reason is providing live coverage as the situation evolves.
Reason and his team captured a pivotal moment when an Iranian missile breached Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system, crashing into a building and causing a massive explosion that lit up the city. His reports offer real-time insights into the chaos and danger on the ground.
Global Coverage and Analysis from 7NEWS Correspondents
To provide a holistic view of this international crisis, 7NEWS has deployed its top correspondents worldwide. Rob Scott in Washington DC and Mylee Hogan in the US Bureau are delivering updates from the American perspective, while Foreign Editor Hugh Whitfeld offers expert analysis on the geopolitical implications.
Additionally, 7NEWS Aviation Editor Blake Johnson is covering the travel chaos, including grounded flights and disruptions at Dubai airport, where planes carrying Australians to Europe have been turned around. Europe Correspondent Jacquelin Robson will provide live updates on European leaders' responses, and Political Editor Mark Riley is in Canberra with the latest on Australia's official position regarding the conflict.
Broadcast Details and Special Programming
The coverage of these global shockwaves will feature in a special edition of 7NEWS, airing live on Seven and 7plus at 6 p.m. Following Australian Idol at 8:20 p.m., anchor Michael Usher will lead a special live bulletin titled Inside Operation Epic Fury, offering further updates and in-depth analysis from the 7NEWS team.
Broadcast times for Sunday, March 1, are as follows across major Australian cities:
- Sydney and Melbourne: 5:00 p.m. 7NEWS Special Coverage, 6:00 p.m. 7NEWS at 6:00 p.m., 8:20 p.m. Inside Operation Epic Fury: 7NEWS Special Bulletin
- Brisbane: 5:00 p.m. 7NEWS Special Coverage, 6:00 p.m. 7NEWS at 6:00 p.m., 8:20 p.m. Inside Operation Epic Fury: 7NEWS Special Bulletin
- Adelaide: 5:00 p.m. 7NEWS Special Coverage, 6:00 p.m. 7NEWS at 6:00 p.m., 8:20 p.m. Inside Operation Epic Fury: 7NEWS Special Bulletin
- Perth: 5:00 p.m. 7NEWS Special Coverage, 6:00 p.m. 7NEWS at 6:00 p.m., 8:20 p.m. Inside Operation Epic Fury: 7NEWS Special Bulletin
Viewers can stream the coverage for free on 7plus, ensuring access to critical updates as this global conflict continues to develop.
