Overview
A week into a U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, the fighting has broadened across the Middle East. Airstrikes, missile and drone salvos, naval strikes and defensive interceptions have been reported by multiple countries, while international concern and calls for de-escalation have mounted.
Military actions and exchanges
– Israel said it carried out a new wave of airstrikes, dispatching more than 80 fighter jets against targets in and around Tehran and in western and central Iran. Reported targets included Imam Hossein University, which Israel described as a training site for Revolutionary Guard officers, as well as ballistic missile storage, an underground command center and several missile launch sites.
– Iran launched missiles and drone barrages at Israeli and U.S. positions across the region. Israeli and Gulf authorities reported repeated launches; Israel said its warning systems and missile defenses were active and the IDF reported multiple intercept attempts.
– U.S. Central Command said that over the first seven days of operations it struck more than 3,000 targets and damaged or destroyed 43 Iranian ships. CENTCOM released footage it said showed an Iranian drone carrier burning after a strike, and U.S. officials said forces had damaged naval vessels and a submarine.
– Israel reported striking an underground bunker in Tehran reportedly used by Iranian leaders and earlier claimed to have achieved what it called near-complete air superiority, saying more than 80% of Iran’s air defenses had been destroyed.
– Explosions were reported in Dubai and Bahrain; authorities said debris fell after interception of an Iranian missile and that no injuries were reported. Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said they intercepted dozens to hundreds of missiles and drones in multiple waves, with some debris falling in territory or into the sea.
Casualties, displacement and humanitarian impact
– Iran’s health ministry reported more than 1,200 people killed in Iran during the week of strikes. UNICEF reported roughly 180 children killed across the fighting and warned that damage to essential civilian infrastructure was causing severe harm to children.
– The Norwegian Refugee Council said strikes and evacuation orders in southern Lebanon had displaced more than 300,000 people, noting the number could exceed one million if wider orders are enacted. Lebanon’s health ministry reported hundreds of deaths and injuries amid bombardment of southern areas and Beirut suburbs.
– The United Nations called for investigations into the legality of strikes and displacement orders in Lebanon and warned the crisis could spiral. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to diplomacy.
U.S. and allied logistics and casualties
– U.S. and Israeli officials said their strikes are intended to degrade Iran’s missile, drone and naval capabilities. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have remained in regular contact, Israeli officials said.
– The White House said President Trump will attend dignified transfers for six U.S. service members killed in the campaign.
– The State Department said it had directly assisted nearly 13,000 Americans in the Middle East and that almost 24,000 U.S. citizens have returned home since the war began, arranging charter flights and evacuations.
– Commercial aviation was disrupted: United Airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai through at least March 21, Qatar partially reopened airspace for evacuations and cargo, and some Gulf carriers ran reduced schedules.
Political messaging, alleged foreign assistance and diplomacy
– President Trump publicly declared there would be “no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender,” later clarifying that the phrase could mean Iran is no longer capable of fighting rather than a formal declaration. White House officials framed the end state as meeting U.S. objectives and removing the Iranian threat.
– U.S. officials and media reported that Russia has provided intelligence to Iran on U.S. positions; multiple sources, including a senior U.S. official, told CBS News that such sharing occurred. The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, calling for cessation of hostilities and dialogue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was “in dialogue” with Iran and noted increased demand for Russian energy.
– Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said some countries had begun mediation efforts but did not identify them. Iranian leaders and commanders have signaled resistance to negotiating while diplomatic contacts and mediation reports circulate.
Investigations, arrests and legal issues
– U.S. investigators are probing a deadly strike on a girls’ primary school in Iran; a source told investigators that U.S. forces were operating in the area and that the probe is ongoing. No final attribution has been announced.
– London police arrested four men on suspicion of spying for Iran in connection with alleged surveillance related to the Jewish community; additional arrests were reported in the investigation.
Regional security and economic effects
– Gulf states reported heavy use of interceptors. The UAE said it detected and intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and more than a thousand drones since the attacks began. Qatar reported intercepting drones targeting Al Udeid airbase. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted three Iranian drones east of Riyadh.
– NATO said it had bolstered alliance-wide missile defenses after a missile launched toward Turkey was intercepted and raised its missile defense posture in response to regional threats.
– Oil prices rose sharply amid fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz: West Texas Intermediate and Brent reached highs not seen since April 2024, and analysts warned of potential refinery and export disruptions and rising gasoline prices.
Domestic politics and other notable developments
– Some Senate Democrats criticized a temporary U.S. waiver allowing India easier access to Russian oil, arguing it benefited Russia as energy prices rose.
– The White House met with major defense contractors about ramping production of munitions and high-end weaponry; President Trump said companies agreed to increase output.
– Sri Lanka took custody of an Iranian vessel and brought sailors ashore after an Iranian ship was damaged by a torpedo strike. Former Israeli intelligence chief Amos Yadlin warned that airstrikes alone are unlikely to produce regime change in Iran, though degrading capabilities could have limited effects.
– Demonstrations continued in Tehran with thousands marching after Friday prayers; humanitarian agencies urged protection for civilians and readiness to support relief efforts.
Uncertainties and outlook
Key questions remain, including the scope and impact of alleged Russian intelligence sharing with Iran, the future leadership dynamics inside Iran after the Feb. 28 killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the outcomes of investigations into strikes on civilian sites. The situation remains highly fluid. World leaders, international organizations and regional governments continued to call for de-escalation even as military operations, counterstrikes and diplomatic activity persist.