Iran’s missile-and-drone campaign entered a fourth day, with strikes and interceptions across the Persian Gulf and into Israel as President Trump declined to give a firm timetable for U.S. operations against Iran.
Regional escalation and Gulf responses
Gulf Cooperation Council members signaled they may abandon neutrality after accusing Iran of “reckless and indiscriminate attacks” on their territory. The GCC said it retained the option to respond to protect regional security. Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones that struck infrastructure, ports, military sites and urban areas — including luxury hotels in Dubai and Bahrain and residential neighborhoods in Doha.
Saudi authorities reported two drones struck the U.S. Embassy compound in Riyadh, causing minor damage and a small fire; the embassy urged U.S. citizens in Riyadh, Dhahran and Jeddah to shelter in place and will remain closed Tuesday. Saudi officials also said an earlier Iranian attack hit the Ras Tanura oil refinery. Qatar reported it shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers and mounted large-scale interceptions; Qatari officials said they intercepted 90 ballistic missiles, 24 drones and several cruise missiles. Kuwait reported detecting 178 ballistic missiles and 384 drones since the fighting began and said 27 Kuwaiti soldiers were injured. Oman, Bahrain and the UAE have also been targeted or involved in defensive operations.
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 nonessential personnel and families from six countries — Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — and temporarily closed its embassy in Kuwait.
Trump on objectives and timing
President Trump outlined four core goals for the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign: degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, destroy its naval assets, prevent the development of nuclear weapons, and stop the regime from arming and directing proxy forces. A senior administration official said operations would continue until those objectives are met.
In a War Powers Resolution notice to Congress, Mr. Trump described Feb. 28 precision strikes on Iranian targets — including ballistic-missile sites, maritime mining capabilities, air defenses and command-and-control nodes — and said no U.S. ground forces were employed. He acknowledged uncertainty about the full scope and duration of necessary operations. Though he previously suggested a four- to five-week window, he said the U.S. can sustain the campaign “far longer,” pointing to ample munitions stocks, and declined to set a precise timeline for the wider conflict, saying only, “you’ll be finding out very soon.”
Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah
Israeli forces moved into southern Lebanon and ordered evacuations in roughly 80 Lebanese communities, saying the incursion is meant to add protection for northern Israeli towns. The Israel Defense Forces reported strikes on Hezbollah targets, including an intelligence headquarters in Beirut, and said it had “achieved operational control” in a strategic area along the border. Red alert sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv; emergency services said two people were treated for injuries en route to shelters, with no immediate fatalities reported. The IDF also warned of further Iranian missile launches and urged civilians to follow shelter orders.
Military assessments of Iranian launch capacity
U.S. and Israeli assessments estimate that the initial “Midnight Hammer” strikes destroyed roughly half of Iran’s roughly 500 missile launchers. Those assessments put remaining launchers at about 250 and say 70–80% of launchers could be neutralized by the end of the week, though many systems are believed to be underground and harder to reach. Observers noted fewer ballistic barrages on Monday, which could indicate diminished Iranian launch capacity or deliberate rationing of munitions.
Broader risks and diplomatic impacts
Tehran characterizes its campaign as targeting U.S. military assets hosted by neighboring states rather than attacking those states directly, an approach intended to pressure Gulf monarchies to push allies to seek an end to the fighting. But the broad geographic scope of strikes, the hitting of civilian infrastructure across multiple countries, and direct strikes or near-misses to U.S. diplomatic facilities have pushed Gulf governments toward a harder line and increased the risk of wider regional involvement.
The State Department expanded temporary evacuations and suspended some consular services across the region. The U.S. ambassador to Israel warned options for leaving the country are “VERY LIMITED,” noting constrained evacuation routes such as organized buses to Egypt. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait remains closed and routine consular appointments have been canceled.
Outlook
The intensity of air and missile exchanges, involvement by Gulf states and action by nonstate actors such as Hezbollah have raised the prospect of a broader regional war. U.S. and Israeli officials say they remain focused on degrading Iran’s missile and maritime capabilities to reduce Tehran’s ability to project power. Tehran’s barrage is intended to impose costs and pressure allies, but Gulf responses and closer coordination with the U.S. may deepen Iran’s isolation and risk a protracted, wider conflict.