The United States military announced that it has carried out strikes on approximately 2,000 targets inside Iran. According to the US Central Command, the operation was nearly twice the scale of the 2003 Iraq invasion. The commander reported that 17 Iranian ships were destroyed, and senior Admiral Brad Cooper stated that no Iranian vessels remained in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman.

Cooper described the campaign as the largest US troop deployment in the Middle East in a generation, involving more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers. He said the attacks focused on eliminating potential threats to US forces and targeted Iran’s navy, including its most capable submarines.

The report also noted that there was no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, despite the scale of the operation.

A drone attack targeted the CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, March 2, according to a source cited by Reuters on Tuesday, March 3. The source confirmed that Iranian drones were used in the strike, though it remains unclear whether the CIA station was the intended target. The US Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment on the incident.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that two drones hit the embassy premises, causing a limited fire and some material damage. Following the attack, the US mission in Saudi Arabia issued an emergency security alert, advising citizens to avoid the embassy area until further notice. It also warned of possible missile and drone threats in the Dhahran region.

The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and has raised renewed concerns about the security of US diplomatic and intelligence facilities in the region.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they killed Daud Ali Zadeh, commander of the Lebanon branch of Iran’s Quds Force, in an airstrike in central Tehran. IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Efi Defrin stated that the attack specifically targeted the senior Quds Force officer. The Quds Force is a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the report, Israel said it has launched renewed attacks inside Iran. Earlier, strikes were reported against the Iranian presidential complex and residences of top leaders. Since February 28, various sources have claimed that the United States and Israel have been conducting attacks in Iran, with reports alleging the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family.

In response, Tehran reportedly announced plans for retaliatory strikes against Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East, signaling a potential escalation of regional conflict.

Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a hotel in Beirut, Lebanon, without prior warning, according to Lebanese authorities. The number of casualties from the hotel attack remains unconfirmed. The Israeli military has not clarified the intended target but reportedly conducted overnight operations across the country.

Al Jazeera reported additional strikes on a residential building in Aramoun and a village named Saadiyat in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed six deaths and eight injuries from those incidents. Another attack occurred in the eastern city of Baalbek near the Syrian border, where a residential building was hit, leaving at least four people dead and 11 injured.

The series of attacks mark a significant escalation of Israeli military activity in Lebanon, with multiple civilian areas affected and uncertainty surrounding the motives and targets of the operations.

The United States has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran involving more than 50,000 troops, 200 warplanes, two aircraft carriers, and several bombers, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Cooper describing the campaign as the largest American military mobilization in the Middle East in decades.

Admiral Cooper stated that additional military support is being sent and that US forces are focusing on destroying targets that could pose threats to them. He said Iranian naval assets, including their most capable submarines, have been targeted. Cooper further claimed that 17 Iranian ships have already been destroyed and that the United States is conducting continuous attacks on Iran across sea, air, and cyberspace.

The report, citing The New York Times, underscores the scale of the operation and the intensity of US military engagement in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting two cruise missiles south of Riyadh, according to Reuters and AFP. The Saudi Press Agency separately confirmed that nine drones were also shot down. Officials did not disclose where the missiles and drones originated.

The incident occurred as regional tensions intensified, with Israel announcing renewed attacks on Iran, including strikes targeting the Iranian presidential complex and leadership residences. The United States stated it had struck over two thousand Iranian targets since launching operations on Saturday. In response, Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases and Israeli positions across the Middle East, reportedly killing six American soldiers.

Reports indicated that by Tuesday night, the ongoing hostilities had resulted in more than a thousand deaths, underscoring the rapidly worsening conflict across the region.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly condemned Israel’s threats against Iranian government officials in Lebanon, describing them as representing an “intent to commit war crimes.” The organization stated that under international law, individuals not directly involved in hostilities cannot be targeted. The Israeli military had earlier declared that it would not tolerate the presence of Iranian representatives in Lebanon and gave them 24 hours to leave the country.

In a social media post, HRW emphasized that the laws of war strictly prohibit attacks targeting civilians, including officials from other nations who are not directly participating in hostilities. The group added that if Israeli forces target Iranian officials who fail to leave Lebanon, such actions would be deeply concerning and amount to an admission of intent to commit war crimes.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel, Iran, and Lebanon all referenced in recent reports of military threats and actions, according to Al Jazeera.

Israel has launched new attacks on Iran while Iran fired missiles toward Israel amid ongoing hostilities. The developments were reported on Wednesday through Al Jazeera’s live broadcast. The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were fired from Iran and said its defense systems were activated to intercept them. Civilians were instructed to remain in protective shelters until further notice.

Israel claimed responsibility for renewed strikes inside Iran, following earlier attacks on Tuesday that reportedly targeted the Iranian presidential complex and residences of senior leaders. Since February 28, multiple sources have reported joint U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran, with reports alleging the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family. Tehran has vowed retaliatory attacks on Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East.

According to a human rights organization, around 1,100 civilians have been killed in Iran, while more than 50 deaths have been reported in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has also fired missiles at Israel and faced Israeli counterstrikes in Beirut.

Explosions were heard across Israel as Iranian missile attacks, previously concentrated in central and northern areas, expanded to the south. Al Jazeera journalist Nida Ibrahim reported hearing loud blasts from Ramallah, while Israeli defense forces confirmed intercepting missiles and urged residents to remain in shelters until further notice. Missile fragments were found in Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.

Warning sirens sounded in Jerusalem, parts of central Israel, and the West Bank as Iran continued launching missiles. The Israeli military stated it had detected another missile fired from Iran and was actively working to intercept incoming threats.

The escalation marks a widening of the conflict, with Israel’s defense forces maintaining a high alert posture and advising civilians to stay protected as missile interceptions continue.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 50 people were killed and 335 injured in Israeli airstrikes over the past two days, according to a CNN News report published on March 4, 2026. The attacks continued into Wednesday morning, with air raids striking southern Beirut, where at least six people were killed and eight others wounded.

Israel stated that its forces intend to advance further into Lebanese territory to capture what it described as strategically important areas. The stated goal of this move is to prevent attacks on Israeli border settlements. The information was also cited by the Lebanese outlet L’Orient Today.

The ongoing escalation underscores the intensifying conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with civilian casualties mounting as air and ground operations continue near the border and in urban areas.

Five days after a joint US-Israel attack on Iran, questions remain over President Donald Trump’s motives and objectives. Initially, Trump and his administration said the goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Vice President JD Vance reiterated this aim in a television interview. However, the administration’s reasoning evolved over subsequent days, with Trump later emphasizing the destruction of Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and the elimination of proxy groups in the region.

Trump subsequently suggested that regime change in Iran was necessary, telling Iranians they would take leadership after a transition. Yet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contradicted this, stating that regime change was not the United States’ goal, though he acknowledged leadership changes had occurred. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later argued that the attack was preemptive, as US forces would have become targets once Israel struck Iran.

The lack of a clear post-attack plan has drawn sharp criticism in Congress. Democrats accused the administration of acting without credible intelligence or a defined strategy, warning that the US could face a prolonged conflict.

France has announced the deployment of its warship Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean Sea to assist Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Tuesday, stating that the move is part of France’s defense commitments with these partner nations.

Macron confirmed that, in addition to the warship, France has already deployed Dassault Rafale fighter jets, air defense systems, and radar equipment in recent hours. These assets are intended to help intercept missiles and drones originating from Iran, according to the French president.

The deployment underscores France’s ongoing military cooperation with Middle Eastern allies under existing defense agreements, reflecting its commitment to regional security and deterrence efforts.

Iran’s Defense Ministry has declared that the country is prepared for a prolonged conflict against the United States and Israel. The ministry’s spokesperson, Reza Talaei-Nik, stated that Iran possesses the capability to maintain resistance and continue offensive defense over an extended period. He emphasized that the nation has not yet deployed its most advanced weapons and military equipment.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and both the United States and Israel. According to the ministry, the current confrontation has been imposed on Iran, but the country remains confident in its long-term military endurance. The remarks reflect Tehran’s effort to project strength and deterrence at a time of escalating regional hostilities.

The ministry’s comments suggest that Iran may be holding back its most sophisticated arsenal, signaling potential for further escalation if the conflict continues.

Arab leaders are facing severe consequences after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a regional war that has engulfed much of the Arab world. The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marked a turning point, prompting Iran to unleash its vast missile and drone arsenal despite lacking advanced air power. U.S. military bases across the Middle East, from Cyprus to Bahrain, have come under Iranian attack, exposing the limits of Washington’s security guarantees to its Arab allies.

The conflict has destabilized oil-rich Arab states, disrupted energy supplies, and driven up global fuel prices. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and drone strikes on Saudi and Qatari energy facilities have intensified market turmoil. For Bangladesh, which depends heavily on Middle Eastern remittances and fuel imports, the war poses grave risks. Millions of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar may lose jobs, while rising oil prices threaten inflation and trade costs.

Analysts cited in the report warn that the war could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics, strain Arab economies, and trigger long-term global energy and financial instability.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28 amid ongoing violence. According to the agency, the victims include 181 children under the age of ten. The number of injured has risen to 5,402, with at least 100 children among them.

HRANA’s report stated that in the past 24 hours alone, at least 104 attacks occurred across the country, targeting military bases, medical centers, and residential areas. The organization also noted that reports of several hundred additional deaths are still being verified.

The figures highlight the scale of the recent escalation in Iran, though the report indicates that casualty numbers may continue to rise as verification continues.