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2026 Iran war
Part of the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
Locations struck by:[15][16][17] Israel and United States Iran, Hezbollah, and PMF
Date 28 February 2026 – present (5 days) Location West Asia[r] Indian Ocean Status Ongoing Assassinations of Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Establishment of the Interim Leadership Council in Iran's government due to Khamenei's death Closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran's military Mobilization of European militaries to defend against Iranian strikes on Cyprus Hezbollah strikes on Israel trigger renewed wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon
Belligerents
Israel United States CPFIK (since 2 March)[1] Attacked by Iran: Azerbaijan[a] Bahrain[b] Iraq[c] Kurdistan Region[d] Jordan[e] Kuwait[f] Oman[g] Qatar[h][4] Saudi Arabia[i] NATO[j] Turkey[j] United Arab Emirates[k] United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia[l] Defensive deployments:[m] France[n] Greece[o] Italy[p] Netherlands[p] Spain[p] United Kingdom[q]	Axis of Resistance Iran Hezbollah (since 2 March) Palestinian Islamic Jihad (since 2 March) Popular Mobilization Forces Islamic Resistance in Iraq[13] Islamic Group (since 4 March)[14]
Commanders and leaders
Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Katz David Barnea Eyal Zamir Tamir Yadai Tomer Bar Shlomi Binder Itzik Cohen David Saar Salama Shai Klapper Donald Trump Pete Hegseth Dan Caine Brad Cooper Patrick Frank Curt Renshaw Derek France	Ali Khamenei X Masoud Pezeshkian Alireza Arafi Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i Ahmad Vahidi Aziz Nasirzadeh X Ali Larijani Abdolrahim Mousavi X Ali Abdollahi Amir Hatami Mohammad Pakpour X Majid Mousavi Alireza Tangsiri Ali Shamkhani X Mohammad Karami Naim Qassem Mohammad Raad
Units involved
See order of battle
Casualties and losses
Per Israel and US:  Israel: 12 people killed[18] 11 missing[15] 1,274 injured[19] 2 military personnel injured[20]  United States: 6 military personnel killed[s] 18 injured[23][24][25] 2 DOD personnel injured[26] For aviation losses see this list  Kurdistan: 1 fighter killed, 3 injured[27] Per Iran:  United States: 650 soldiers killed or wounded [28] 1 AN/FPS-132 destroyed[29] 1 THAAD radar destroyed[30]  Kuwait: 2 naval personnel killed[31] 3 military personnel injured[32]	Per Israel and US: >3,000 military personnel killed[t] 20 warships and 1 submarine sunk[35] 87 sailors killed, 32 injured and 61 missing off the coast of Sri Lanka[36] For aviation losses see this list Per Iran: 1,046 people killed[37] Per Iranian Red Crescent:[38] ≥787 killed[u] Per Human Rights Activists in Iran:[43] 1,097 civilians killed, 5,402 injured  Popular Mobilization Forces: 20+ fighters killed, dozens injured[44]  Hezbollah: 12 fighters arrested[38]
72 people killed, 437 injured, 83,000+ displaced in Lebanon[45] 3 people killed[v] and 78 others injured in the UAE[50] 2 civilians killed and 32 others injured in Kuwait[51][52] 2 people killed[w] and 6 others injured in Bahrain[54] 1 person killed in Oman[55] 16 people injured in Qatar[56] 5 people injured in Jordan[57] 2 people injured in Azerbaijan[58] 3 Indian nationals killed, 1 injured in the Strait of Hormuz[59] 1 Chinese national killed in Iran[42] 1 Filipino national killed in Israel[60]
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Beginning on 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States engaged in coordinated joint attacks on various sites in Iran. Codenamed Operation Roaring Lion^[x] by Israel^[61][62] and Operation Epic Fury by the United States,^[63][64][65] the attacks have targeted key Iranian officials, military commanders, and facilities.^[66] Iran's response has been named Operation True Promise IV.^[y][z]

The operation began with joint strikes by Israel and the US in the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. The attacks included the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose compound was destroyed; Ali Shamkhani, former secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council; and several other Iranian officials.^[63][67] In retaliation, Iran launched dozens of its drones and ballistic missiles throughout the Persian Gulf at targets in Israel^[68] and US military bases^[68] in Jordan, Kuwait,^[69] Bahrain,^[69] Qatar,^[69] Iraq,^[70] Saudi Arabia,^[71] and the United Arab Emirates.^[72] Iran launched strikes on civilian airports and shipping ports in Kuwait, the UAE, and Oman.^[73][74][75] Britain's Akrotiri and Dhekelia military base in Cyprus was struck.^[76] Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil and gas shipments.^[77] Hezbollah in Lebanon joined the war after the killing of Khamenei.^[78][79][80]

US officials, including President Donald Trump, have offered various and shifting reasons for launching the war on Iran, including to ward off an imminent threat it poses, destroy missile and military capabilities, prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ultimately to achieve regime change by bringing the Iranian opposition to power.^[81][82] Iran rejected US claims that it was preparing an attack.^[83] After the strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program, which the US strongly disagreed with.^{[84][85][86][87]} The United Nations and several uninvolved countries, including China and Russia, condemned the initial strikes for undermining the stability of the Middle East; others condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes on US allies in the region.^[88] Critics of the operation described it as illegal under US law,^[89] an act of imperialism,^[90][91] and a violation of Iran's sovereignty^[92][93] under international law.^[94]

A US and UK-backed coup d'etat in 1953 deposed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and strengthened the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shah.^[95][96][97] Resentment of the shah's deference to Western interests and his autocratic monarchical rule led to the 1979 revolution in which he was overthrown,^[95][98][99] and after which Iran became an Islamic republic and adopted a hostile posture towards the United States.^[95][100] The new regime also adopted the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state as a fundamental tenet of its policy.^[101] During the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, the US provided economic, intelligence, and indirect military support to Iraq. Iran has supported an informal Axis of Resistance committed primarily to countering the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East, engaging in proxy conflicts in the region. These on-going tensions escalated into direct conflict between the US and Iran in January 2020 when President Donald Trump, during his first term, ordered the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander.^[95][102] Tensions between Iran and the US and Israel further escalated following the start of the Gaza war, during which Israel weakened Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza,^[aa] Hezbollah in Lebanon, and others. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes in April and October 2024, and were engaged in a 12-day war in June 2025 that included an American airstrike aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear facilities.^[105]

Iran's development of nuclear enrichment capabilities has been an international controversy for decades, with the US and its allies seeking to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development.^[106][107] In the context of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, a 2006 report of the Director General of the UN Security Council demonstrated a security concern that the IAEA were at that time unable to satisfactorily demonstrate that the government of Iran's nuclear programme did not include a military nuclear dimension.^[107] In the context of the continuation of diplomatic relations,^[108] subsequent UN resolutions on the matter of the Iran Nuclear Issue were made from 2007–2010, and in 2015.^[109]

Iran has said it is not seeking nuclear weapons, and that its enrichment efforts are to generate nuclear power for civilian use.^[110] The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that there is no proof Iran is building an atomic bomb.^{[111][85][86][87]} The United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018^[112][113] led to the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran and a turn towards the use of force rather than diplomacy in relations between the US and its allies and Iran. The first Trump administration adopted a "maximum pressure" strategy.^[114] The Biden administration did not relax the economic sanctions against Iran, and instead implemented more measures.^[115] The second Trump administration reimposed the "maximum pressure" approach on Iran.^[116][113]

Some degree of limitation of the activities of the IAEA was brought into place via the Iranian government in 2021.^[117] In 2024 a statement the Iranian government official Kamal Kharrazi stated that Iran was prepared to change its policy on nuclear armament, and that Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear weapons was the only thing stopping them from doing so.^[118]

The Defense Intelligence Agency concluded in 2025 it would be a decade before Iran would be able to gain the technical skill to produce an arsenal of missiles that could reach the United States;^[66] the United States Department of Defense estimated Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by two years following earlier strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.^[119]

In January 2026 US and European officials said Washington had presented Iran with three core demands, one of which was a permanent end to all uranium enrichment. ^[120]

The Trump administration stated in February 2026 that Iran had restarted its nuclear programme and was developing missiles with enough range for an attack on the US.^[121] On 27 February 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered that Iran had hidden highly enriched uranium in an underground facility that was undamaged in the previous round of fighting,^[122][123] and IAEA said that they could not be sure that Iran's nuclear programme was "exclusively peaceful" at the time of reportage as the agency was denied access.^[124] According to an anonymous US source, Trump authorized the strike after the US received intelligence that Iran was planning to preemptively launch missiles.^[125][126] The administration did not provide any evidence that Iran was planning to preemptively strike US assets,^[127] and an unspecified Pentagon source told Congress in closed-door briefings that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran was planning to attack US forces first.^[128][129]

The Trump administration stated in February 2026 that Iran had restarted its nuclear programme and was developing missiles with enough range for an attack on the US.^[121] According to an anonymous US source, Trump authorized the strike after the US received intelligence that Iran was planning to preemptively launch missiles.^[125][126] The administration did not provide any evidence that Iran was planning to preemptively strike US assets,^[127] and an unspecified Pentagon source told Congress in closed-door briefings that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran was planning to attack US forces first.^[128][129]

Beginning in late December 2025, massive nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Iran, driven largely by economic crisis, the collapse of the rial, and rising prices. The protests, which included calls for regime change, became the largest in scale since the 1979 revolution,^[130] spreading to over 100 cities across the country.^[131] The Iranian government responded with violent repression, including massacres of protesters, with the deadliest incidents occurring on 8 and 10 January 2026.^[132] In February 2026, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent claimed that Washington engineered a dollar shortage in Iran to send the Iranian rial into freefall and cause protests in Iran.^{[133][134][135]}

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated the death toll at 7,000, the Iranian government said the death toll was 3,117, while Donald Trump and others said the death toll was 32,000 people.^[136][137] AP News reported that the government's overwhelming use of violence had caused despair among the Iranian public and had given rise to hopes among some citizens for an American attack.^[138] Several scholars have argued that the Iranian government now faces a fragile state that could lead to its demise.^[139]

On 2 January 2026, Trump threatened a "lock and loaded" military intervention in Iran if the government decided to kill peaceful protesters.^[140] On 13 January, he expressed support for Iranian anti-government protesters and pledged that "help is on the way" for them,^[141] and later, on 23 January, Trump announced that a US "armada" was heading to the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers.^[142][143]

On 13 February, Trump ordered the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its supporting warships to sail to the Middle East.^[144] Trump held off from immediate military intervention for the protesters, reportedly due to Israel and the Gulf states advising Trump against immediate intervention and as an apparent reaction to Iranian officials holding off on carrying out executions of prisoners arrested after protests.^[145]

The planning for a proposed series of attacks also started in co-ordination with Israeli intelligence agencies.^[146]

On 6 February 2026, Iran and the US held indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman's capital, Muscat. Iran emphasized that progress depends on consultations back in capitals.^[147] A second round of nuclear talks was scheduled in Geneva.^[147] Between 15 and 20 February, Iran increased its oil exports to 3 times normal rate, and reduced oil storage.^[148]

Just before the strikes began, on 27 February 2026, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said a "breakthrough" had been reached and Iran had agreed both to never stockpile enriched uranium and to full verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);^[149] furthermore, Iran had agreed to irreversibly downgrade its current enriched uranium to "the lowest level possible". Al-Busaidi said peace was "within reach".^[150][149] However, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Iran began recent nuclear talks by insisting on its "inalienable right" to enrich uranium, rejecting a US proposal for zero enrichment, and even boasting that its 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium could produce 11 nuclear bombs.^[151][152]

On 23 January 2026, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers were sent to the Middle East.^[142] On 11 February 2026, the 47th anniversary of the 1979 revolution was marked by pro-government rallies and strong anti-American rhetoric.^[153] On 13 February 2026, Trump stated that regime change in Iran would be "the best thing that could happen" and the US deployed a second aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran.^[144][154] A day later, on 14 February, US officials told Reuters that the US military was preparing for a broad campaign involving weeks-long, sustained operations against Iran that could target its state and security infrastructure.^[155]

By 19 February the US buildup was described as the largest in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.^[156] On 24 February 2026, during a State of the Union speech, Trump accused Iran of reviving efforts to build nuclear weapons, condemning these alleged ambitions as "sinister" and claiming that Iran had also developed increasingly advanced missile capabilities that could threaten the US, Europe, and US bases overseas. He warned that the US was prepared to act if necessary.^[157] Such claims by American officials have suggested that Iran is pursuing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or similar weapons and that the United States needed to intervene militarily against it, echoing false allegations of WMDs in Iraq prior to the Iraq War in 2003.^[158]

American intelligence reports suggested that alleged threats of long-range Iranian ballistic missiles were unfounded, with such capabilities requiring up until 2035 should Iran have decided to pursue the project.^[159] The Gang of Eight, a group of eight leaders in the US Congress who are commonly briefed on classified intelligence matters, was briefed on the attack prior to its commencement.^[160] Also at the time, Bloomberg News reported that NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) craft were surveilling Iran out of Konya Airport,^[161] though Turkey later denied reports it was aiding US and Israeli strikes on Iran.^[162]

On 25 February 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a "historic" agreement with the United States to avert military conflict was "within reach" ahead of renewed talks in Geneva. Araghchi emphasized that diplomacy must be prioritized to avoid further escalation. Despite high tensions and a significant US military buildup in the region, Araghchi reiterated on social media that Iran holds a "crystal clear" position against developing nuclear weapons, while defending its right to peaceful nuclear technology.^[163]

Before the attack, JD Vance, the vice president of the United States, defended striking Iran. When asked about whether he would support a regime change in Iran despite previously criticizing the Iraq war, he said that life "has all kinds of crazy twists and turns".^[164] According to The Telegraph and The Washington Post, crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman conducted multiple phone calls with Trump urging him to attack Iran, stating that "Iran would become stronger and more dangerous if Washington did not strike immediately".^[165] Prince Khalid bin Salman, brother of Crown Prince Mohammed and Saudi Arabia's defence minister, reportedly warned about the risks of not attacking Iran in a meeting with US officials.^[165] The Washington Post reported that Trump's decision to attack Iran came after Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Israeli government lobbied him repeatedly to make the move.^[71]

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu successfully lobbied the Trump administration for military intervention.

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged Trump to strike Iran despite public calls for diplomacy.

The Guardian reported a few days before the attack that the decision would be determined by the outcome of a meeting in Geneva, in which the US would be led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Charles Wald, a retired Air Force general and deputy commander of US European Command, stated that bringing the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier to the Middle East would help defend Israel from Iran. He also stated that if US-Iran negotiations do not end well, that "it's going to be twice as bad as when Obama didn't do anything in Syria for the chemical weapons."^[166] However, according to Royal United Services Institute, there was no evidence of an imminent attack by Iran.^[167]

Prior to the attack, Khamenei, through his speech addressed to his followers in early February as released by the website of the supreme leader of Iran, warned the United States that "if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war".^{[168][169][170]}

On the morning of the attack, some of Iran's top military and intelligence leaders, including Khamenei, were gathered together in the national security council offices for meetings. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli and US military intelligence officers identified that the senior Iranian leaders would gather at three meetings that could be simultaneously struck. A New York Times analysis stated that this was a mistake. It is still unknown how US and Israeli leadership were aware of their exact location.^{[171][172][173]}

A few days before the attack, senior advisors for the Trump administration said it would be better if Israel strikes Iran first, so that the United States would have a better justification for going to war after Iran retaliates.^[174] US secretary of state Marco Rubio later disclosed that the initial US attack on Iran was due to an Israeli intention to attack Iranian leadership, which would have jeopardized US forces in the region.^[175] Donald Trump, however, rejected claims that Israel pulled the United States into a conflict with Iran. He said: "No, I might have forced their hands," adding that the situation might actually be the reverse and said he believed Iran was preparing to strike first.^[176]

On 27 February, at 3:38 p.m. EST (11:08 p.m. IRST) Donald Trump, travelling on Air Force One to Corpus Christi, Texas, gave the order to proceed with Operation Epic Fury.^[171] Airstrikes on Iran began on 28 February, Saturday, at around 9:45 a.m. IRST (1:15 a.m. EST); Saturday is the first day of the week in Iran and a regular work day.^[177] US missiles, drones, and Israeli fighter jets were used in the strikes.^[178] Low-cost one-way attack drones of Task Force Scorpion Strike were employed for the first time in combat.^[179]

Among the targets was the Pasteur Street district in Tehran where Ali Khamenei normally resided; also home to the presidential palace and National Security Council.^[180] Early reports suggested that at least seven missiles had struck the area.^[181] American officials confirmed that the strikes were coordinated with the US.^[182]

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said that it had struck 500 military targets in western and central Iran, including air defences and missile launchers, using approximately 200 fighter jets, in the largest combat sortie in its history.^[183]

Together with the physical airstrikes, Israel also conducted coordinated cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure, media, and phone apps with messages calling on Iranians to rise up against their government.^[173] The popular BadeSaba Calendar prayer app (over 5 million downloads) was also compromised in the attack; it was hacked early that morning to broadcast push notifications in Persian urging military personnel and citizens to defect, lay down weapons, and join opposition forces with messages such as "Help has arrived" and "It's time for reckoning."^{[184][185][186]} The cyberattacks resulted in a near-total internet blackout in Iran, lasting over 60 hours with connectivity dropping to as low as 1–4% of normal levels, disrupting government communications, state media, and public services.^[187][185]

Israel subsequently declared a state of emergency, citing expectation of an Iranian attack.^[188] Sirens blared in Israel as the government warned its citizens to remain in protected areas.^[189] Trump warned that US lives may be lost.^[190] The Israeli Ministry of Health moved its hospital operations underground.^[191] According to Iran International, Israel warned Iranian civilians residing near military industries and infrastructure to evacuate immediately, stating "Your presence in these areas puts your life at risk."^[192]

According to a US official, dozens of US strikes were carried out by planes based around the Middle East and from one or more aircraft carriers.^[193] Israeli military officials said months-long planning preceded their strikes, allowing them to pinpoint their targets, attain "tactical surprise", and gain US support.^[194]

Attacking during the morning, rather than at night which was when most of Israel's previous attacks on Iran took place, added to the element of surprise. Israeli weapons included the newly developed Black Sparrow air-launched ballistic missile, fired from F-15s.^[172] Israel later stated its initial strikes used over 1,200 bombs in 24 hours.^[195] Iranian naval vessels were also targeted.^[196]

A sports hall in Lamerd was bombed during a girls' practice, killing at least 18 civilians.^[197] Communication services across Tehran were impaired following the attacks,^[15] and a near total internet blackout was reported by Netblocks.^{[198][199][200]} According to the BBC, Khamenei's office and the presidential office of Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran were hit during the strikes.^[198] Reuters quoted an unnamed Israeli official who stated that Khamenei's body had been found, confirming death.^[201]

A spokesperson for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces said that two of its fighters had been killed while three more had been injured during strikes in Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad.^[15] According to Iran International, quoting the Iranian Students' News Agency, thousands of IRGC personnel, including several senior officials,^[202] were killed or wounded as several military bases were attacked.^[192] It reported that the port city of Bushehr had also been struck; however, it was unclear whether the nuclear reactor had sustained any damage.^[192] Rafael Mariano Grossi, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief stated that no evidence has been found that nuclear facilities^[203] have been hit from these attacks.^[204]

Israel called up 20,000 in addition to the 50,000 reservists who are on duty.^[205]

On 2 March 2026, Khamenei's wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh was confirmed to have also died of injuries sustained in the strike.^[206]

At exactly 2:30 AM EST on 28 February, Donald Trump released an 8-minute video statement on Truth Social, saying that the purpose of the US strikes in Iran was effectively regime change. Trump said that Iran's "menacing activities" endangered the US and its allies. He cited the Iran hostage crisis, support for proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah, its killings of protesters, and its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. He asserted that in the conflict, "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war".^[207]

Trump urged members of the IRGC to "lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death". Addressing the Iranian public, he said: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." ^{[66][82][208]}

Shortly after, Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement saying Israel and the United States had launched strikes against Iran "to remove the existential threat" posed by what he called "the terror regime in Iran". Netanyahu accused Iran's leadership of decades of hostility, saying that "for 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called out 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America'", and described it as a "murderous terror regime" that "must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons". He said the joint US-Israeli action would "create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands", and called on the people of Iran to "cast off the yoke of tyranny".^[209] The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had labelled the strikes a "pre-emptive attack" intended to "remove threats to the State of Israel".^[188]

United States secretary of defense Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns raised by some Democrats in the US, saying "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives. As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties. War is hell and always will be."^[210]

Iran rejected claims that it intended to attack the United States, citing the aggressive posture of the US armed forces as evidence.^[83]

Iranian forces reacted within hours by launching missiles against targets in Tel Aviv and Haifa as well as the US military bases in the Persian Gulf region. The quicker response relative to that of the Twelve-Day War suggests a change in Iran's command structure, according to the BBC.^[211]

Iran targeted multiple US military bases throughout the Persian Gulf region.^[212] Bahrain activated air-raid sirens to warn of an Iranian attack on US military bases within the nation, with Arabic media saying explosions and smoke were seen in the capital, Manama.^[213][214] Bahrain later confirmed the strikes and said that the US Fifth Fleet headquarters had been targeted.^[215] Explosions were also reported at Kuwait International Airport and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.^[216][217] Following the missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, its Foreign Ministry summoned Mohammad Toutounchi, Iran's ambassador in Kuwait.^[218]

The IRGC said that Iran had targeted four US bases in the Middle East: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait (which also hosted Italian soldiers),^[219] Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and a video was posted in which smoke could be seen rising from the direction of the base in Bahrain.^[220] Saudi Arabia confirmed that there had been Iranian attacks on Riyadh and its Eastern Province.^[221] It claimed to have successfully intercepted Iranian attacks aimed at those areas and said that the Kingdom will "take all necessary measures" to defend itself, "including the option of responding to aggression".^[222]

The UAE stated that it had successfully intercepted a number of Iranian missiles and that one Asian national had been killed by interceptor debris which had fallen on a residential area.^[198][223] Qatar said that it had intercepted at least two waves of missile attacks, stating that no casualties or property damage had been reported.^[224] In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iranian aerial attacks targeted infrastructure hosting US military and civilian personnel, including Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate General in Erbil. However, according to local media reports, most missiles and drones had been intercepted.^[225]

A nine-storey building was hit by missiles in northern Israel, injuring one person.^[15] Strikes were reported in Haifa and Tel Aviv.^[226] A strike on a residential area in Tel Aviv killed a civilian woman in her 40s and injured 27 others.^[227] Reports claim missiles from Iran had hit Jordanian territories and the capital Amman.^[228][229] Jordan said that its armed forces had shot down two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting its territory^[198] and that it had handled 54 reports of falling debris that caused material damage but no casualties.^[230]

Residential areas of Dubai in the proximity of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina and the Dubai Palm were hit by strikes, setting the Fairmont The Palm hotel on fire,^[231] causing four injuries,^[15] as well as a residential building on the outskirts of Doha.^{[232][224][233][234]} Local sources say Iran used Shahed drones, which are among the weapons most used by Iran and its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah.^[235]

The UAE said that it had intercepted a "new wave" of Iranian missiles and that "fragments from the interceptions" had fallen in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing damage to Burj Al Arab.^[236][237] Strikes on Kuwait International Airport caused several undefined injuries.^[231] In Bahrain during the evening a tower in a residential area was reported to be hit by an Iranian drone.^[15]

According to an analysis in Reuters, by sending missiles at Gulf states, Iran has caused the Gulf states to realize that Iran poses a threat to them, and could thus cause them to support the US-Israel strikes.^[238] Former CIA Director David Petraeus echoed these sentiments, stating that Iran's targeting of other Gulf states was likely a strategic error that could pull additional countries into the war.^[239]

Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, announced the Interim Leadership Council on 1 March and accused the US and Israel of trying to dismantle Iran. He warned "secessionist groups" of severe consequences if they take action.^[240] Trump relayed to NBC News that "a large amount of leadership" in Iran had been killed.^[241] Israel launches a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets.^[240]

Iran launched missiles and drones on Israel, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.^{[242][243][better source needed][244]} The United Kingdom initially reported there were strikes against Cyprus,^[245][246] but later confirmed that there were not.^[247] Two oil tankers, the Palau-flagged Skylight and the Marshall Islands-flagged MKD VYOM, were targeted off the coast of Oman.^{[248][249][250]} As a result of the war and higher risk to ships, 150 freight ships, including many oil tankers, are stalled behind the strait.^[251]

To avert further Iranian strikes, the E3 (the UK, France, and Germany) resolved to back, if needed, "proportionate military defensive measures" against drones and ballistic missiles, signaling the potential for direct involvement.^[252] British prime minister Keir Starmer said that US can use British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iran^[253] and disclosed that Ukrainian and other specialists would aid Gulf efforts to foil Iranian drone strikes.^[254] CNN reported that Crown Prince Salman, with US backing, vowed to employ military force against further Iranian incursions, calling Iranian strikes "cowardly" due to Saudi airspace being closed to US and Israeli attackers.^[255] On 1 March, Trump announced that the US had accepted an Iranian proposal to further negotiations.^[256] Trump later said the US operations were to be completed within a four-week timetable in an interview with the Daily Mail.^[257] However, Ali Larijani subsequently ruled out talks.^[258]

Iranian strikes were reported on 2 March, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha,^[25] and Beersheba.^[259] The US embassy in Kuwait was struck and subsequently closed indefinitely.^[260][261] The US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative and the Honduras-flagged tanker Athe Nova were also struck.^[262][262] A senior IRGC official who is an advisor to the IRGC commander said he would set fire onto any ship coming through the Strait of Hormuz, and added that no oil will leave the area.^[263] Qatar shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers, making it the first nation to shoot down an Iranian aircraft in the conflict.^[25]

Israel and the United States attacked the Natanz Nuclear Facility^[264] and the Khatam-al-Anbia and Gandhi hospitals.^[265] A double tap strike on Tehran's Niloofar Square killed more than 20 civilians.^[266] A friendly fire incident took place when an Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 pilot shot down three US F-15 fighters.^{[267][268][269][261]} According to Saudi-owned Al Arabiya, in the evening, Israeli special forces and Mossad operatives carried out a ground operation inside Iran; no additional information was reported. Israeli authorities did not issue a response to the report by 3 March. No independent news outlet has confirmed these allegations.^[270]

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes against one another.^[271] Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in retaliation for Khamenei's killing.^[78] Lebanon banned military activities by Hezbollah after the attacks.^[272] Hezbollah later claimed that the attack was a "defensive act" after over a year of Israeli attacks despite a truce.^[79] It added that it restarted fighting to force Israel to stop its aggression and evacuate from seized Lebanese territories, emphasising that the move was unrelated to the war.^[80]

An IDF spokesperson issued an emergency statement stating that the attack is to be considered "an official declaration of war by Hezbollah", vowing to "neutralize" the threat.^[271] Israel struck southern Lebanon,^{[273][274][275]} Beirut, and the Beqaa Valley.^[271] The IDF said it killed the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters Hussein Makled in the strikes.^[276][277]

The Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was targeted by a drone strike around midnight local time, with one causing minor damage.^{[278][279][280][281]} Another strike on Cyprus led to Greece announcing that they would deploy frigates and F-16s to defend Cyprus from any further strikes by Iran.^[282] Later in the day IRGC general Sardar Jabbari commented that there was a US presence on the island of Cyprus and that Iran planned to strike the island "with such intensity that the Americans will be forced to leave".^[283][284]

The pro-Iran militant group Guardians of the Blood Brigade claimed responsibility for attacks on the US Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport and Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.^{[274][285][286]} The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for over 23 drone strikes on US assets in Erbil.^[287]

On 3 March, Israeli and US strikes reportedly destroyed the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) headquarters,^[288] the Expediency Discernment Council building in Tehran,^[289] and what Israeli officials described as an underground nuclear weapons facility called Min Zadai.^[290] Bushehr Airport was also struck, damaging the airport terminal and destroying an Iran Air Airbus A319 (EP-IEP).^[291][292] The proximity of these strikes to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (about 12 km (7.5 mi) away) prompted the Russian agency Rosatom to suspend construction on new units and evacuate non-essential staff due to a loss of communication with Iranian officials.^[293]

US officials said US forces severely damaged Iran's naval capabilities, mainly in the Gulf of Oman, where several Iranian warships have reportedly been destroyed and key bases hit.^[294][295] Israel also reported that it killed Daoud Alizadeh, the commander of the Quds Force's Lebanon branch, in Tehran,^[296] and that it detained a dozen Hezbollah members in response to a missile strike.^[38] Debris from an Israeli-US airstrike damaged Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,^[297] causing UNESCO to issue a statement that damaging UNESCO property is against international law.^[298]

Israel Katz authorized a ground invasion of Lebanon on 3 March.^[299][300] Israeli officials warned its attacks against Iran could become more intense and involve a deeper ground invasion.^[301] The US expressed reluctance to deploy its own ground troops to Iran.^[302] Trump said the US retained a "virtually unlimited supply" of heavy weaponry, but that it was seeking more supplies from other states. Trump added that he was confident in a "BIG" US victory.^[303]

Earlier in the conflict, Trump urged Iranians to "take over your government" and said that "America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force", framing US military action as an opportunity for a broader uprising. Trump also reshared opinion pieces arguing that "there is no need for a U.S. invasion force...the Iranian people are the boots on the ground", signaling support for internal resistance.^[304] However, the day before, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said he would not rule out sending American ground troops to Iran.^[305]

Western diplomats and other sources told The Jerusalem Post that Qatar had struck Iran after Iran had attempted to strike Doha's airport and Qatar shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers;^[302] Channel 12 also reported Qatari strikes.^[306] Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari vigorously denied the accusation that Qatar had joined the "campaign targeting Iran".^[4]

Iran continued retaliating with strikes on Israel and the Gulf states.^{[307][308][309]} Iranian general of the IRGC warned it would hit all economic hubs in the Middle East,^[310][311] and Abbas Araghchi said that any defensive European military involvement would be considered an act of war.^[312][313] Hezbollah launched drones and missiles at a trio of Israeli bases,^[314][315] and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for explosions in Erbil.^[316]

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump was open to supporting armed militias, particularly Kurds in Iran that have been in conflict with Tehran for decades.^[302] The Kurds have historically been a regional ally of the United States.^[317] The reports coincided with intensified strikes in the Kurdish-majority areas of western Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) targeting police stations, border posts along the Iran–Iraq border, and other security facilities, which some sources suggested may have "paved the way for a Kurdish advance"^{[302][318][319][320]} and also hinted at a strategy built around the Kurds.^[321] The human rights organization Hengaw stated that the strikes had already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Iranian security personnel in the Kurdish regions, which it said may have been "underreported".^[322] A few days after the start of the attacks, Trump also held calls with Kurdish leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's two main parties, Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, discussing what were described as "sensitive" topics.^[323]

The Kurdistan Region hosts several armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, which have declared their readiness to help topple the Iranian regime under the umbrella of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK).^[324][325] These groups had already become targets of Iranian strikes during the conflict, with Iranian drones and missiles hitting their bases and camps in the Kurdistan Region, and some also claimed to have carried out combat operations inside Iran.^[326]

According to ITV News, since the start of last year, weapons have been smuggled into western Iran to arm thousands of Kurdish volunteers, and Kurdish sources have told the outlet that US and Israeli forces were asked to provide air cover when any such ground operation begins.^[327] These reports were corroborated by CNN, which stated that the CIA was working to arm Kurdish forces to spark an uprising in Iran, and that President Trump had a phone call with Mustafa Hijri, the leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.^[317]

The IDF announced that an F-35I "Adir" shot down a Russian-made Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, the first time that an F-35 has ever shot down a manned fighter jet in air-to-air combat. It was also the first time the Israeli Air Force shot down an aircraft since 1985.^[328] Rubio announced that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are going to increase in their intensity.^[21] Israel attacks hit the Basij headquarters.^[329] According to Iranian sources Mojtaba Khamenei survived an airstrike.^[330]

Qatar arrested ten individuals for operating as a cell of the IRGC in Qatari territory, collecting data on military infrastructure, with some trained to use drones.^[331] An 11 year-old Kuwaiti girl died from her injuries following an incident related to Iranian shrapnel.^[332] The Al Udeid Air Base, which has been described as "the largest American base in the Middle East" was hit with no casualties, reported the Qatari Ministry of Defense.^[333] Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refining facility was hit by a projectile.^[334]

Larnaca International Airport was temporarily closed due to the sighting of an unidentified object. It was later identified as a drone from Lebanon attempting to enter Cypriot airspace. It was shot down by Greek F-16s mobilized in the area following Iranian threats.^[335][336] Reports suggested a closure of Cypriot airspace, but it was later dismissed as false by the Cypriot government, which also confirmed the existence of the unidentified object from Lebanon in the same statement.^[337]

A ballistic missile was intercepted by NATO forces in Turkey in Dörtyol, Hatay Province, with a statement following interception stating that Turkey reserved the right to defend its territory and that the ordnance had fallen in its territory.^[338] No casualties were reported by the statement. A senior U.S. military official said that it had been shot down by an SM-3 interceptor launched from the USS Oscar Austin.^[339] An anonymous Turkish official stated that the missile was directed towards "Greek Cyprus".^[340]

The pro-Iran militia Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed that they struck a "vital US asset" in Jordan, but this has not been confirmed either by an independent news outlet or CENTCOM.^[341]

Hezbollah claimed that it struck an Israeli tank in the town of Houla, Lebanon.^[342] Israel later said that two soldiers were injured by anti-tank fire in southern Lebanon.^[343] The rate of ballistic missile launches by Iran declined from the beginning of the war to 4 March, with analysts pointing to a depletion of Iranian missile and launcher stores as well as a strategy of rationing for a longer war as explanatory factors.^[344]

On 5 March, Lebanese Health Ministry said that those killed in Lebanon in the last 24 hours include seven children.^[345]

Non-essential American workers in Cyprus were asked to evacuate Cyprus due to the risks of a possible Iranian incursion in the future.^[346] After, the US State Department stated to avoid travelling to Cyprus given the current crisis.^[347]

In an emergency meeting in Rome, Giorgia Meloni and other Italian officials considered sending reinforcement to Cyprus following the deployment by other European nations (Greece, France, Germany and the United Kingdom), specifically considering the deployment of the destroyer Caio Duilio as a possibility (with capability up to 350 kilometers).^[348]

On 4 March 2026, the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena was sunk in the Indian Ocean by United States Navy submarines, approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) south of Galle, Sri Lanka. The vessel was transiting back to Iran following its participation in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the multilateral Exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam, India.^{[349][350][351]} It was the first ship sunk by a submarine in active combat since ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War, and the first by an American submarine since World War II.^[ac][354]

Preliminary reports and military sources suggest the frigate was targeted by a United States Navy submarine operating in the region as part of the broader escalation of hostilities between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran.^[355][356] The ship issued a distress signal at dawn, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force.^{[citation needed]}

According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, the ship sank in the early morning before rescue forces had reached the area.^[329] Thirty-two crew members were rescued and transported to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle for treatment of blast-related injuries and exhaustion.^[357] However, over 100 personnel remain unaccounted for, with at least 78 reported wounded during the initial strike.

According to an unnamed official from the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi-based Kurdish armed groups consisting of thousands of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) troops had begun a military offensive into Iranian territory, with operations beginning earlier on 2 March.^[358] American and Israeli officials reportedly confirmed the events.^[359] However, an unnamed PJAK official denied the claims of an ongoing offensive and cross-border troop movements, as did Aziz Ahmed, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region's prime minister Masrour Barzani.^[360] On 4 March, Trump held a phone call with Kurdish leaders in Iraq Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, during which they discussed the next stages of war in Iran.^[361]

According to Axios, Barzani and Talabani expressed reservations about getting the Peshmerga involved in any ground invasion on Iran,^[361] adding as a main cause of concern a massive military response from Iran against Kurdish forces in Iraq.^[362] Separately, Trump spoke with Mustafa Hijri, a Kurdish leader in Iran.^[361] Axios reported that Secretary Rubio told Congress that the US was not arming the Kurds, but he added that "you never know with the Israelis."^[361] White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Trump had not decided whether to support the Kurds in a potential offensive, with Kurdish militants inside Iran saying that they are waiting the American "green light".^[361] The assembly of PJAK called on the people of Iranian Kurdistan to form "local governance committees" and "self-defence committees", to resist displacement by government forces and to stay away from their known locations for safety.^[363]

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he had sent experts on the ground to counter Iranian drone strikes which had already operated in defensive actions on-field, adding more experts would come but in a shape and form which would not be detrimental to home security.^[364]

Iran said it targeted Kurdish groups in Iraq and warned separatists amid the expanding conflict. Early in Thursday, Iran launched another round of missiles at Israel, setting off alerts in areas including Tel Aviv. No casualties were immediately reported. According to The Guardian, Iran targeted a US oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.^[365] In response, Israel launched a widespread wave of attacks in Tehran.^[365]

An American Israeli airstrike destroyed the 12,000-seat indoor arena at Tehran’s Azadi complex. This came as it is known that authorities use several stadiums and sports centers in various cities to gather and station military and security forces, as well as equipment and vehicles, to shield them from US and Israeli strikes.^[366]

Two Basij student leaders who had been involved in the suppression of protests were killed in Israeli airstrikes.^[367]

It was also reported that missiles and drones coming from Iran struck the territory of the Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave.^[368] One drone fell on the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another landed near a school building in the village of Shakarabad, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, resulting in damage to the airport and injuries to two civilians.^[369] Following these injuries, Azerbaijan summoned their Iranian ambassador^[370] and promised a military response.^[371]

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied targeting neighboring countries and called for an investigation of the event. While a Telegram channel affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, "Sepah Pasdaran News Channel", claimed responsibility for the attack in Nakhchivan.^[372] Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said that "Iran committed terror acts against Azerbaijan".^[373] Turkey likewise condemned the strikes in Azerbaijan.^[374]

Several Western and Iranian news outlets, citing Israeli government sources, reported that Khamenei was deceased.^{[375][376][377][378]} Trump and Netanyahu both indicated they believed he was dead before his death was acknowledged by Iran, with Iranian officials initially denying this.^[15][379] Trump later wrote on Truth Social: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead [...] He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems."^[380] CIA assessments suggested that a hardliner from the IRGC would replace Khamenei.^[381]

Early on 1 March, Iranian state media announced that Khamenei had been killed.^[382] The Fars News Agency, which is controlled by the IRGC, announced that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law had also been killed in the strikes.^{[383][384][385]} The state declared 40 days of mourning.^[386]

Minister of Defence Aziz Nasirzadeh

IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour

Secretary of the Iranian Defence Council Ali Shamkhani

Head of the Military Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran Mohammad Shirazi

Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi

Reuters reported several commanders in the IRGC may have been killed, but could not confirm this report.^[387] It later reported, citing Israeli military and regional sources, that defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour had likely been killed by Israeli airstrikes.^[388] Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged but downplayed the losses, deeming them "not such a big problem".^[389]

Iran International reported that Defence Council secretary Ali Shamkhani had been killed,^[390] along with four top Ministry of Intelligence officials.^[391] The IDF later stated that it had confirmed the deaths of seven Iranian security leaders, including Shamkhani, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour.^[392]

Additional senior officials confirmed to have been killed are Salah Asadi, head of intelligence for Iran's emergency command, Mohammad Shirazi, head of the military office of Khamenei, head of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) Hossein Jabal Amelian and former head of SPND - Reza Mozaffari Nia.^[192] On 1 March, chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were confirmed by Iranian state media to have also been killed by strikes.^[393][394] However, later reports stated that Ahmadinejad is alive.^{[395][396][unreliable source]}

CBS News reported that "an intelligence source and a military source told CBS News Saturday evening [28th February 2026]" that 40 Iranian officials had been killed in the strikes but that they were not "clear whether these officials were in one location or multiple locations".^[397][398]

Iran's Foreign Ministry stated the military has lost control over several units, that are operating according to old general instructions.^[399]

On 4 March, Hengaw estimated that 2,100 members of Iranian military forces had been killed in the attacks.^[400]

At around 17:30 CET of the first day of strikes, the Iranian Red Crescent reported that 201 civilians had been killed and 747 injured in Iran, but this has not been independently confirmed.^[233] Two students were killed in a strike in Tehran, according to Qatari-owned Al Jazeera.^[401] A further 20 civilians were killed in Tehran's Niloofar Square on 2 March.^[402] On 3 March, the Red Crescent stated that over 600 civilians had been killed,^[403] while the Human Rights Activists in Iran estimated that 742 civilians had been killed in the attacks.^[43]

A girls' elementary school was hit in the Israeli and American attacks on Minab.^[404] with Iranian State-media reports stated that 148 students had been killed and 95 had been wounded in the strike.^[405] There is no independent confirmation of the number killed,^[406][198] although The Washington Post and The New York Times verified footage taken immediately after the attack.^[407][408] A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry called the strike a "war crime" by Israel, though Israel denied the attack and CENTCOM confirmed it was investigating internally.^[409] Thousands of people attended the burial of the victims, according to Iranian state-owned media.^[301] The New York Times mentioned that the school was less than 60 meters from a large IRGC naval base, which was equipped with powerful anti-ship and anti-air missiles.^[408]

The opening attack on 28 February targeted the compound of Leadership House. On 2 March 2026, video footage released by Iran International showed the IRGC Malek-Ashtar building in Tehran completely destroyed following a joint US Israel missile strike on the capital.^[410] In the early hours of 3 March 2026, the complex of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state broadcaster's headquarters in Tehran, was hit in a separate Israeli air operation.^[411][412]

Iranian authorities reported that parts of the broadcaster's facilities were struck but no casualties were reported.^{[413][unreliable source][414][unreliable source]} Iranian state-linked media indicated that Iran's parliament building was also targeted by airstrikes.^[415] Trump told reporters that "Just about everything's been knocked out" and that Iran had no navy, air force, air detection, or radar after the attacks.^[127]

Israel bombed Iran's Assembly of Experts as they were in a meeting to elect the next supreme leader.^[416]

By 5 March, the World Health Organization had identified 13 attacks on Iranian health infrastructure by the US and Israel, as well as one attack on a health facility in Lebanon.^[417]

The first connected Iranian airstrike targeted a building in Israel, leaving one Israeli civilian injured.^[418] Magen David Adom reported that Iran's initial attacks had left 89 injured, with three directly wounded and the rest indirectly.^[419] On 28 February, a direct hit in Tel Aviv killed a woman and injured 22 others, one seriously.^[420] On 1 March, an Iranian strike hit a synagogue and residential buildings in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people and injuring 49 others.^[421]

Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 reported that the number of Iranian strikes on Israel was 90, 65, and 25 for the first three days of the war, with 20 recorded in part of the fourth day.^[422]

On the first day of the war, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) initially stated that it had suffered no casualties, noting that light damage to its facilities had not disrupted its operations and that it had neutralized several hundred Iranian drone and missile strikes.^[423] At 9:30 a.m. ET on 1 March, CENTCOM confirmed that three US service members were killed and five others were seriously injured during the operation.^[15]

On 2 March it was announced that US fatalities had risen to six, with four others seriously injured.^[424] Four of the victims have been identified, who are, according to CENTCOM, all members of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.^[425] All 6 confirmed US fatalities were killed in a single Iranian airstrike on a base in Kuwait.^[426]

By 2 March, Israel did a ground incursion in southern Lebanon with forces from the 91st Division with the goal to stablish a "security layer" for the Israeli residents of northern settlements against the menace of Hezbollah, expecting to destroy their infrastructure in the Israel-Lebanon border. The Lebanese government reported that such Israeli preventive attacks reached Kfarkela and Qouzah, provoking the Lebanese army to do a redeployment from newly established border posts amid escalating Israeli activity in violation of 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement.^[427]

At least 31 people were killed^[428] and 149 were wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon,^[21] as well as three additional paramedics, according to Al Jazeera.^[38] Youssef Ragi, the Lebanese foreign minister, announced Lebanon's Council of Ministers decided to ban the military and security of Hezbollah, and called for them to hand over their weapons.^[429] Israel called for Lebanon to take action beyond mere statements.^[430] An NBC News analysis described Hezbollah as "significantly weakened".^[431]

In addition to its strikes against Israel, Iran launched strikes against Bahrain,^[432][433] Kuwait,^[434] Oman,^[435] Saudi Arabia,^[436][437] the United Arab Emirates,^[438][439] Azerbaijan,^[368][369] the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,^[440] and the Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Overseas Territory in Cyprus.^[441]

In Iraq, two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were killed and three injured in a US-Israeli attack on 28 February.^[442] A later report from The New York Times claimed three dead.^[443] On 1 and 2 March, the United States and Israel conducted several attacks on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias to degrade their military capabilities to conduct retaliatory attacks.^[444][445]

On 2 March, a Kuwaiti F/A-18 shot down three American F-15Es in a friendly fire incident. The six crew members survived. The United States embassy in Kuwait was also hit by an Iranian missile strike, prompting Marco Rubio to close the embassy until further notice.^[268][267]

Country	Killed	Injured	Missing	Ref.
Iran	1,145-4,145[ae]	5,402	Unknown	[43][446][40][41][447]
Israel	12	1,276	11	[18]
United States	6	18	0	[24][25]
Bahrain	2	6	0	[274]
Iraq	4[af]	3[ag]	0	[15][448]
Jordan	0	5	0	[57]
Kuwait	4	32	0	[51][332][31]
Lebanon	72	437	0	[45]
Oman	1	3	0	[449]
Qatar	0	16	0	[56]
United Arab Emirates	3	78	0	[450]
Azerbaijan	0	2	0	[451][452]

This section needs expansion with: the replacement Supreme Leader announced 4 March. You can help by adding missing informationadding missing information or making an edit request.

The killing of Ali Khamenei led to the creation of an interim government, the Interim Leadership Council, on 1 March.^[240]

Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying that the strikes on Iran were the largest that it had ever launched.^[188][453] Israel Katz issued a statement saying "Under my authority pursuant to Section 9C(b)(1) of the Civil Defence Law, 5711-1951, and after being convinced that there is a high probability of an attack on the civilian population, I hereby declare a special state on the home front throughout the entire territory of the country."^[454] Israeli schools and workspaces were closed and public gatherings were cancelled.^[68]

Because of the strikes and other safety concerns, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories closed multiple aid crossings in the Gaza Strip (specifically interrupting free circulation on the Egypt–Gaza border).^[455] Israeli forces suspended United Nations humanitarian movements and postponed planned rotations of international humanitarian staff (including medical evacuations and the return of people into Gaza), which the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned.^[456]

Amid the renewed "near total" internet blackout in Iran, NetBlocks reported that internet connectivity in Iran dropped to 4% of ordinary levels.^{[198][199][200]} As news of Khamenei's death broke, many Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration, though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets.^[457][458] Footage also showed security forces shooting at people chanting behind the windows of their homes.^[459]

After Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson held a televised press conference from a classroom in Tehran, concerns grew over Iran's use of civilian sites.^[460] Footage also showed Iranian security forces stationed in schools and hospitals across the country.^[460][461]

The Arab states of the Persian Gulf started a campaign of prosecution against civilians and foreign citizens that shared or reposted rumours from unverified sources about the Iranian attacks, with the stated main goal to curb misinformation that could harm public order.^[462] Bahrain's Cyber Crime Directorate also started a campaign of arresting civilians in the country, which has a large Shiite minority, who allegedly expressed "their support for the Iranian shelling targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain", describing such activities as treason and as promotion of hostile acts against the state.^[463]

As the US and Israel execute joint strikes targeting Iranian military and institutional targets, many cities have reportedly become ghost towns, as civilians fear going outside, or going about their daily jobs.^[464]

Iran's airspace was largely empty of civilian aircraft following the strikes as regional states closed airspace.^[472][473] Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE closed their respective airspace following the attacks, with multiple airliners being redirected to other destinations.^{[474][475][476]} International airlines like Air India, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air suspended services to the Middle East in view of the war, as did airlines based in the region, including Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways.^{[477][478][479][480]}

According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean a "catastrophe" for Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE.^[481]

A Reuters report cited an Operation Aspides official who said that the IRGC had closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, according to maritime VHF radio announcements. A European Union official reported that vessels have been receiving messages stating that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz".^[482][483] Late on 28 February, outgoing traffic was heavy, while ingoing traffic was light.^[484] Many vessels stayed outside the area, but some continued through. Three vessels were struck by projectiles, with partial damage,^[485] and an Iranian drone attack also killed a seafarer.^[486][249]

The current soft closure in Hormuz, alongside the fears of a declared blockade, has caused an increase in financial risk due to the impact in the prices for energy, shipping, insurance, aviation, etc. The war in the Persian Gulf theater has provoked speculation in the World economy, caused by the possibility of prolonged supply disruption, which will have broader consequences for inflation, currencies, and emerging markets. One-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and more than one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade is done by the extraction of oil in the Persian Gulf Basin and its commerce through crossing the Strait of Hormuz.^[487]

Houthi-controlled Yemen re-started its threats in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, which had been suspended since 11 November 2025 after the Gaza peace plan proposal.^[488] Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels (mainly the ones with business links to US or Israeli interests) through missile and drone operations against maritime traffic (in which other vessels could be targeted deliberately or in error) since the start of Gaza war.^[489]

Some sources claim that Houthis are planning to do incursions in the Arabian Sea and also use bases from the African side of the Red Sea, helped by their presence and some cells established in East Africa.^[490] Danish carrier Maersk, due to the risk situation in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, announced it was once again rerouting select services around the Cape of Good Hope route, instead of the Suez Canal one, to reach the Indian Ocean trade.^[491]

Following strikes on the island of Cyprus and the threats of the IRGC against the island, numerous nations^[283]—including France,^[492] Greece and the United Kingdom—decided to mobilize their armed forces in the surrounding waters and onto the island,^[493] vowing to protect it in case of an attack. The European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho [pt] stated that in the coming days following the attack the EU "mutual defence clause will be up for discussion".^[494] The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, called Iran a "criminal regime" and vowed that an attack on the Republic of Cyprus would be considered an attack on Europe.^[495]

Iran's response was to state that such acts of involvement in the conflict could be considered "acts of war",^[312][313] however analysts note that the European mobilization in Cyprus was not the reaction Iran expected and seems to have worked as a deterrent.^[496]

Observers in the countries of Cyprus and Greece noted how the war was perceived pretty vividly and fears of further escalation involving both nations is prevalent.^[497] Cyprus expressed worries of possible terroristic cells that could act within the nations on Iran's behalf from Northern Cyprus, where 10,000 pro‑regime Iranians live and where, allegedly, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood operate.^[498]

Tens of thousands of people within the Gulf region are stuck with few ways to leave.^[38] The US Department of State urged Americans in the Middle East to leave such countries due to "safety risks" as the war could last from four to five weeks or even more, recommending its population to use the available commercial transportation.^[499] The United States Department of State subsequently announced it was working on bringing Americans in the Middle East home, and stated they are in contact with more than 3,000 Americans there.^[21]

According to Trump^[21] and Rubio, almost 9,000 Americans have evacuated from the Middle East since the start of the strikes.^[38] A US state department official stated many more Americans are expected to evacuate.^[500] The United Kingdom's Foreign Office said it was developing plans to evacuate UK citizens in the region.^[501] Russia, through its embassy, made facilitations for Russians unable to leave Iran by liberalizing the route in the Iran–Turkmenistan border.^[502]

Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry started to develop plans for evacuation measures to help its nationals who were living in escalation zones, exploring routes through the Caucasus, Turkey or Central Asia.^[503] People started to leave the country through Azerbaijan's Astara crossing.^[503][504] Also increased the border crossing between Iran's Mirjaveh and Taftan to Pakistan's Balochistan province by Pakistanis in Iran.^[505] However, the UN refugee agency stated there has been no major exodus from Iran.^[506][507] The UAE announced its intent to repatriate 44,000 travelers.^[38]

Three Amazon Web Services data centers were struck and damaged as a result of drone strikes, leading to outages of web infrastructure within the Middle East.^[508] Two data centers were directly targeted within the United Arab Emirates, causing "sparks and fire" as well as "major structural damage", with internal water levels reaching up to 4 cm, alongside the mechanical failure of cooling and air systems.^[509] Meanwhile, a data centre within Bahrain was indirectly damaged by a drone strike on nearby infrastructure.^[510]

As the targeted data centres within the United Arab Emirates were in different availability zones, and Amazon infrastructure was only designed to withstand redundancy of a single zone,^[511] fundamental web infrastructure including S3 storage, EC2 compute and DynamoDB databases suffered complete outages within the Middle Eastern region.^[509]

Reports have emerged that prisoners in Evin Prison have been receiving limited bread and water since the onset of the war.^[512]

Iran's Foreign Ministry vowed a response as Iranian forces struck US bases across the Persian Gulf.^[212][513] The Supreme National Security Council said Iran was targeted by a "brutal air operation" carried out by the US and Israel, saying: "This occurred once again during negotiations, and the enemy imagines that the resilient Iranian nation will surrender to their petty demands through these cowardly actions."^[15] Abbas Araghchi called the attacks "wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate".^[479]

A holistic picture of civilian reactions in Iran is somewhat difficult to obtain due to the government's control over the circulation of information, the renewed internet blackout, and the ongoing heated nature of the war.^[514] The Daily Telegraph and Iran International posted videos of some people inside Iran celebrating the attacks, hopeful that they will bring forth an end to the ruling government.^[515][516] The New York Times, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published photos of some Iranians during pro-government rallies waving the Islamic Republic flag holding portraits of Khamenei while demonstrating against the US and Israeli attack.^{[68][517][518][519]} As news of Khamenei's death broke, many Iranians began pouring out into the streets in celebration, though security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets.^{[520][457][458]} Footage also showed security forces shooting at people chanting behind the windows of their homes.^[459]

Following the US–Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Iranians living abroad showed support for regime change in Iran. Celebratory rallies were held worldwide by the Iranian diaspora, where Iranians gathered waving anti-Islamic Republic symbols, including the Lion and Sun flag.^{[521][522][523]} Reza Pahlavi, a leader of the opposition and son of the former Shah of Iran, is supportive of Israel and the US, and states he is ready to have his transitional government take over if the Islamic Republic is overthrown.^[131][524]

Donald Trump confirmed that the US military had begun "major combat operations" in Iran,^[525] describing it as "a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America".^[526] In a video posted to Truth Social, he reaffirmed that "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people", adding: "For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted 'Death to America' and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries."^[527] Trump said that talks with Iran will be easier following Khamenei's assassination.^[192]

On the third day of the war, Trump said that the US military is "knocking the crap out of Iran but the big wave of attacks yet to come" and mentioning the possible use of ground troops.^[192] On 3 March, Trump said on Truth Social: "Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said, 'Too Late!'"^[127] Trump claimed victory and said that he had defeated Iran militarily.^[21]

Opinion polling showed that most Americans were unsupportive of US military action against Iran.^[528] According to The Guardian, 27% of Americans were supportive of the US operation while 43% were opposed and 29% were uncertain.^[529] Most Americans reported they believe that Trump still has not explained the goals behind attacking Iran.^[425] Polls showed splits on the issue on political and demographic lines. Most Republicans supported the action, while most Democrats and independents opposed it.^[528] Trump reacted to the disapproval by denying that opinion polling showed low approval ratings, also adding "I don't care about polling".^[530][531]

Some members of the US congress called for a vote on the War Powers Resolution, also known as the War Powers Act,^[532] that some other members asserted could have effectively ended the attack on Iran.^[533] Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, called the vote "dangerous".^[425] The resolution failed,^[534] mainly due to Republicans.^[535] Congress member Thomas Massie and former congress member Marjorie Taylor Greene said that Trump started the war as a distraction from ongoing disclosures relating to the Epstein pedophile network.^[536] The resolution was blocked by the Senate.^[537]

Netanyahu said the goal of the strikes was to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran", stating that "our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands."^[538] Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that military action against Iran was urgently needed "despite the significant risks involved", adding that "delay would have allowed the Iranian regime to reach a level of immunity for its nuclear programme, as well as to engage in the mass production of long-range ballistic missiles".^[539] Minister of Science and Technology Gila Gamliel said that 2026 Israeli legislative election will likely be brought forward to late June or July to allow Netanyahu bloc to leverage the war.^[540] On 4 March 2026, Defence Minister Israel Katz disclosed that Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026.^[541]

It was reported that European Union Commission president ⁠Ursula von der Leyen supports a regime change in Iran.^[542][543] NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, said that Europe is "supportive" of the US attacks on Iran, as Iran is a "threat".^[544] He also said that he felt that the US "knows what it is doing."^[545]

The Israeli and US attacks were supported at least in part by Ukraine,^[546][146] Albania,^[547] Argentina,^[548] Australia,^[549] Canada,^[550] Czechia,^[551] Finland,^[552] Germany,^[553] Kosovo,^[554] Latvia,^[555] Lithuania,^[555] New Zealand,^[556] Papua New Guinea,^[557] Romania,^[555] and Trinidad and Tobago,^[558] while being implicitly or explicitly opposed by Afghanistan,^[559] Armenia,^[560] Brazil,^[561] Chile,^[562][563] China,^[564] Kazakhstan,^[565][566] Oman,^[567] North Korea,^[568] Norway,^[146] Malaysia,^[569] Pakistan,^[570] Spain,^[555] Russia,^[546] and Vietnam.^[571]

Iran's retaliations were condemned by Austria,^[555] Bahrain,^[567] Belgium,^[555] Bulgaria,^[555] incoming president of Chile José Antonio Kast,^[572] Croatia,^[555] Cyprus,^[555] Djibouti,^[573] Egypt,^[574] India,^[575][576] Kazakhstan,^[565] Kuwait,^[146] Malta,^[555] Morocco,^[577] Netherlands,^[555] the Palestinian Authority,^[578] Portugal,^[579] Qatar,^[146] Saudi Arabia,^[221] Sweden,^[555] Syria,^[580] Somalia,^[581] Turkey,^[38] the UAE,^[146] as well as by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, who issued a joint declaration.^[582] Additionally, the United Kingdom permitted the US to use British military bases for defensive purposes,^[583] France sent its aircraft carrier towards the Mediterranean,^[38] and when asked whether they'll join the war, Canada said they "can't rule out participation."^[584] On 5 March 2026, French broadcaster BFMTV reported that France authorized American armed forces to use French bases amid the war.^[585] The partially recognised states of Somaliland,^[586] and Taiwan,^[587] also condemned Iran's attacks on the gulf states.

Mixed reactions or calls for peace were made by South Africa,^[588] Azerbaijan,^[589] Indonesia,^[590] Lebanon,^{[591][592][146]} Ireland,^[593] Slovenia,^[555] Vatican City,^[594] Uruguay,^[595] Uzbekistan,^[596] and Venezuela.^[597]

In addition to condemning both the Israeli and US attacks and Iran's counterattacks,^[555] Spain denied the use of its military bases for US flights connected to a military offensive against Iran, leading President Trump to threaten economic retaliation.^[598]

In Pakistan, the Army was deployed to supress the escalation of violence during pro-Iranian protests in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu, specially after Shiite demonstrators attacked on 1 March the offices of the UN Military Observer Group at Azad Kashmir. Similar action was done in Sindh during the attack on the US consulate in Karachi.^[599]

• 1953 Iranian coup d'état
• 1998 bombing of Iraq
• 2026 Cuban crisis
• 2026 United States intervention in Venezuela
• 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war
• Greenland crisis
• Jimmy Carter's engagement with Ruhollah Khomeini