Reporting from Amman, Jordan, Tony Dokoupil and a team across the Middle East and Washington covered a rapidly expanding conflict after U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran that left the country’s top leadership and many senior figures dead and prompted fierce Iranian retaliation across the region.
What happened
– Over three days, U.S. and Israeli forces struck more than 1,000 targets across Iran, including government and military sites in Tehran. U.S. officials described the campaign as the most intense air operation in the region since the first Gulf War.
– Iranian forces fired missiles and launched drones into at least 11 countries, hitting civilian and military sites. Iran’s counterstrikes aimed to pressure the U.S. and Israel to stop their assaults.
– The Iranian regime’s initial losses included senior leaders; Iranian state media reported heavy casualties, and the Red Crescent cited hundreds dead, with reports of significant civilian casualties — including at a girls’ elementary school.
– Iran also attacked a U.S. operations site in Kuwait, where an Iranian weapon struck a U.S. facility; six U.S. service members were killed. In a separate incident, three U.S. F‑15s were shot down over Kuwait in what has been described as friendly-fire; all six aircrew survived.
– President Trump said the U.S. and its partners would “easily prevail” and signaled that the campaign could last weeks, even mentioning a longer timeline and not ruling out a ground operation. Secretary of Defense and other officials said more intensive bombing campaigns were expected.
– The U.S. is deploying additional forces across the region.
On-the-ground impact
– Air-raid sirens, evacuations and shelter-in-place alerts have been widespread. The U.S. State Department urged Americans in 14 countries to leave now. Commercial flights in and out of parts of the Gulf have been curtailed or canceled, stranding thousands of travelers.
– In Tel Aviv, correspondents reported fewer missile barrages on some days, attributing that to the destruction of many Iranian launchers and to Iran conserving its stockpiles.
– An American F‑15 was seen falling after a friendly-fire incident; elsewhere imagery showed missile strikes flattening neighborhoods in Israel and Iran, with reports of civilian deaths and injured families.
U.S. political and military response
– President Trump framed the campaign as aimed at eliminating Iran’s missile and nuclear threats and called it a chance to “crush” Iran’s capabilities. He indicated the campaign could extend for weeks and stressed U.S. military strength.
– Lawmakers pressed administration officials for explanations. Some Democrats and many Americans, according to polls, oppose the sudden strikes and questioned the end game.
– The Pentagon confirmed U.S. forces were continuing operations, and senior officials briefed lawmakers about the campaign’s objectives and duration.
Possible domestic effects
– Energy markets reacted: oil jumped, reflecting fears for supplies. Damage to regional export routes and strikes on infrastructure — including fields and refineries — prompted analysts to warn that gasoline could rise gradually at the pump and that higher fuel costs could feed into overall inflation. The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of the world’s oil and gas, saw disruptions after Iranian threats to shipping.
Other major news covered
– Austin, Texas shooting: Authorities investigated an early‑morning attack outside a bar in Austin that killed two and wounded 14. Investigators believe the gunman, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, acted alone but were reviewing video and digital evidence for links or influences; they noted the shooter wore an undershirt bearing a design similar to an Iranian flag, and sources told CBS News that the international conflict may have at least partly motivated the attack.
– Clinton depositions: For the first time, video was released of Bill and Hillary Clinton’s depositions in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Bill Clinton said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and denied remembering minors on any flights he took on Epstein’s plane; Hillary Clinton repeatedly denied a relationship with Epstein and rejected questions about debunked conspiracies during testimony.
– United Airlines emergency landing: United Flight 2127 returned to LAX after a possible engine fire prompted an evacuation down slides; passengers evacuated as airport firefighters doused the smoking engine. There were no reports of serious injuries. The FAA is investigating.
Historical context
– Anchors reminded viewers that the present eruption is rooted in decades of conflict between the U.S. and Iran — from the 1979 U.S. embassy seizure through 1980s attacks and more recent confrontations. Past administrations have alternately sought diplomatic deals or applied pressure; the current campaign represents the latest, and perhaps most expansive, military confrontation between the U.S., Israel and Iran in decades.
Key takeaways
– The conflict has widened across the Middle East, producing strikes, counterstrikes, and significant casualties on both sides, including U.S. servicemembers.
– Diplomacy and domestic politics are factors: Congress, the White House and the public are divided over the strikes’ necessity and duration.
– The fighting raises near-term security risks for Americans abroad, pressures on global energy markets, and concerns about potential spillover into U.S. cities via ideologically or politically motivated attacks.
The situation remains dynamic, with U.S. and allied operations continuing and officials warning that additional phases of the campaign may be forthcoming.