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Strikes and counterstrikes continued across the region as the U.S., Israel and Iran carried out military actions and diplomatic maneuvers.
Military and regional action
– Israel said its forces conducted “a wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched missile and drone strikes the previous day at sites in Israel and at Gulf facilities used by U.S. forces, and said a maintenance facility for a U.S. Patriot system was hit in Bahrain.
– Lebanese media reported an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and Hezbollah strongholds continued to be targeted. Israel also reported ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon; at least one Israeli soldier was killed there in recent fighting.
– Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported multiple interceptions: Saudi forces said they shot down four drones over the kingdom’s east; the UAE said it had dealt with 15 missiles and 11 drones on one day, and debris from an intercepted missile killed two civilians in Abu Dhabi.
– Iran-launches and Gulf-state defenses have resulted in civilian casualties in the UAE and elsewhere, and ships and shipping lanes remain affected.
U.S. and Israeli strikes, leadership statements
– Israel confirmed it had killed Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces, in a targeted strike; Israeli officials tied his role to mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM and U.S. officials echoed assessments that Iranian naval capabilities had been heavily degraded.
– CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Operation Epic Fury was “on plan or ahead of plan,” asserting thousands of Iranian and allied targets struck and claiming severe damage to Iranian naval and missile infrastructure.
– Israel’s military and political leaders emphasized pressure on multiple fronts and warned more forces were needed to hold defensive zones along the Lebanese border.
U.S. diplomacy and negotiations
– President Trump announced he was extending a pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure to April 6, saying Iran asked for more time and that talks were “going fairly well.” He said he initially paused strikes and then extended the pause, citing Iran’s request and Iran allowing tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of good faith.
– U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the U.S. presented Iran with a 15-point action list as the framework for a potential peace deal, circulated through Pakistan as intermediary. Witkoff called talks sensitive and said they generated “strong and positive messaging,” while urging Iran not to miscalculate.
– Iranian officials publicly rejected the U.S. points as one-sided; a senior Iranian official told Reuters the proposal would require Iran to give up its ability to defend itself in exchange for a vague sanctions lift and said no realistic negotiation arrangement existed at this stage.
– White House officials said talks continued and were productive despite Iranian public rejections. President Trump and aides issued warnings that Iran should “get serious” or face heavier consequences.
U.S. domestic politics, military posture and personnel
– The U.S. has committed tens of thousands of troops to the region; a CBS News analysis put the committed number at roughly 50,000.
– In Washington, lawmakers and military officials expressed concern about strategy and resources. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid warned the IDF is “stretched to the limit and beyond.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said congressional briefings left him with “no clarity” about objectives and potential large funding requests.
– Rep. Nancy Mace said she saw “no exit strategy” and opposed sending ground forces into Iran. GOP and Democratic lawmakers voiced differing views on the war’s aims and oversight.
– Jared Kushner described himself as a “volunteer” negotiator helping the White House; he and special envoys have been involved in outreach.
U.S. presidential remarks and policy signals
– In cabinet remarks and public statements, President Trump said the U.S. was “well ahead of schedule” on objectives and repeatedly warned Iran it would face severe consequences if it did not accept terms. He described Iran as seeking a deal because it had been militarily weakened.
– Trump suggested taking Iran’s oil was “an option” but offered little detail. He also said he avoided the word “war” because Congress had not authorized one and discussed potentially suspending the federal gas tax as a tool amid rising prices.
Economic impact
– Markets have been volatile: stocks fell sharply amid renewed uncertainty about the conflict’s trajectory, with the S&P 500 marking its worst day since January on one session and broad selling across global markets. Oil prices jumped — Brent and U.S. crude climbed toward and above $100 per barrel in some sessions — as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively disrupted.
– The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development warned prolonged $100-per-barrel oil could weaken global growth and raise inflation, estimating measurable hits to growth if prices remained elevated.
Allied and international reactions
– Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized NATO for not doing more to secure the Strait of Hormuz and said European leaders treated the war as not their conflict. The U.K. defense chief and the EU’s top diplomat accused Russia of providing intelligence and possibly training to Iran; European and British officials pointed to an axis of cooperation between Russia and Iran that complicates the conflict.
– Australia pushed back on President Trump’s public criticism of its response, saying Canberra had not been consulted before U.S. action and asserting it had provided defensive support to Gulf partners, including surveillance assistance to the UAE.
Casualties and incidents
– Iran and its proxies have continued missile and drone attacks; Israel and Gulf states reported injuries and deaths from intercepted attacks and from debris. At least 19 people had been killed in Israel since the start of the war, according to an Israeli think tank’s data, while the UAE reported 10 deaths since the conflict began.
– Incidents at sea and reports of mines in the Strait of Hormuz — including U.S. officials saying there are at least a dozen underwater mines reported earlier in the conflict — have kept shipping and insurers wary, exacerbating oil market pressures.
Other notable items
– U.S. naval operations continued, including carrier deployments; one sailor aboard USS Abraham Lincoln sustained a non-combat injury during flight operations. The USS Gerald R. Ford reportedly underwent repairs after separate non-combat issues.
– Regional leaders and military officials continued to issue stark rhetoric and warnings, with Iranian commanders vowing to resist any invasion and U.S. and Israeli officials threatening further strikes if Iran does not accept terms.
Outlook
– Diplomacy and military pressure are proceeding in parallel: the U.S. extended a strike pause to allow sensitive talks and presented a 15-point framework aimed at ending hostilities, while Iran publicly rejected the proposal and fighting and targeted strikes across multiple fronts continued. Markets, allies and regional actors remain on edge as the situation evolves.