Iran’s retaliatory missile-and-drone barrage entered its fourth day as Tehran continued strikes across the Persian Gulf and into Israel, while President Trump declined to put a firm timeline on U.S. operations against Iran.
Regional escalation and Gulf responses
Six Gulf Cooperation Council members have signaled they may abandon neutrality after accusing Iran of “reckless and indiscriminate attacks” on their territories. The GCC said it “maintained the option to respond” to protect regional security. Gulf states have been struck across infrastructure, ports, military sites and urban areas — including luxury hotels in Dubai and Bahrain and residential areas in Doha — as Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones across the region.
Saudi Arabia reported two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing minor material damage and a small fire. The Saudi defense ministry also said an earlier Iranian attack targeted the Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the world’s largest. The embassy urged U.S. citizens in Riyadh, Dhahran and Jeddah to shelter in place; it will remain closed Tuesday.
Qatar shot down two Iranian bombers, and Gulf militaries have mounted large-scale interceptions. Qatar said it intercepted 90 ballistic missiles, 24 drones, three cruise missiles and two Su-24 fighter jets. Kuwait reported detecting 178 ballistic missiles and 384 drones since the conflict began; its defense ministry said 27 Kuwaiti soldiers were injured. Oman, Bahrain and the UAE have also been targeted or involved in interceptions.
U.S. and allied forces
U.S. Central Command reported six American service members killed and 18 seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. has evacuated non-essential personnel and families from six nations — Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and now the United Arab Emirates — and closed its embassy in Kuwait until further notice.
Trump on the strikes and timeline
President Trump outlined four core objectives for the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign: destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, annihilating its navy, preventing nuclear weapon development, and stopping the regime from arming and directing proxy “terror armies.” A senior administration official said operations would continue until those objectives are achieved.
Trump submitted a War Powers Resolution notice to Congress describing Feb. 28 precision strikes on Iranian targets — ballistic missile sites, maritime mining capabilities, air defenses and command-and-control — and said no U.S. ground forces were used. He acknowledged it was not yet possible to know the full scope or duration of required military operations. While he has previously projected a four- to five-week timeline, Mr. Trump said the U.S. has the capability to sustain the campaign “far longer,” calling U.S. munitions stockpiles robust and suggesting wars could be fought indefinitely with existing supplies.
On questions about who now controls Iran or possible immediate retaliation, the president said, “you’ll be finding out very soon,” and declined to offer a precise timeline for the war.
Israel and Lebanon
Israel sent troops into southern Lebanon and ordered evacuations in roughly 80 Lebanese communities, saying forces moved across the border “to create an additional layer of protection” for northern towns. The Israel Defense Forces said it has struck Hezbollah targets, including intelligence headquarters in Beirut, and has “achieved operational control in the area” it described as strategic. The IDF also warned of further Iranian missile launches and urged civilians to follow Home Front Command shelter orders; red alert sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv. Emergency services reported two people treated for injuries en route to protected areas, with no immediate fatalities confirmed.
Military assessments and damage to Iranian launch capacity
U.S. and Israeli military assessments estimate they destroyed roughly half of Iran’s approximately 500 missile launchers in the initial “Midnight Hammer” strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. They estimate Iran may still have around 250 launchers and believe 70–80% of launchers could be destroyed by week’s end, though many remaining systems are believed to be underground and harder to reach. Fewer ballistic missile barrages were noted on Monday, a possible sign of diminished Iranian launching capacity or rationing of stocks.
Wider implications and risks
Tehran has framed its campaign as targeting U.S. military assets hosted by neighboring states rather than the states themselves, seeking to pressure Gulf monarchies to move their allies to end the conflict. But the broad geographic scope of strikes, the targeting of civilian infrastructure in multiple countries, and direct hits or near-misses to U.S. diplomatic facilities have pushed Gulf states toward a harder line and raised the risk of broader regional involvement. The interception of Iranian aircraft by Qatar and increased Gulf military activity underscore the danger that the conflict could spread beyond a bilateral U.S.-Iran dynamic.
Diplomatic and consular impacts
The State Department expanded temporary evacuations and consular suspensions in the region. The U.S. ambassador to Israel warned options for leaving Israel are “VERY LIMITED,” advising some evacuation routes such as buses to Egypt. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait remains closed and consular appointments canceled.
Outlook
The intensity of air and missile exchanges and the involvement of Gulf states and non-state actors like Hezbollah have increased the potential for a wider regional war. U.S. and Israeli officials say they remain committed to degrading Iran’s missile and maritime capabilities and to pursuing objectives they say will reduce the country’s ability to project power. Tehran’s widespread strikes are intended to impose costs and pressure allies, but Gulf responses and increased coordination with the U.S. may deepen Iran’s isolation and risk a protracted, broader conflict.