The United States has announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will no longer travel to Israel as previously scheduled from March 2–3, 2026. The Department of State announced in a statement on February 28, 2026, following a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S.-aligned sites across the Middle East.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson confirmed the decision, citing current circumstances that make the trip untenable.
“Due to current circumstances, Secretary Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on March 2.”
Before the cancellation, the planned visit would have marked Rubio’s fifth trip to Israel as Secretary of State. His previous visits were in February 2025, September 2025, and twice in October 2025.
Trip Rubio was to undertake
According to a statement released by the Department of State, Rubio’s agenda was to focus on regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon, and implementing President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for war-torn Gaza.
“Secretary Rubio will discuss a range of regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said.
The department provided no other details about the diplomatic outing. Just this week, the U.S. and Iran held a third round of indirect talks in Switzerland as the two sides attempted to negotiate a deal to restrict Iran’s nuclear programme.
A new round of talks was slated to take place in Austria on Monday, the same day Rubio was to arrive in Israel.
The trip’s postponement comes amid escalating hostilities following U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes across multiple countries in the region.
Also Read: Netanyahu Says Iran Leader Khamenei May Be ‘Gone’ as Reports Claim Family Members Killed
The escalation began after the United States and Israel on Friday launched combat operations targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, prompting a coordinated response from Tehran.
Israeli media reported that at least one Iranian missile struck Tel Aviv, injuring seven people in central Israel. Air defense systems reportedly engaged incoming missiles, while emergency services responded to the impact zone.
In the United Arab Emirates, an Iranian drone strike targeted Dubai International Airport, prompting evacuations and security measures to protect passengers and staff. A drone strike also ignited a fire at Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel.
In Qatar, U.S. and Qatari Patriot missile batteries were deployed to defend Al Udeid Air Base after Iran fired an estimated 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones at the facility, according to the Qatari Defense Ministry.
Trump says Khamenei was killed in strikes
President Donald Trump has since confirmed the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the operations, describing it as a major turning point in the conflict.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump added that U.S. intelligence and coordination with Israel made it impossible for Khamenei to evade targeting. He warned that continued resistance by Iranian forces would lead to further military action.
The White House confirmed that the president has engaged in communications with foreign leaders, including those of the United Kingdom, Kuwait, and Türkiye, to coordinate responses to the escalating situation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also stated earlier on Friday that Trump monitored the situation overnight with his national security team and spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Leavitt, Secretary Rubio had briefed seven of the eight members of the “gang of eight” congressional oversight group before the attacks.
“Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members. The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” she said.
Conflicting reports
However, reports about Khamenei’s fate remain unconfirmed and highly contested. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Iran’s Supreme Leader had been killed and that his body had been found.
Israeli media also reported that the military provided PM Netanyahu with footage showing Khamenei’s body. Earlier Israeli assessments suggested Khamenei may have been injured in strikes targeting his compound in Tehran.
Iranian officials have not confirmed the reports. Reports by Al Jazeera from Tehran said there has been no official confirmation from Iran so far.
Also Read: Trump Confirms Khamenei is Dead as Iran Launches Second Barrage of Missiles
According to the report, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that “as far as I know”, Iran’s supreme leader, as well as other top Iranian officials, remained in good health.
Asadi also pointed to a statement from Khamenei’s public relations office that called the report “mental warfare”.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies also reported that the country’s supreme leader is “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State has issued a global security alert warning American citizens of potential travel disruptions due to airspace closures and increased regional instability stemming from the security situation in the Middle East.
The alert advised Americans to exercise heightened caution, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, seek shelter in the event of explosions, and follow guidance from U.S. embassies in the Middle East.
The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain specifically warned that high-rise buildings in the Juffair area were not safe for personnel following confirmed Iranian drone strikes and potential threats from Iranian proxies.
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