2026 Iran war

The 2026 Iran war began on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on multiple sites and cities across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other Iranian officials. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel, US bases, and US-allied countries in the Middle East.

After the Middle Eastern crisis began in 2023, Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes in 2024, and Israel and the US launched airstrikes against Iran in the Twelve-Day War in June 2025. In January 2026, Iranian security forces killed thousands of protesters during the largest protests since the Iranian Revolution. US president Donald Trump responded by threatening military action against Iran and launching the largest U.S. military buildup in the region since the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. In mid-February, the U.S. and Iran began a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations.^[68]

The surprise US-Israeli attack, launched during the nuclear negotiations, killed Khamenei, other Iranian officials, and civilians.^[69][70] Subsequent attacks damaged military bases, government facilities, schools, hospitals, and cultural heritage sites.^[71] In retaliation, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at targets in Israel and at US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.^[72][73] Other Iranian strikes hit civilian infrastructure in Azerbaijan,^[74] Kurdistan, and Oman.^[75] A drone struck Britain's Akrotiri military base on Cyprus. Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.^[76][77] The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated into the 2026 Lebanon war.^[78][79]

Trump administration officials have offered various and conflicting explanations for starting the war,^[80] such as to ward off an imminent Iranian threat, to pre-empt Iranian retaliation against US assets after an expected Israeli attack on Iran,^{[81][82][83][84]} to destroy Iran's missile and military capabilities, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,^[85] to secure Iran's natural resources,^[86] and to achieve regime change by bringing the Iranian opposition to power.^{[87][88][89][90]} Iran, as well as officials from the Pentagon, rejected claims that Iran had been preparing an attack.^[91] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it did not have the access it needed to ensure that the Iranian nuclear program was exclusively peaceful, but that there was no evidence of a structured nuclear weapons program at the time of the strikes.^[92] UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and several uninvolved countries condemned the US–Israeli strikes; the United Nations Security Council later passed a resolution condemning Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf states.^[93] Critics of the war, including legal and international relations experts, have described the attacks as illegal under US law, an act of imperialism and a violation of Iran's sovereignty^[94][95] under international law.^[96][97]

The conflict caused surges in oil and gas prices, widespread disruptions in aviation and tourism, and heightened volatility in financial markets. Iran forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which was seen by some as a violation of the law of the sea, and Israel and Iran attacked energy facilities, disrupting global oil and gas shipments.^[98][99]

A US and UK-backed coup d'état in 1953 deposed the democratically elected Iranian prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh due to his nationalization of the oil industry and strengthened the rule of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.^{[100][101][102]} Israel maintained close ties with Iran as part of their alliance of the periphery strategy, as Iran was the second Muslim‑majority country, after Turkey, to recognize Israel as a sovereign state.^[103] Resentment of the Shah's deference to Western interests and his autocratic rule led to the 1979 revolution in which he was overthrown,^[100][104] after which Iran became an Islamic republic. The new regime, seeing both United States and Israel (themselves close allies) as meddling in the region, along with viewing Israel as an occupier of Palestinian land,^[103] severed diplomatic ties with both nations and held the American embassy staff hostage for over a year.^{[100][105][106]} Iran has periodically called for the destruction of Israel.^[107]

During the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, the US provided economic, intelligence, and indirect military support to Iraq. Toward the end of the war in 1988, a US warship was struck by an Iranian mine; in response, the US attacked Iran's navy. A few months later, the US mistakenly shot down a civilian Iranian flight.^[108] Throughout this period, Iran began to engage in proxy conflicts in the region, backing Hezbollah in Lebanon. In 2002, Iran's nuclear program was revealed, which was met with economic sanctions and a US–Israel cyberattack on Iran.^[108] In the 2000s, Iran began supporting militias fighting the US in Iraq. These proxies became part of an informal Axis of Resistance committed primarily to countering the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East. The conflict between the US and Iran became direct in January 2020 when President Trump, during his first term, ordered the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force.^[100][109]

Tensions between Iran and the US and Israel further escalated following the October 7 attacks on Israel and the start of the Gaza war in 2023, during which Israel weakened Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza,^[k] Hezbollah, and others. Israeli strikes on the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran were met with strikes on Israel in April and October.

Israel waged the Twelve-Day War on Iran in June 2025, which included an American airstrike aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear facilities.^[112]

Iran's AMAD Project was suspended pursuant to Ali Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear weapons in 2003. Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran at the time and one of the world's most senior Shiite religious leaders, issued his religious ruling banning the development of nuclear weapons of any kind.^[113][114] Iran has said it is not seeking nuclear weapons, and that its enrichment efforts are to generate nuclear power for civilian use.^[115] Some UK and US analysts concluded Iran is pursuing a strategy of nuclear hedging.^[116] UN Security Council (UNSC) concerns about the nuclear program of Iran from 2006^[l] were solved by the creation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.^[120]

The US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018^[121][104] and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, as part of a US turn toward the use of force rather than diplomacy in its relations with Iran. The first Trump administration adopted a "maximum pressure" strategy.^[122] The Biden administration did not relax the economic sanctions against Iran, and instead implemented more measures.^[123] The second Trump administration reimposed the "maximum pressure" approach on Iran.^[124][104] Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent labelled the collapse of the Iranian currency in December 2025 as the "grand culmination" of this strategy.^[125][126]

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;^[127] the United States Department of Defense estimated Iran's nuclear program had been set back by two years by its June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.^[128] 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.^[129]

At the State of the Union Address in late February 2026, President Trump stated that Iran had restarted its nuclear program and was developing missiles capable of striking the US.^[130] Days later, 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.^[131][132] The IAEA said that it had no evidence that Iran has an organized nuclear weapons program or is building an atomic bomb,^{[133][134][135]} but could not be sure that Iran's broader nuclear program was "exclusively peaceful" at the time of reportage as the agency was denied access.^[136]

Beginning in late December 2025, massive nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Iran. Originally driven by discontent over the economic crisis, they escalated into explicit calls for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic government. The protests became the largest in scale since the 1979 revolution with 5 million Iranians protesting.^[137][138] The Iranian government responded with massacres of protesters, with the deadliest incidents occurring on 8 and 10 January 2026.^[139] The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency stated it had documented at least 7,007 deaths and was reviewing an additional 11,744,^[140] the Iranian government said it was 3,117, while various non-government affiliated Iranian health officials gave a figure of 32,000 deaths.^[141][142]

On 2 January 2026, Trump threatened a "locked and loaded" military intervention in Iran if the government decided to kill peaceful protesters.^[143] On 13 January, he expressed support for Iranian anti-government protesters and pledged that "help is on the way" for them,^[144] 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.^[145][146] On 13 February, Trump ordered the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its supporting warships to sail to the Middle East.^[147]

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.^[148] A second round of nuclear talks was scheduled in Geneva.^[148] Between 15 and 20 February, Iran increased its oil exports to three times the normal rate, and reduced its oil storage.^[149]

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 IAEA;^[150] furthermore, Iran had agreed to irreversibly downgrade its current enriched uranium to "the lowest level possible". Al-Busaidi said peace was "within reach".^[151][150] Talks were expected to resume on 2 March.^[150] After the US and Israel attacked Iran, Al-Busaidi said that he was dismayed and that "active and serious negotiations" had been undermined.^[152]

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Iran had begun 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.^[153][154] Diplomats with knowledge of the Iran talks said Witkoff undermined the negotiations by misrepresenting the key exchange, stating that the US negotiators misunderstood the Iranian proposal, including Iran's offer to suspend uranium enrichment for several years and why Iran did not trust the US offer of nuclear fuel supplies.^[155]

On 14 February, the US publicly began preparing its campaign.^[156] By 19 February the US buildup was described as the largest in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.^[157] Netanyahu called Trump on 23 February to inform him about Khamenei's upcoming meeting with his top advisors and its location.^[158][159] On 24 February, during the State of the Union Address, Trump accused Iran of reviving efforts to build nuclear weapons and advanced missile capabilities that could threaten the US, Europe, and US bases overseas. He warned that the US was prepared to act if necessary.^[160] 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.^[161]

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.^[162]

According to The Wall Street Journal, US senator Lindsey Graham made the most compelling case to Trump for an assault on Iran.^[163] According to The Washington Post, crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman had multiple phone calls with Trump urging him to attack Iran,^[164] and Trump's decision to attack Iran came after the Saudi Arabian and Israeli governments lobbied him repeatedly to make the move.^[165] The claim was denied by Saudi Arabia.^[166]

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.^[167]

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.^[168] US and Israeli military intelligence officers identified that the senior Iranian leaders would gather at three meetings that could be struck simultaneously.^[169] Khamenei and his officials were above ground and in broad daylight. It is unknown how US and Israeli leadership were aware of their exact location.^[170]

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.^[171] 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.^[172] He also stated that the United States may have followed Israel into the conflict;^[173] Trump disagreed.^[174]

On 27 February at 3:38 p.m. EST (11:08 p.m. IRST), Donald Trump, traveling on Air Force One to Corpus Christi, Texas, gave the order to proceed with Operation Epic Fury.^[175][168] US missiles, drones, and Israeli fighter jets began striking Iran the next day, around 9:45 a.m. IRST (1:15 a.m. EST).^[176][177] The strikes took place during active negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.^[178][179]

The attack coincided with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslim people practice fasting between dawn and sunset.^[180] Iranian state media has dubbed the events as the Ramadan War,^[n] a term similar to the one used by Egypt and Syria during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 against Israel.^[181]

The operation was codenamed Operation Roaring Lion^[o] by Israel.^[182] The usage of the word lion refers to both pre-revolutionary Iran and the Jewish people.^[183] The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said that it had struck 500 military targets in western and central Iran, including air defenses and missile launchers, using about 200 fighter jets, in the largest combat sortie in its history.^[184] Iranian naval vessels were also targeted.^[185] Israel later said its initial strikes used over 1,200 bombs in 24 hours.^[186] A US official said dozens of US strikes were carried out by planes based around the Middle East and from one or more aircraft carriers.^[187]

According to Iran International, quoting the Iranian Students' News Agency, thousands of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel, including several senior officials,^[188] were killed or wounded as several military bases were attacked.^[189] Several strikes hit Tehran's Pasteur Street district, where Ali Khamenei's presidential palace is, and the National Security Council.^[190][191] It reported that the port city of Bushehr had also been struck; however, it was unclear whether the nuclear reactor had sustained any damage.^[189] On 2 March, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said there was no evidence to indicate that the US-Israeli strikes had hit nuclear facilities.^[192]

The strikes were coupled with cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure, media, and phone apps, including the BadeSaba Calendar prayer app, with messages calling on Iranians to rise up against their government.^{[193][194][195]} The cyberattacks resulted in a near-total internet blackout in Iran, lasting over 60 hours with connectivity dropping to as low as 1% of normal levels, disrupting government communications, state media, and public services.^[196][194] Iran has since restricted internet access to its people, allowing access only for government-approved users.^[197][198]

Israeli military officials said months-long planning preceded their strikes, allowing them to pinpoint their targets, attain "tactical surprise", and gain US support.^[199] 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.^[170] After the strikes began, Israel declared a state of emergency, citing expectation of an Iranian retaliation, and warned its citizens to remain in protected areas.^[200][201] Israel called up 20,000 reservists in addition to the 50,000 already on duty.^[202] The Israeli Ministry of Health moved its hospital operations underground.^[203] According to Iran International, Israel warned Iranian civilians residing near military industries and infrastructure to evacuate immediately.^[189]

At 2:30 a.m. EST on 28 February, Donald Trump released an eight-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, and its killings of protesters.^[204] Trump cited Iran calling "Death to America" and its history of attacking US civilians and soldiers as evidence of Iran's intent against the United States.^[205][206] Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu both warned of the potential threat of nuclear weapons in Iran and called on the Iranian people to overthrow their government.^[204][207] The Times of Israel reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the strikes a "pre-emptive attack" intended to "remove threats to the State of Israel".^[200] Iran rejected claims that it intended to attack the United States, citing the aggressive posture of the US armed forces as evidence.^[208]

Iranian forces reacted within hours by launching missiles in an operation it named Operation True Promise IV.^[p][q] The quicker response relative to that of the Twelve-Day War suggests a change in Iran's command structure.^{[209][210][211]}

Iran struck Israeli targets in Tel Aviv and Haifa^[211] as well as multiple countries throughout the Persian Gulf region.^[212] Major targets included Bahrain's capital Manama,^[213][214] Kuwait International Airport, the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi,^[215][216] Riyadh and Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia,^[217] and Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate General in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.^[218] Iran reported striking the US bases of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait,^[219] Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.^[220] Local sources said Iran used Shahed drones, which are among the weapons most used by Iran and its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah.^[221]

Reuters said that by sending missiles at Gulf states, Iran caused them to realize that Iran poses a threat to them, and could thus cause them to support the US-Israel strikes.^[222] 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.^[223] Despite President Pezeshkian's apology to the neighboring states for the strikes and order to the armed forces to stop the strikes, the Revolutionary Guards continued with the attacks, exposing a rift within the Iranian government.^[224]

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.^[225] Trump relayed to NBC News that "a large amount of leadership" in Iran had been killed.^[226] Israel launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets.^[225]

Iran launched missiles and drones on Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.^{[227][228][229]} The United Kingdom initially reported there were strikes against Cyprus,^[230][231] but later confirmed that there were not.^[232] Two oil tankers, the Palau-flagged Skylight and the Marshall Islands-flagged MKD VYOM, were targeted off the coast of Oman.^{[233][234][235]} Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a standstill,^[236] with 150 freight ships, including many oil tankers, stalled.^[237]

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.^[238] British prime minister Keir Starmer said that US can use British bases for "defensive" strikes on Iran^[239] and disclosed that Ukrainian and other specialists would aid Gulf efforts to foil Iranian drone strikes.^[240] CNN reported that Saudi 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.^[241] On 1 March, Trump announced that the US had accepted an Iranian proposal to further negotiations.^[242] Trump later said the US operations were to be completed within a four-week timetable in an interview with the Daily Mail.^[243] However, Ali Larijani subsequently ruled out talks.^[244]

On 2 March, the US embassy in Kuwait was struck and subsequently closed indefinitely; no casualties were reported.^[245][246] The US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative and the Honduras-flagged tanker Athe Nova were also struck.^[247] 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.^[248]

Qatar shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers, making it the first nation to shoot down an Iranian aircraft in the conflict.^[249] The Qatari Ministry of Defense announced that Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial Area were struck by two Iranian drones.^[250] On 6 March, it was reported that according to satellite imagery analysis by both Bloomberg and the Energy Economics and Society Research Institute in Tokyo, Ras Laffan, the main gas facility in Qatar, appeared to have not been damaged before the "unprecedented shutdown" which sent fuel prices higher.^[251]

The United States and Israel attacked the Natanz Nuclear Facility^[252] and the Khatam-al-Anbia and Gandhi hospitals.^[253] A friendly fire incident took place when the pilot of an F/A-18 of the Kuwait Air Force shot down three US F-15E fighters.^{[254][255][256][246]}

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes against one another.^[257] Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles on Israel, in what they said was retaliation for the killing of Khamenei^[258][259] Hezbollah later claimed that the attack was a "defensive act" after over a year of Israeli attacks despite a truce.^[260] It added that it restarted fighting to force Israel to stop its aggression and evacuate from seized Lebanese territories, emphasizing that the move was unrelated to the war.^[261] Lebanon banned military activities by Hezbollah after the attacks.^[262] 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.^[257] Israel struck southern Lebanon,^{[263][57][264]} Beirut, and the Beqaa Valley.^[257] The IDF said that it killed the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters Hussein Makled in the strikes.^[265][266] In Lebanon, the IDF killed Adham Adnan al-Othman, the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, in Lebanon.^[267]

The Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was targeted by a drone strike around midnight local time, with one causing minor damage.^{[268][269][270][271]} 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.^[272] 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".^[273][274] 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.^{[57][275][276]} The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for over 23 drone strikes on US assets in Erbil.^[277]

On 3 March, US and Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) headquarters,^[278] the Expediency Discernment Council building in Tehran,^[279] and what Israeli officials described as an underground nuclear weapons facility called Min Zadai.^[280] 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.^[281]

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.^[282][283] Debris from an airstrike damaged Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,^[284] causing UNESCO to issue a statement that damaging UNESCO property is against international law.^[285]

Israel Katz authorized a ground invasion of Lebanon on 3 March.^[286][287] They were later followed by a ground incursion in southern Lebanon with forces from the 91st Division with the goal to establish a "security layer" for the Israeli residents of northern settlements against 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 the 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement.^[288] Israel also reported that it killed Daoud Alizadeh, the commander of the Quds Force's Lebanon branch, in Tehran.^[289]

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;^[290] Channel 12 also reported Qatari strikes.^[291] Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari vigorously denied the accusation that Qatar had joined the "campaign targeting Iran".^[292]

An IRGC general warned it would hit all economic hubs in the Middle East,^[293][294] and Abbas Araghchi said that any defensive European military involvement would be considered an act of war.^[295][296]

On 4 March, US secretary of state Marco Rubio announced that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran would increase in their intensity.^[297] Israel attacks hit the Basij headquarters.^[298] Mojtaba Khamenei survived an airstrike.^[299] 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.^[300] 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 crewed fighter jet in air-to-air combat and the first time the Israeli Air Force shot down an aircraft since 1985.^[301]

Iran launched strikes against the Al Udeid Air Base^[302] and Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refining facility.^[303] The United States ordered the evacuation of non-essential workers in Cyprus in anticipation of Iranian strikes and issued a travel warning for the country.^[304][305]

A ballistic missile launched from Iranian territory was intercepted by NATO integrated air defense systems as it entered Turkish airspace, marking a significant escalation in the regional conflict.^[306] Turkey asserted its right to self-defense after the missile landed in Dörtyol, Hatay Province,^[307] and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte stated that the alliance was committed to defending Turkey.^[308] In a diplomatic response, Iran officially denied intentionally targeting Turkey, attributing the event to a "technical anomaly". Despite these denials, the potential invocation of NATO's Article 4 became a focal point of urgent discussions between Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan and allied leadership, as Turkey sought to reinforce the alliance's collective defense posture in the face of further aerial threats.^[309]

An Iranian Navy frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk in the Indian Ocean by United States Navy submarine USS Charlotte, about 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) south of Galle, Sri Lanka. The vessel was returning to Iran following its participation in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the multilateral Exercise MILAN at Visakhapatnam, India.^{[310][311][312]} The exercise required participating ships not to carry any ammunition, and the US likely knew the Dena was defenseless, since it also sent a maritime patrol aircraft to participate.^[313] It was the first ship sunk by a submarine in active combat since ARA General Belgrano was sunk by the British during the Falklands War, and the first by an American submarine since World War II.^[r][316] 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. The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 32 people and transported them to the Galle National Hospital, where they received medical treatment for exhaustion and injuries related to the blast; they also recovered 87 bodies.^[317][318] According to the Iranian army, 104 Iranians were killed and 32 were injured from this attack.^[319] It was also reported that the landing ship IRIS Lavan with a crew of 183 sailors had sought refuge and been interned at Kochi, India, late evening on 4 March, following the attack on Dena.^{[320][321][322]}

The government of Azerbaijan said on 5 March that two drones from Iran struck Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave^[323] damaging an airport and injuring two civilians.^[324] Alarms went off in the UK's military bases on Cyprus twice during the visit of UK defence minister John Healey, causing widespread panic and self-evacuations in the local population, but the bases confirmed in both instances that the missiles were not headed toward Cyprus.^[325] Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK's bases on Cyprus would be used to defend the airspace of Jordan from Iranian drones,^[326][327] while Italy, the Netherlands and Spain confirmed that they would be sending warships to defend Cyprus.^{[328][329][330]} Ireland stated that they would be willing to protect Cyprus and join the European defense coalition that had mobilized around the island if requested.^[331] The IDF killed Hamas official Wassim Attallah al-Ali in Beddawi, Lebanon.^[332]

Trump said on 6 March that there are "no time limits" for how long the war will continue for,^[333] and Hegseth stated that the war has "only just begun".^[334] Three Ghanaian peacekeepers enrolled in UNIFIL were hit by a missile and wounded in Southern Lebanon.^[335] The Iranian tanker IRIS Bushehr was interned by the Sri Lanka Navy, marking the first instance of a warship being interned in a neutral country since World War II.^[336]

In Azerbaijan, an alleged Iranian-linked terrorist plot was prevented by local law enforcement. They were accused of plotting to destroy the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy, and synagogues in Baku.^[337][338] A trial began on the same day, during which the accused were identified as being part of a cell of the Islamic State known as "Vilayati-Khorasan" and the IRGC.^[339][340]

On 7 March, the US sent a third aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush, to the Middle East.^{[341][342][343]} The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was placed on advanced readiness to defend British interests in the region.^[344]

Pezeskhian told reporters on 7 March that Iran would stop striking neighbors from 7 March onwards unless an attack originated from there.^[345] Despite this, Dubai International Airport was later attacked by Iranian drones.^[346] NDTV reported that following a week's hostilities, Iran might only have around one thousand ballistic missiles left.^[347]

On 8 March, Khamenei's second son, Mojtaba, was designated as Iran's new supreme leader.^[348]

On 8 March, US Central Command posted a message on X in Persian and Arabic which "strongly urge[s] civilians in Iran to stay at home" and alleging that "[t]he Iranian regime is knowingly endangering innocent lives by using heavily populated civilian areas to conduct military operations, including launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles".^[349]

Israeli airstrikes hit some of Iran's oil storage facilities, killing four people.^[350] Strikes on fuel depots near Tehran caused a "river of fire" to pour out along the streets in the surrounding area,^[351] and the city became engulfed in a cloud of thick black smoke, causing toxic acidic black rain to fall in the surrounding area.^[352] Residents were advised by Iranian authorities to stay indoors, wear masks when outside, and conserve food and fuel.^[353]

Kuwait reported that two of its officers were killed while performing duties.^[354][355] The Saudi Civil Defense agency said that a strike on a compound in Al-Kharj killed two people and injured 12 others.^[356] US Central Command announced the death of a seventh US service member from an Iranian attack.^[357]

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense confirmed that its forces had intercepted an Iranian drone headed towards Iraq. Additionally, the Ministry declared their intention to send a Merlin helicopter to the region to help aid in detecting future aerial threats.^[358]

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, a total of 65 schools and 32 medical facilities (such as hospitals and pharmacies) have been targeted since the war started, and more than 10,000 civilian sites have been damaged.^[359] On 9 March, NATO confirmed the interception of a second ballistic missile over Turkish air space,^[360] landing in the area of Gaziantep.^[361] Meanwhile, Turkey deployed six F-16s and air defence systems to Northern Cyprus to ensure its security.^[362]

Donald Trump claimed that "the war is very complete, pretty much", after speaking with Russian president Vladimir Putin,^[363] and said "we already won the war in many ways."^[364] Trump later went back on some of his comments during a press conference held later that day, supporting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in stating that the war was just the "beginning of building a new country" and that it would end "soon".^[365] However, Trump also said that the US will have the "most intense day" of strikes on Tuesday.^[366]

Following Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa's support for the Lebanon's objective to disarm Hezbollah,^[367] the group targeted the city of Inkhil in Syria.^[368]

About a dozen B1-B bombers arrived at bases in Europe. 5 landed at the Fairford Royal Air Force base, UK, joining three B-52 bombers, while 3 others were redirected to Ramstein Air Base, Germany.^[369]

GPS jamming of uncertain origin has disrupted navigation of ships near the Strait of Hormuz, which may lead to disastrous accidents for oil tankers.^[371]

The United States Department of State (supported by Saudi Arabia)^[372] designated the Muslim Brotherhood branch in Sudan (a Sudanese Islamist organization) as a terrorist organization due to its nexus with the Axis of Resistance.^[373] Members of their militia fought alongside the IRGC due to the contacts established with the Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion during the Iranian intervention in Sudan.^[374]

On 10 March, a senior IRGC commander stated that Iran was only firing missiles with payloads of 1,000 kg or more.^[375] AFP reported that Iran's attacks were the "most intense and heaviest" since the start of the war.^[376] This shows a shift in tactics from saturating air defences to high-impact penetration strikes.^[375]

Following the Syrian presidency's support for the disarmament of Hezbollah and a campaign of mobilization by the Syrian army on the Lebanese border,^[367][377] shells from Lebanon landed in the town of Serghaya, 20 km (12 mi) from Damascus where the Syrian Armed Forces forces presided.^[378] The strikes were confirmed by the Operations Authority of the Syrian Army.^[379] Later in the day, Israel issued an urgent evacuation notice to southern suburbs of Beirut.^[380]

US admiral Brad Cooper reported that Iran's ballistic missile launch rate fell 90% from day one of the war and their drone launch rate fell 83%.^[381] Defense analyst AJ Jaff reported that the missile launch rate fell 92% (480 to 40) and the drone launch rate fell 92% (720 to 60).^[382]

On 11 March, eleven B-1 and three B-52 US bombers were deployed to RAF Fairford in the UK, where long-range photography showed bombs being prepared for loading. This followed US war secretary Pete Hegseth's statement that it was the "most intense day of strikes inside Iran", though the targets of the mission remain unknown.^[383]

A branch of Bank Sepah in Tehran was hit by a strike, prompting the IRGC to warn that in the future, they could retaliate by striking US or Israeli banks in the region.^[384]

Iran hit Stryker, a US-based medical supply company with a cyber attack.^[385]

On 12 March, UNICEF reported that more than 1,100 children were injured or killed (200 reportedly killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, 4 in Israel, and 1 in Kuwait), hundreds of thousands displaced, and millions unable to attend schools from the violence of the war since it started. It also noted that these numbers will likely increase.^[386]

Iranian deputy intelligence minister Akbar Ghaffari was killed in an airstrike.^[387]

An Iranian attack set two oil tankers on fire off the Iraqi coast, killing one person and prompting Iraq to suspend all oil terminal operations.^[388]

The historical Safavid-era building of Rashk-e Jenan, also known as the Rashk Palace, was destroyed by direct US-Israeli strikes.^[389] Other buildings that were damaged according to Ruhollah Seyed al-Asgari, the deputy director of cultural heritage for Isfahan province, include Chehel Sotoun pavilion, the Rakib Khaneh Mansion, the Timurid Hall, the Ashraf Hall and the windows of Ali Qapu palace.^[390] Many of the affected buildings and monuments were legally protected by the Blue Shield International,^[391] which called damaging such sites a war crime.^[392]

Six French soldiers were injured in a drone strike at a base in Mala Qara, Iraqi Kurdistan. French president Emmanuel Macron announced on 13 March that one French soldier was killed in the attack.^[393]

On 13 March, to help deal with the economic costs of the war, the US temporarily lifted restrictions on the sale of Russian oil. However, oil prices have barely been affected by this.^[394]

Iran announced a coordinated offensive by IRGC Navy, the Iranian Army, and Hezbollah against Israel and US bases.^[395] Israel reported that 58 people have been hospitalized due to injuries following a missile strike.^[394] Iran again targeted Gulf countries with missiles and drones, causing oil prices to rise. Bahrain reported attacks on fuel tanks. Two people were injured when a "hostile drone" struck a residential building in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti authorities also stated that defense equipment and the country's main international airport were attacked, and six power lines were reported to have gone out of service. AFP reported that explosions were heard in downtown Dubai. At the same time, the British Maritime Trade Operations Agency said a container ship was attacked 35 nautical miles (65 kilometers) north of Jebel Ali in the UAE. According to Al Jazeera Arabic, sirens went off in every city across Jordan.^[396]

For the third time in the war ballistic missiles entered Turkish air space and were intercepted, with explosions heard in the proximity of the city of Adana as well as sirens from Incirlik Air Base.^[397]

Israel struck several IRGC checkpoints in Iran. According to Reuters, Israel attacked the checkpoints after receiving tip-offs by on the ground informants. Reuters also reported Israel had struck positions of the Basij used to suppress Iranian protests.^[398]

The US conducted a large-scale bombing raid on Kharg Island, a key oil export hub home to 90 percent of Iran's oil exports. Over 90 military sites were targeted while the oil infrastructure was not targeted "for reasons of decency", according to Trump. Oil prices have risen over 40 percent since the start of the war.^[399] According to CENTCOM, around 90 military targets were struck, while the island's oil infrastructure was not targeted.^[400] On 14 March, Kata'ib Hezbollah security commander Abu Ali al-Askari was killed in an airstrike on Baghdad, according to the group.^[401]

The first two floors of the Royal Tulip Al Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad's Green Zone were hit by a drone whilst hosting a European Union and Saudi Arabian delegation. The attack was not claimed by anyone; however, due to the proximity of a similar attack that had happened 48 hours earlier on the US embassy in Baghdad, there were suspicions of it being an Iranian attack.^[402]

On 16 March, US-aligned NATO nations in Europe rejected Trump's call to provide military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.^[403] Trump rebuked his NATO allies, calling their decision a "very foolish mistake".^[404] On 17 March, Trump made a statement on Truth Social renouncing NATO's assistance, and unexpectedly, US allies in the Indo-Pacific, namely Japan, South Korea, and Australia, for refusing to join US-led attacks on Iran during the war.^{[405][406][407][408]} In the same statement, Trump declared that the United States "[does] not need the help of anyone" regarding the war.^[409]

In the early morning of 17 March, several senior Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani and Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani were targeted by Israeli airstrikes.^[410][411] Both their deaths were later confirmed by Iranian state media.^[412] In response, Iran launched a missile barrage that killed two Israeli civilians in Ramat Gan.^[413] The same day, Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.^[414]

On 18 March, in a major escalation,^[415] Israel struck the South Pars natural gas field in the Persian Gulf and its neighboring refineries in Iran with US coordination.^[416] In retaliation, Iran attacked the world's largest LNG production facility in Qatar. Trump claimed he was not aware of the South Pars attack, promised that there would be no more Israeli attacks on Iranian oil infrastructure, and threatened Iran not to continue attacking Qatari energy infrastructure.^[417][418]

The same day, Israel said it had killed Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib in an overnight airstrike.^[419] Pezeshkian confirmed Khatib's killing on the same day.^[420] A hair salon in Beit Awwa was struck by a projectile, killing four women and injuring six,^[421] with Israeli authorities stating that it was most likely cluster munitions and Palestinian authorities saying it was an errant Israeli interceptor.^[422][423]

On 19 March, a U.S. F-35 made an emergency landing after a suspected hit by Iranian forces.^[424][425] A BAZAN Group refinery in Haifa was hit during a broader Iranian missile attack on the area as a retaliation for Israeli attacks on South Pars gas facilities.^[426][427] Netanyahu insisted that "You can't make a revolution from the air" and that "there must be a ground component — I won't share with you all the options", implying that there was a potential for limited assault operations involving soldiers on the ground in Iran.^[428] The U.S. began an aerial campaign against Iranian vessels and drones in the Strait of Hormuz as part of an effort to reopen it to international shipping.^[429]

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the intensity of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in the fourth week would "rise significantly."^[430] Admiral Brad Cooper said that the U.S. military had so far struck more than 8,000 Iranian military targets, including 130 vessels.^[431]

On 21 March, the U.S. conducted strikes on the Natanz Nuclear Facility using bunker buster bombs to target the site.^[432] Russia condemned the strikes on Natanz as a "blatant violation of international law," while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urged military restraint "to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident."^[430] In response, Iran struck the southern Israeli town of Dimona, injuring at least 78 people.^[433] Iran said that it targeted Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center.^[434][435] Shortly after, Iran conducted another strike on the southern Israeli town of Arad, injuring over 116 people.^[436]

Iran attempted to strike the joint US–UK military base at Diego Garcia on the Chagos Islands in the British Indian Ocean Territory, but the attack was ultimately unsuccessful.^[77] While one of the missiles broke apart mid-flight, another was intercepted by a SM-3 air defence missile launched by a US warship.^[437][438] Israel claimed that Iran used a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile to target the island.^[439][440]

The Houthi movement in Yemen warned that it would respond to any escalation against Iran, including efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It specifically warned the two Arab countries offering to join the Strait of Hormuz campaign—Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates—that they "will be the first to lose in this battle."^[441] Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, threatening to strike its power plants unless it opened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.^[442] Iran doubled down, threatening to "completely" close the Strait of Hormuz and strike vital infrastructure across the region such as energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water.^[443] Iranian opposition figure crown prince Reza Pahlavi called on Trump and Netanyahu to target the military while sparing civilian infrastructure which "Iranians will need to rebuild our country."^[444] Shortly afterwards, Iran claimed to shoot down an F-15 with a SAM unit over Hormuz Island.^{[445][446][447]}

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.^[448] On 5 March 2026, a military source told Fars News Agency that Iran had fired over 500 ballistic and naval missiles and almost 2,000 drones since 28 February. The report claimed that almost 40 percent of the launches were aimed towards Israel, and almost 60 percent were fired towards US targets in the region.^[449]

On 28 February 2026, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was assassinated. Early on 1 March, Iranian state media announced that Khamenei had been killed.^[450] The Fars News Agency, which is controlled by the IRGC, announced that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law Zahra Haddad-Adel (wife of Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader, who survived by seconds according to leaked audio, which an official said was due to the Will of God^[451]) had also been killed in the strikes.^{[452][453][454]} The state declared 40 days of mourning.^[455] CIA assessments suggested that a hardliner from the IRGC would replace Khamenei.^[456]

Iranian defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour were killed by Israeli airstrikes.^[457][458] Iran International reported that Defence Council secretary Ali Shamkhani had been killed,^[459] along with four top Ministry of Intelligence officials.^[460] The IDF later stated that it had confirmed the deaths of seven Iranian security leaders, including Shamkhani, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour.^[461]

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 SPND head Reza Mozaffari Nia.^[189] 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.^[462][463] However, later reports stated that Ahmadinejad is alive, or at least that reports of his death cannot be confirmed.^[464]

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".^[465][466] Iran's Foreign Ministry stated the military has lost control over several units, that are operating according to old general instructions.^[467] On 13 March, the Israeli military estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Iranian soldiers and commanders had been killed.^[468] On 18 March, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights estimated that 5,300+ members of the Iranian military forces had been killed in the attacks, up from 1,300+ on 2 March, 2,100+ on 4 March, 3,900+ on 10 March, 4,400+ on 14 March, and 4,800+ on 17 March.^[469]

On 17 March, Israel assassinated Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. This was confirmed by Iran.^[412] Fars News Agency reported that he was killed by a US–Israeli strike as he was visiting his daughter in the outskirts of eastern Tehran.^[470] Israeli intelligence officials on the other hand stated that they were able to track his movements after being tipped off by Tehran's residents and bombed him while he was meeting with other officials in a hideout in Tehran's outskirts.^[471][472] His assassination caused anxiety among Iranian officials who were concerned "that Israel would not stop until all of Iran's leaders were killed and the Islamic Republic toppled," as well as questions over who would be targeted next.^[473]

The NGO HRANA documented 3,114 deaths in Iran due to airstrikes by 17 March, including 1,354 civilians, 1,138 military personnel, and 622 unclassified. HRANA states that "military casualties are significantly higher than the figures reported in these reports," as confirmations depend largely on government data which is obscured "due to the sensitive nature of military information." Because of HRANA's "limited access to locations where military forces are present, [its] count largely reflects reports of senior officers or military personnel who were present in urban areas."^[474][s]

On 28 February, the Shajareh Tayyebeh girl's elementary school in Minab was hit by the American attacks, according to Iran.^[477] The school was located close to^[t] the Sayyid al-Shuhada military complex,^[481] of which it once had been a part.^[480][482] While there is no independent confirmation of the number killed,^[483][484] more than 175 people, mostly school children, were killed and 95 wounded in the strike.^[485] According to Iranian state-owned media, thousands of people attended the burial of the victims.^[486] A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry called the strike a "war crime" by Israel, though Israel denied the attack. CENTCOM confirmed it was investigating internally.^[487] Evidence assembled by US investigators^[488][489] and The New York Times suggested that the attack was carried out by the US.^[490] A video showed a US Tomahawk missile hitting a building adjacent to the school, adding to evidence indicating the US was responsible for the strike.^[491] On 11 March, The New York Times reported that preliminary findings in an ongoing investigation indicated that the strike was conducted by the US with outdated targeting data.^[492] UN human rights experts characterized the strike as a potential war crime under the Rome Statute.^[493]

A further 20 civilians were killed in Tehran's Niloofar Square on 2 March, according to Iranian-state owned media.^[494] On 3 March, the Red Crescent said that over 600 civilians had been killed,^[495] while the Human Rights Activists in Iran estimated that 742 civilians had been killed in the attacks.^[474]

On 7 March, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that over 6,668 civilian units were targeted by US-Israeli strikes, including:^[496]

• 5,535 residential units
• 1,041 commercial units
• 14 medical centres
• 65 schools
• 13 centres affiliated with the Iranian Red Crescent Society

The US reportedly used double tap airstrikes to maximize casualties.^[497][498]

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.^[499] 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.^[500][501]

Iranian authorities reported that parts of the broadcaster's facilities were struck but no casualties were reported.^[502][503] Iranian state-linked media indicated that Iran's parliament building was also targeted by airstrikes.^[504] 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.^[505]

On 3 March, Israel bombed Iran's 84-member Assembly of Experts as they were in a preliminary meeting to elect the next supreme leader^[506][507] on 8 March.^[508][509]

By 5 March, the World Health Organization had identified 13 Iranian health infrastructure sites that were hit during the war, as well as one health facility in Lebanon.^[510] The Iranian Foreign Minister said that the US had struck a desalination plant on Qeshm Island, disrupting clean water supplies to 30 villages, but both the US and Israel denied making such an attack.^[511][352]

The Russian consulate in Isfahan was damaged by the US-Israel airstrikes.^[512]

On 2 March, the US announced that US fatalities had risen to six, with four others seriously injured.^[513] Four of the victims have been identified, who are, according to CENTCOM, all members of the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.^[514] A single Iranian drone strike on a base in Kuwait was responsible for six US military fatalities.^[515] On 4 March, US Marine Corps lance corporal Kevin Melendez died in Saudi Arabia by non-hostile incident.^[516] Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, a soldier wounded during an attack in Saudi Arabia on 1 March, died from their injuries on 9 March.^[517] On 8 March, CENTCOM reported a National Guard soldier died from a "health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency".^[518]

Six American military airmen were killed on 12 March when their KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while supporting US military operations. CENTCOM said that the crash was not the result of hostile action and that it had resulted during an incident involving another US aircraft inside "friendly airspace". By 13 March, the US military publicly announced that about 140 American servicemen had been injured during the war.^[519]

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the theatre, was damaged by a fire that broke out 12 March. The U.S. Navy said the fire, which injured multiple^[u] sailors, started in a laundry area and was not combat-related.^[524] The carrier had already been dealing with other mechanical issues, including a malfunctioning sewage treatment system, since before it arrived in the Middle East.^[525] According to multiple reports on 17–18 March, Gerald R. Ford withdrew from supporting combat operations and sailed toward the Crete Naval Base for repairs.^{[521][523][526]}

The first connected Iranian airstrike targeted a building in Israel, leaving one Israeli civilian injured.^[527] Magen David Adom reported that Iran's initial attacks had left 89 injured, with three directly wounded and the rest indirectly, most of them civilians.^[528] On 28 February, a direct hit in Tel Aviv killed a civilian woman and injured 22 others, one seriously.^[529] On 1 March, an Iranian strike hit a synagogue and residential buildings in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people and injuring 49 others.^[530] On 9 March, two workers were killed in Yehud, outside of Tel Aviv, after being struck by submunitions from an Iranian missile equipped with a cluster bomb warhead while working outdoors at a construction site.^[531][532] On 17 March, a cluster munition from the warhead of an Iranian missile hit an apartment building in Ramat Gan and killed two residents in their 70s, who were found just outside their safe room.^[533] A statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called the barrage that killed the two civilians "revenge for the blood of martyr Dr. Ali Larijani and his companions," who had been killed a day before as the target of an Israeli airstrike.^[534] According to CNN, the use of cluster bombs is against international law, with N.R. Jenzen-Jones of Armament Research Services telling CNN that this type of warhead is being used "primarily to sow terror amongst a civilian population."^[535] The executive director of the Arms Control Association called the Iranian targeting of cluster munition warheads at residential sections of Israel during the war as deliberate, saying that "Iran appears to be launching them into relatively populated areas, probably with the goal of producing potential civilian harm."^[536] Neither Iran nor Israel is party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions,^[537] and both Israel and Iran are among 17 countries that either produce cluster munitions, or reserve the right to do so.^[538]

Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 reported that 90, 65, 25, and then 20 missiles were launched at Israel from Iran on each of the first four days of the war.^[539] Although the number of missiles in each volley has decreased, the missiles themselves have increased in size and impact.^[540] On 9 March, Israel said that Lebanon has made more attacks against them than Iran has over the past week.^[541]

Since the outbreak of the war, 10 Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israelis in the West Bank, including two children who were killed by Israeli soldiers.^{[542][543][544]}

At least 1,001 people were killed and 2,584 more were wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon,^[545][546] and Lebanon states more than one million^[547] Lebanese nationals, corresponding to 1/6th of the tiny nation,^[548] were displaced.^[319][549] Youssef Ragi, the Lebanese foreign minister, announced that Lebanon's Council of Ministers decided to ban the military and security of Hezbollah, and called for them to hand over their weapons.^[550] Israel called for Lebanon to take action beyond mere statements,^[551] and Katz said that if they don't, then Israel will invade Lebanon and do this themselves.^[552] An NBC News analysis described Hezbollah as "significantly weakened".^[550] Sami Nader, the director of the Institute of Political Science at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, described the situation as a "tipping point".^[553]

The UNHCHR reported on 10 March that 700,000 Lebanese had been displaced by the war.^[554] Israel's army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said they will "deepen the operation" in Lebanon.^[555]

In Iraq, two members of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed and three injured in a US-Israeli attack on 28 February.^[556] A later report from The New York Times estimated three dead.^[557] 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.^[558][559] 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 Rubio to close the embassy until further notice.^[255][254]

In addition to its strikes against Israel, Iran launched strikes against multiple Gulf states. Iranian strikes against Bahrain killed three people.^[561][562] Strikes against Kuwait killed four soldiers and four civilians.^[563] Strikes against Oman killed three people.^[564] Strikes against Saudi Arabia killed 2 people.^[565][566] Strikes against the United Arab Emirates killed two soldiers and six civilians.^[567]

There were also strikes in Qatar,^[568][569] Azerbaijan,^[323][324] the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,^[570] and the Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Overseas Territory on Cyprus.^[571]

Also the Iranian attacks affected military infrastructure from NATO countries in the region, "including an Italian installation in Iraq and Kuwait, and a French naval facility in the United Arab Emirates."^[572]

Country	Killed	Injured	Ref.
Total	4,211–8,524+	26,700+
Iran	3,230–7,378[w]	19,324	[573][574][576][577]
Lebanon	1,021	2,641	[578]
Iraq	73[x]	139[y]	[581][582][35][583][584]
Israel	22	4,292	[585][586][587][588][589]
United States	15	232	[249][590][576]
Palestine (West Bank)	10	Unknown	[542][543]
United Arab Emirates	8	157	[44][591]
Kuwait	8	99	[592][593][594][595][596]
Qatar	4	16	[55][597]
Oman	3	5	[61][576][598]
Bahrain	3	38	[599][57][600][587]
Turkey	3	0	[597]
Saudi Arabia	2	16	[576]
France	1	Several	[393]
Jordan	0	19	[576]
Azerbaijan	0	4	[601]

Country / Territory	Ballistic missiles	Drones/UAVs	Ref.
Total	1,209+	2,194+
United Arab Emirates	314	1,672	[602]
Saudi Arabia	3+	83	[603][604][605]
Qatar	101	63	[603][604]
Bahrain	102	171	[603][606]
Oman	0	14	[603][607]
Kuwait	178	154	[603][608]
Jordan	60	59	[603][382]
Iraq	20	40	[382]
Azerbaijan	0	3	[382]
Turkey	1	0	[382]
Akrotiri and Dhekelia	0	1	[382]
Israel	220	110	[609]

The death of Ali Khamenei triggered an election for a new supreme leader. Under the terms of Iran's constitution, an Interim Leadership Council was established on 1 March to exercise the functions of Iran's head of state until a new supreme leader is elected.^[225]

Mojtaba Khamenei was elected on 8 March 2026 to replace his father as supreme leader,^[610] and the IRGC, as well as Iran's top leaders (including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ali Larijani, and Masoud Pezeshkian^[611]) pledged their allegiance to him.^[612] According to an analyst, Ali Khamenei had no role in choosing this successor.^[611] Trump called the new supreme leader "lightweight",^[587] and threatened that he would not last long without his approval.^[613] Israel echoed this sentiment.^[600]

As the US and Israel executed joint strikes targeting Iranian military and institutional targets, many cities reportedly became ghost towns, as civilians feared going outside or to their daily jobs.^[614] Reports have emerged that prisoners in Evin Prison have been receiving limited bread and water since the onset of the war.^[615] After the strikes, schools were ordered closed while banks and government offices remained in operation at reduced capacity. Local media reported that subway and bus services would remain operational.^[616]

Amid the renewed "near total" internet blackout in Iran, NetBlocks reported that internet connectivity in Iran dropped to 4% of ordinary levels.^{[484][617][618]} While the internet blackout has exceeded 240 hours, making it the second longest ever, the government started handing out "white sim cards", which bypass filters, to government supporters, in order to allow them to promote its messaging.^[619][198] As news of Khamenei's death broke, security forces were deployed to prevent an uprising, with footage showing them opening fire on celebrants in the streets^{[620][621][622]} and shooting at people chanting behind the windows of their homes.^[623]

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump had been open to supporting armed militias, particularly Kurds in Iran that have been in armed conflict with Tehran for decades^[290] and have historically been a regional ally of the United States.^[624] However, Trump later said he had ruled out sending the Kurds to Iran.^[625]

Several historic and cultural sites, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, were damaged during the war. On 2 March, a strike on Arg Square damaged nearby Golestan Palace, prompting UNESCO to issue a statement of concern.^[626][627] On 5 March, the Azadi Sport Complex was bombed.^[628] An 8 March strike on Falak-ol-Aflak, which was marked with a blue shield emblem, damaged several sections of the site.^[629] Strikes on Isfahan on 9 March damaged Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Chehel Sotoun, Ali Qapu, the Shah Mosque, Jameh Mosque, and Teymouri Hall.^[630][629] On 11 March, UNESCO urged protection for Iran's heritage sites and World Heritage Sites that have been damaged or are under high risk due to the war, alongside other historic sites in Israel, Lebanon, and across the Middle East.^[631]

Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying that the strikes on Iran were the largest that it had ever launched.^[200][632] Israeli schools and workspaces were closed and public gatherings were canceled.^[633]

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).^[634] 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.^[635]

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in occupied West Bank has increased; settlers have taken advantage of curbs on movement imposed during the renewed Israeli state of emergency. The renewed blocking of West Bank roads (in the context of the 2026 Lebanon war) has delayed medics from assisting injured Palestinians.^[636] The EU stated on 10 March that the Israeli actions were unacceptable and urged the Israeli authorities to make immediate efforts to prevent the violence against Palestinian civilians under international law, warning that "impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence".^[637]

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.^[638] 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.^[639] Trump said "Even if we knew Gulf countries would be hit, big deal we did what we have to do".^[555]

The war has global economic consequences: The conflict led to immediate surges in oil and gas prices, widespread disruptions in aviation and tourism, and heightened volatility in financial markets.^[640][641]

The head of International Energy Agency (IEA) described the situation caused by the war as the "greatest global energy security challenge in history".^[642]

Analysts projected potential global inflation increases and risks of recession if disruptions persisted, particularly through closures of key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on gas and oil facilities.^[640][641]

Oil prices rose following a reduction in traffic through the strait, and strikes on oil facilities in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.^[643] Oil prices went over US$100 per barrel^[587] to $114 per barrel,^[587] the highest prices since the COVID-19 pandemic. An expert warned that if this continues, this could lead into a worldwide economic recession.^[644] Gas prices also rose,^[250] and analysts said raising the world's prices was a part of the Iranian government's plan to apply pressure on the world to stop the war.^[645]

On 6 March, Qatar's energy minister Saad al-Kaabi warned that if the war continues other Gulf energy producers may be forced to halt exports and declare force majeure, and that "this will bring down economies of the world".^[646] Stock markets experienced declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling over 400 points (one percent) on 2 March.^[647] Broader economic forecasts warned of inflationary pressures and slowed global growth if the conflict prolonged.^[648]

The UN World Food Programme and various economic analysts have warned that the war is driving significant, long-term increases in global food prices.^[649][650] A near-total halt of tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the supply of fuel and essential fertilizers, threatening global food security and echoing the 2022 food crisis.^[651][652] The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) stated that nearly 50% of global urea and sulfur exports, as well as 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG)—a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizers—transit through the Strait of Hormuz.^[653]

Iran's airspace was largely empty of civilian aircraft following the strikes as regional states closed airspace.^[654][655] Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE closed their respective airspace following the attacks, with multiple airliners being redirected to other destinations.^{[656][657][658]} Some regional-based and International airlines suspended services to the Middle East in view of the war.^[659] According to a Wirtschaftswoche analysis, prolonging the conflict would mean a "catastrophe" for Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE.^[660]

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 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 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.^[661] By 12 March, the UKMTO had received reports of 16 attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf since the start of hostilities. Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader, said the Strait of Hormuz would continue to be closed to pressure the US.^[662] However, Iran said that ships can come through the Hormuz as long as they cooperate with the Iranian navy.^[662] Araghchi said the Hormuz would be open overall but closed to Iran's enemies.^[555]

Houthi-controlled Yemen restarted its threats in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, which had been suspended since 10 October 2025 after the Gaza peace plan proposal.^[663] Some security 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.^[664]

Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, stressed the importance of protecting Yemen from being dragged into a new cycle of regional confrontations and urged the Houthis to refrain from escalatory actions, saying that "No party has the right to drag the country into a broader conflict that would bring more suffering to the Yemeni people."^[665][666]

As of 4 March, hostilities had not resumed as there was reportedly internal debate inside the group over its response.^[667] On 5 March, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a recorded address that his group stood with Iran in the ongoing war and was prepared to take action if developments required it, stating, "Our hands are on the trigger whenever developments require it", and warning that the group remains ready to intervene if the situation escalates further.^[668][669]

By 7 March, the Houthis had released only three declarations, with a tone characterized as more disciplined and subdued this time, unlike its usual bellicose approach on other conflicts of the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present), seeming more as political and emotional statements in favour of Iran rather than practical and military solidarity. Such pragmatist attitude has been influenced by the 2025 United States–Houthi ceasefire, not wanting to open multiple fronts in the current Yemeni civil war, which has been waging since 2014 and to focus on ending the conflict with Saudi Arabia.^[670][671]

On 15 March, the Associated Press reported that the weapons stockpile of the Houthis is running low after repeated attacks on Israel during the Gaza war, while Iran's ongoing conflict has further disrupted weapons supplies, though the group retains a significant stockpile of drones. Despite these limitations, the Houthis have been recruiting fighters, expanding local weapons production, and reinforcing positions along the Red Sea coast, including the port city of Hodeidah, signaling potential escalation. Unlike Hezbollah's immediate intervention, the Houthis appear to act according to Iran's gradual deployment strategy, likely intervening only if the conflict widens or if Iran faces a serious threat to its military capabilities.^[672][673]

On 16 March, The Times reported that the Houthis are currently waiting for an approval from Iran to resume their attacks should Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz be weakened by the US. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 30 oil tankers near the Saudi port city of Yanbu are currently within the Houthis' attack range.^[674]

On 20 March, senior Houthi politburo member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti declared that "All options at the military level are possible"^[675] and mentioned that the group was considering a naval blockade and would specifically target vessels belonging to "aggressor countries" involved in military actions against "Iran, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq", to support Iran's ongoing "confrontation with the United States and Israel."^[676]

Three Amazon Web Services data centers in the United Arab Emirates were struck and damaged as a result of drone strikes, leading to outages of web infrastructure within the Middle East,^[677] causing "sparks and fire" as well as "major structural damage" for 2 of the data centers, with internal water levels reaching up to 4 cm, alongside the mechanical failure of cooling and air systems.^[678] As the targeted data centers within the United Arab Emirates were in different availability zones, and Amazon infrastructure was only designed to withstand redundancy of a single zone,^[679] fundamental web infrastructure including S3 storage, EC2 compute and DynamoDB databases suffered complete outages within the Middle Eastern region.^[678]

On 2 March, four days into the war, the Center for American Progress already estimated the cost to the US at $5 billion.^[680] Analysts for CNN said that the cost was at least US$890 million per day.^[681] The first 6 days of the offensive cost the United States US$12.7 billion the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated.^[682] with munitions alone costing at least $11.3 billion, per the Pentagon.^[683]

On 11 March, The New York Times reported that Iranian attacks caused damage to at least 17 US sites in the Middle East.^[684] On 19 March, A US F-35 was damaged by Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran. The aircraft made an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East.^[425] IRGC published a footage of the shooting.^[685]

In comparison, the monetary costs of Iranian attacks have been much lower than the costs of neutralizing them: PATRIOT and THAAD interceptors are US$4 million and US$12 million, respectively, as opposed to US$50,000 for a Shahed drone.^[375]

Iran's foreign ministry vowed a response as Iranian forces struck US bases across the Persian Gulf.^[212][686] 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."^[581] Abbas Araghchi called the attacks "wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate".^[687] An IRGC general announced that Iran is capable of fighting for a long time.^[688] Iranian officials have rejected Trump's attempt to insert himself into the government's succession plans.^[689] Pezeshkian said that US should take their unconditional surrender demand "to their grave".^[690] Pezeshkian apologized for the attacks on neighboring nations, stating that Tehran would suspend them until an attack originated from there and attributed the strikes to "miscommunication in the ranks".^[690][345] The statement highlights internal power structure, and clear distinction between non-security branch, as Pezeshkian, representing tripartite leadership council, and security branch with a Revolutionary Guard having main and independent role in military operations decision making.^[345][691] At a later date, Pezeshkian said that Iran has no choice but to target other Muslim countries because he alleges that the US and Israel are exploiting their territory to commit crimes against Iran.^[692]

On 15 March, the Revolutionary Guard said that it would try to assassinate Netanyahu.^[693] The Iranian ambassador to Saudis denied strikes on their oil facilities.^[694]

On 19 March, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmail Baghaei, in an interview on ABC News in Australia, accused the US and Israel of "terrorist acts" by assassinating top figures in Iran in an "illegal war". He also said that Australia's military assets in the Gulf were legitimate targets for Iran's self-defence, after the Australian Government had deployed a surveillance aircraft along with personnel and defensive air-to-air missiles to the UAE.^[695][696]

On 20 March, Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi issued an escalatory warning aimed at U.S. and Israeli military and political personnel involved in the strike against Iran. In a statement released via state media, he claimed Iran was tracking the movements of “officials, commanders, and pilots” beyond active conflict zones and warned that public and recreational locations would no longer be safe for them. Analysts interpreted this as a signal of Iran’s intent to expand asymmetric “shadow war” tactics beyond the battlefield.^[697]

A holistic picture of civilian reactions in Iran is 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.^[698] In the initial aftermath of the strikes, there was evidence of both celebration and mourning at the killing of Iranian leadership.^[699] Photos and videos showed people inside Iran celebrating the attacks, hopeful that they will bring forth an end to the ruling government,^[700][701] as well as pro-government rallies with participants waving the Islamic Republic flag and holding portraits of Ali Khamenei, while demonstrating against the US and Israeli attack.^{[702][703][704]} After Mojtaba Khamenei was named the next supreme leader on 8 March, video showed chants of "Death to Mojtaba" heard from the windows of an apartment block in Tehran.^[705][706] There was no immediate evidence of an uprising against the government.^[699] During the 17 March Chaharshanbe Suri festivities ahead of the Nowruz holiday, many Iranians defied orders from the authorities and celebrated in the streets, with footage showing security forces firing gunshots to disperse crowds.^[707][708] Protests from home windows continued, including chants of "Javid Shah", and residents were seen cheering and setting off fireworks from their homes following news of Ali Larijani's death.^[709][710] On 18 March, thousands of civilians joined a funeral procession for Ali Larijani.^[416] Civilians also expressed fear, grief and anger at the US-Israeli strikes, and at civilian casualties caused by them.^[711][712] Some civilians who had opposed the Islamic Republic and supported regime change later recoiled at the prolonged and violent nature of the war. An Iranian sociologist said that the war was causing a rally around the flag effect.^[713]

Following the US–Israeli airstrikes on Iran, some Iranians living abroad showed support for regime change in Iran.^[715] Celebratory rallies were held worldwide by many members of the Iranian diaspora, where Iranians gathered waving anti-Islamic Republic symbols, including the Lion and Sun flag.^{[716][717][718]} Some Iranians expressed support of US-Israeli action and hoped the war will lead to the liberation of Iran. The Guardian reported an Iranian describing the war not as an invasion but a liberation of Iran.^[719]

Reza Pahlavi, the most prominent leader of the opposition and son of the former Shah of Iran, expressed support for strikes targeting government and military sites, while also urging that civilians not be harmed. He called on members of Iran's military and security forces to stand with the public rather than the ruling authorities, and urged Iranians to prepare for the resumption of the 2025–2026 Iranian protests as the Islamic Republic was "collapsing."^[720] He stated that he is prepared for his proposed transitional government take over should the Islamic Republic be overthrown.^[721][722] Following the death of Ali Khamenei, he said in an interview with the program 60 Minutes that Iranians should be ready to take to the streets at an appropriate moment to advance political change. He argued that the ongoing attacks on the government had created what he described as "a real opportunity" for Iranians, saying that the public was prepared to "fight to end the Islamic Republic." Pahlavi also stated that he did not intend to seek political office or restore the monarchy, but aimed instead to help guide Iran through a peaceful transition to a democratic system. He has further argued that his legitimacy derives from support expressed by millions of Iranians inside and outside the country, including through public demonstrations.^[720]

Kurdish Iranian dissidents in Iraq denied any attack plans, but said they would support a US invasion of Iran.^[723] On 7 March, an Iranian Kurd leader in Iraq said that ground operation into Iran is "highly likely".^[724]

President Trump described the attacks on Iran as "a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America".^[725] 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."^[726] Trump also claimed that attacking Iran avoided Third World War.^[555] Trump said that talks with Iran will be easier following Khamenei's assassination.^[189] 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.^[189] According to experts, the use of ground troops are required for the goals of the Trump administration in the Middle East.^[727] 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!'"^[505] Trump claimed victory and said that he had defeated Iran militarily.^[297] Trump has also informally stated his idea for a post-war Iran in which a new Iranian regime works together on oil production in the same way that the US and Venezuela do.^[728] On 7 March, Trump shifted the war's objectives from urging Iranian civilians to seize control to demanding the "Unconditional surrender" of the regime, while stating that he would play a role in shaping the decisions that follow.^[729][730] Trump stated that regime change in Iran will happen, but "maybe not immediately".^[731] During the war, top US general Dan Caine said that Iran is fighting the US, which he respects, but Iranian forces are not more formidable than expected.^[732] JD Vance, the vice president of the United States, has voiced his support for the war.^[733] The US intelligence found that Iran did not attempt to restart nuclear enrichment after the Twelve-Day War.^[734]

Opinion polling showed that most Americans were opposed to US military action against Iran.^[735] According to The Guardian, 27% of Americans were supportive of the US operation while 43% were opposed and 29% were uncertain.^[736] An NBC poll found that 52% of registered voters believed the US should not have taken military action, while 41% supported the military action.^[737] Most Americans reported they believe that Trump still has not explained the goals behind attacking Iran.^[514] Polls showed splits on the issue on political and demographic lines. Most Republicans supported the action, while most Democrats and independents opposed it.^[735] Trump reacted to the disapproval by denying that opinion polling showed low approval ratings, also adding, "I don't care about polling."^[738][739] A CBS poll published on March 22, which questioned 3,335 American adults, reported that 92% believe it's important for the conflict to end as quickly as possible, four in five said it was important to make sure the Iranian people were safe and free, 73% said it was important for the US to permanently end the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, 68% said it was important to stop Iran from posing a threat to other countries, and 53% said it would be unacceptable to end the war with the Islamic Republic still in power.^[740]

Some members of the US congress called for a vote on the War Powers Resolution, also known as the War Powers Act,^[741] that some other members asserted could have effectively ended the attack on Iran.^[742] Mike Johnson, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, called the vote "dangerous".^[514] The resolution failed,^[743] mainly due to Republican opposition.^[744] Most House Democrats and two Republicans^[z] supported the Resolution, arguing that the military actions go beyond the president's authority to make war.^[746] Most Republicans and four Democrats^[aa] voted down the Resolution, believing the War Powers Resolution empowers the president to engage in limited armed conflict.^[746] A similar resolution was voted down in the Senate, mostly along party lines.^[748]

National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned in March 2026, stating his belief that Iran posed no imminent threat and the war was started due to the Israel lobby in the United States.^[749]

As of 19 March, the Pentagon requested an additional 200 billion $ in funding from the White House; while Republican lawmakers like Ken Calvert voiced support, Democrats like Betty McCollum demanded to see a 2026 general budget first.^[750]

Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, warned news broadcasters to stop airing "fake news", begin operating in the public interest, and threatened to refuse to renew the broadcast license for those that fail to do so.^[751] Some Democratic lawmakers interpreted this as a threat of censorship and retaliation against coverage of the war in the media.^[752]

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."^[753] 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".^[754] 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's bloc to leverage the war.^[755] Opposition leaders supported the strikes.^[756] On 4 March 2026, Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed that Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026.^[757] On 5 March 2026, Katz said that Netanyahu set an aim of assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in November 2025.^[758] Israel's army chief Eyal Zamir^[549] said that the war will likely continue for a long time.^[759] On 18 March 2026, Katz said that Netanyahu and he authorized the military to assassinate any senior Iranian official with no further approval.^[760]

A March 2026 survey by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) found that 82% of the Israeli public supported ongoing military operations, including 93% of Jewish Israelis and 26% of Arab Israelis.^[761]

It was reported that European Union Commission president ⁠Ursula von der Leyen supports a regime change in Iran.^[762][763] NATO secretary general Mark Rutte said that Europe is "supportive" of the US attacks on Iran, as Iran is a "threat".^[764] He also said that he felt that the US "knows what it is doing".^[765] The head of the World Health Organization condemned the attacks.^[766] The US and Israeli attacks were supported at least in part by Ukraine,^[767][768] Albania,^[769] Argentina,^[770] Australia,^[771] Canada,^[772] Czechia,^[773] Finland,^[774] Germany,^[775] Kosovo,^[776] Latvia,^[777] Lithuania,^[777] New Zealand,^[778] Papua New Guinea,^[779] Romania,^[777] and Trinidad and Tobago,^[780] while being implicitly or explicitly opposed by Afghanistan,^[781] Armenia,^[782] Brazil,^[783] Chile,^[784][785] China,^[786] Kazakhstan,^[787][788] Oman,^[789] North Korea,^[790] Norway,^[768] Malaysia,^[791] Pakistan,^[792] Russia,^[767] Spain,^[793] and Vietnam.^[794] Germany later became a critic of the war.^[795] The US-Israeli attack was condemned by a number of progressive^[796] and left-wing parties,^[797][798] as well as trade unions,^[799][800] anti-war organizations,^[801][802] and some far-right parties.^[803][804]

Iran's retaliations were condemned by Austria,^[777] Bahrain,^[789] Belgium,^[777] Bulgaria,^[777] incoming president of Chile José Antonio Kast,^[805] Croatia,^[777] Cyprus,^[777] Djibouti,^[806] Egypt,^[807] India,^[808][809] Kazakhstan,^[787] Kuwait,^[768] Malta,^[777] Morocco,^[810] Netherlands,^[777] the Palestinian Authority,^[811] Portugal,^[812] Qatar,^[768] Saudi Arabia,^[217] Sweden,^[777] Syria,^[813] Somalia,^[814] Turkey,^[546] Somaliland,^[815] Taiwan,^[816] and the UAE,^[768] as well as by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, who issued a joint declaration.^[817] The United Kingdom permitted the US to use British military bases for defensive purposes,^[818] although Trump refused their offer send over aircraft carriers.^[451] Portugal permitted the US to use Lajes Field for defensive purposes,^[819] and France sent its aircraft carrier towards the Mediterranean.^[546] When asked whether it would join the war, Canada said that it "can't rule out participation".^[820] On 5 March 2026, French broadcaster BFMTV reported that France authorized American armed forces to use French bases amid the war.^[821] France also called for Iran to "immediately cease strikes".^[319] There have been movements between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan due to the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between both countries, as it "states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both".^[822][823]

Mixed reactions or calls for peace were made by South Africa,^[824] Azerbaijan,^[825] Indonesia,^[826] Lebanon,^{[827][828][768]} Ireland,^[829] Slovenia,^[777] Vatican City,^[830] Uruguay,^[831] Uzbekistan,^[832] and Venezuela.^[833] In addition to condemning both the US and Israeli attacks and Iran's counterattacks,^[777] 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.^[834] In Pakistan, the army was deployed to suppress the escalation of violence during pro-Iranian protests in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu, especially 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.^[835]

On 11 March 2026, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2817, sponsored by Bahrain, which calls for Iran to stop its attack on the Gulf states and condemned the strikes as a violation of international law. The resolution did not mention US-Israel strikes on Iran and Lebanon.^[836][837]

On 20 March 2026, US use of British bases to attack Iranian missile sites targeting vessels in the Strait ‌of Hormuz was approved by UK.^[838]

Many legal and military experts said that US actions in Iran are the type of military action that requires congressional authorization. They also noted the frequent use of the word "war" in Trump administration communication about the strikes, adding further credibility to the claim that the Trump administration had bypassed congressional war powers. Rubio said that the Trump administration had followed the War Powers Resolution, but questioned whether it was legally binding, pointing to past presidents who took military action without congressional authorization.^[839] Congress has not declared a war since World War II. Multiple American presidents and administrations have launched wars or military operations without congressional approval. Such wars include the Korean War, the war in Vietnam and various operations carried out since the 1980s.^[840]

The 2026 US-Israel attacks on Iran are widely considered illegal under international law, as they violate the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force, because the attacks fail to meet the criteria for self-defense and lack authorization from the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII.^[841][96] There is no recognized legal basis for preventive war or forcible regime change.^[842] The attacks have been, therefore, considered a war of aggression,^{[843][844][845]} which is the supreme war crime.^[846][847]

Ben Saul, United Nations special rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism, stated that Iran had not enriched uranium to the point of building a nuclear device, that experts agreed Iran did not possess a nuclear weapon, and that the case was nowhere close to being self-defense against an imminent attack.^[841] Don Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, stated that the UN Security council did not pass a resolution to attack Iran and no legal basis for justifying use of force.^[841] The Law Society Journal noted that striking Iran during active negotiations was against the principles of good faith outlined in Article 2(2) of the UN Charter.^[848]

According to The Guardian, under international law Iran has the right to attack US and Israeli military targets after their attacks on Iran, but Iranian attacks against civilians and against countries not party to the conflict are illegal.^[96]

The blocking of the strait of Hormuz by Iran was described as a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), since it violates the right to transit in a "strait used for international navigation".^[849] The placement of sea mines in the strait by Iran is seen by Justsecurity as a violation of the law of the sea, violating the Hague VIII convention.^[99]

Numerous critics and analysts identified the US-Israeli attack with a more open embrace of imperialism by the Trump administration.^[850][851] The US–Israeli attack is widely considered a "war of choice" and has been compared to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.^[852]

A number of US and Israeli officials, including Hegseth,^[853] have made religious justifications for the war.^[854][855]

The BBC reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Iran may weaken Chinese interests in countries that rely on Gulf countries' oil. Philip Shetler-Jones of the Royal United Services Institute said that China is not akin to the US in power despite its economic capabilities and cannot protect Iran or other aligned countries.^[856] According to some analysts, the war has been a setback for Russian influence in the region. However, the analysts also noted that it may distract the United States from the war in Ukraine.^[857]

Professor Steve Tsang of the SOAS China institute said China will argue that the war was another example of "western hypocrisy and western talk of the liberal international order".^[856] Gilbert Achcar said that the US was practicing a modernized version of gunboat diplomacy.^[858]

Gokay and Hamourtziadou connected the attack on Iran with a longstanding pattern of US interventions in the region, saying that the war is "largely unrelated to the idiosyncrasies of Donald Trump, who is simply implementing a longstanding project aimed at establishing complete US dominance over the energy-rich regions of the Middle East". They also connected the attack on Iran in the midst of negotiations to the history of United States treaty-breaking during westward expansion.^[859]

Saeed Shah wrote that many in the Global South do not view the war as having the moral purpose that the US and many of its allies asserted, and that they instead see the war as a failure of diplomacy, and an act of aggression against a weaker nation. International relations experts said that the erosion of international law was making nations in the Global South feel insecure, and more likely to support a coalition against US interests.^[860]

Der Spiegel described a joint war with the United States to attack Iran as "a dream for Benjamin Netanyahu that became true", but warned that it may have disastrous consequences for Israel.^[861]

An analysis in The Wall Street Journal says that Israel has succeeded in assassinating several Iranian government officials, causing a feeling of chaos among government leaders, with Basij officials feeling threatened. Israel believes that the Iranian people will take the opportunity to overthrow the government, but that will require a lot more action by the Iranian people.^[862]

• 1973 oil crisis
• 1979 oil crisis
• 1998 bombing of Iraq
• 2011 military intervention in Libya
• March–May 2025 United States attacks in Yemen
• Iraq War

• "What we know about the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation". CNN. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
• U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran, C-SPAN