On Thursday, marking the sixth day of the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, Iran unleashed a fresh barrage of missiles targeting Israel and struck a U.S. oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, setting it ablaze. Fortunately, no immediate casualties were reported on the Israeli front.
The hostilities began on February 28 with a surprise assault orchestrated by Israeli and U.S. air forces, dubbed 'Operation Roaring Lion' by Israel and 'Operation Epic Fury' by the U.S. The immediate trigger was the breakdown of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that any progress was 'unlikely' due to Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program. When Iran attempted to reopen talks, Trump curtly replied with, 'Too late.'
The initial strike claimed the life of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, aged 86, along with his wife and a 14-month-old granddaughter. Israel dropped over 1,200 munitions on more than 900 Iranian targets within 24 hours, focusing primarily on the western region of the country, and conducted a total of 1,600 air sorties deploying 4,000 munitions in the early days. The targets included 40 high-ranking Iranian officials killed and the destruction of half of Tehran's missile launchers.
In retaliation, Iran launched 'Operation True Promise 4,' firing over 500 ballistic missiles and deploying more than 2,000 drones against Israel and U.S. military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard framed the operation as a response to the Israeli and U.S. attacks and as retaliation for Khamenei's death. The UAE reported detecting 812 Iranian drones since the conflict began, with 755 successfully intercepted.
In Iraq, the Revolutionary Guard targeted the Erbil base in Iraqi Kurdistan with dozens of drones, and one struck the Victoria Base near Baghdad International Airport. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was also hit by Iranian drones, prompting Washington to close its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The U.S. also reported three F-15 jets downed due to friendly fire.
American casualties have reached six soldiers. On Wednesday, General Dan Caine identified four of them: Captain Cody Khork; Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, from Nebraska; Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, from Minnesota; and Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20, from Iowa, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command, who died on March 1 in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. 'With deep sadness and gratitude, I share the names of four of our six fallen heroes,' stated Caine.
In the Israeli-Lebanese sector, Israel authorized a ground invasion into Lebanon on Tuesday, with tanks advancing to Hiam, six kilometers from the border. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanese territory on Wednesday resulted in at least 56 deaths and 335 injuries. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on northern Israel as 'revenge for the death of Iran's ayatollah.' Meanwhile, the U.S. has carried out over 1,700 airstrikes on Iranian facilities, including the nuclear site at Natanz, which the IAEA confirmed damaged without radiological consequences, and destroyed 17 Iranian ships and a submarine.
President Trump estimated the operation's duration to be four to five weeks, although Israel cautions that the conflict could last for months. Marco Rubio disclosed that 9,000 American citizens have been evacuated from the region, and oil prices have surged to approximately $81 per barrel due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz.
FAQ on the Iran-Israel-U.S. Conflict
What triggered the current Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict?
The conflict was triggered by the failure of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, leading to coordinated military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran.
What were the initial actions taken by Israel and the U.S.?
Israel and the U.S. launched a surprise military operation, targeting over 900 Iranian sites, which led to significant casualties, including the death of Iran's Supreme Leader.
How has Iran responded to these attacks?
Iran retaliated with 'Operation True Promise 4,' firing missiles and deploying drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East.