US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 17 coverage
The 2026 war between ‘Israel’, the United States, and Iran started on February 28 with the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a joint US-‘Israeli’ military campaign. Nearly 900 coordinated strikes were executed within the initial 12 hours, targeting Iranian missile systems, air defenses, military infrastructure, and senior leadership figures across multiple sites.
The operation resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other high-ranking officials, with explicit objectives of preventing nuclear weapon development, dismantling ballistic missile capabilities, and advancing leadership change.
Iran initiated large-scale retaliatory missile and drone attacks against ‘Israeli’ settlements, US bases, and allied targets throughout the Middle East.
The escalation also encompassed disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces shut it down; heightening risks to global energy supplies.
Subsequent phases featured intensified ‘Israeli’ airstrikes on Iranian fuel depots and energy facilities in Tehran and surrounding provinces, complemented by US efforts to neutralize naval assets and remaining missile infrastructure.
The war produced over 2,000 reported deaths across Iran, ‘Israel’, and Lebanon.
Economic effects have included sharp increases in oil prices and interruptions to international shipping, prompting releases from strategic petroleum reserves to stabilize markets.
Trump pressures NATO, China over Iran's closure of key waterway
President Donald Trump on Sunday sought to pressure NATO allies and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil transport conduit that Iran has effectively closed in retaliation for the US and 'Israeli' war against Tehran.
Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent as Iran has choked off the waterway and attacked energy and shipping industry targets in its Gulf neighbours. Crude prices kept rising as markets opened late Sunday.
The US president had called on countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain Saturday to send ships to escort tankers through the strait, but various countries he listed have given only guarded responses.
"It's only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there," Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday. Unlike the United States, Europe and China are heavily dependent on the Gulf for oil imports.
He warned that no response or a negative reply to his request would be "very bad for the future of NATO." Trump also threatened to delay a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month if Beijing does not assist on reopening the strait.
Drone attack causes fire near Dubai International Airport
Authorities respond to a drone strike near Dubai airport, controlling the resulting fire and ensuring public safety.
Iranian missile attack targets central 'Israel'
'Israel' reports rocket strike from Iran hitting central regions.
Macron tells Iran attacks on French interests 'unacceptable'
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after the strike on Thursday evening.
"I reminded him that France acts strictly in a defensive capacity to protect its interests and those of its regional partners, and to uphold freedom of navigation, and that it is unacceptable for our country to be targeted."
VIDEO - 'Israeli' army footage of Air Force F35 on mission to strike Iran
'Israel's' army releases footage that shows what it says are aircraft “Adir” F-35I, from the 'Israeli' Air Force on their way to strike in Iran.
Bahrain alerts citizens to seek safety after siren warning
Authorities in Bahrain urge the public to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.
'Israeli' airstrike targets Beirut's southern suburbs
'Israeli' strike hits southern Beirut suburb after three airstrikes on al-Khayam in southern Lebanon.
Three 'Israeli' airstrikes hit southern Lebanon
'Israeli' raids target al-Khayam, escalating tensions in southern Lebanon.
Iran raises minimum wage by over 60% after months of protests
Iranian authorities have announced a more than 60 percent increase in the country’s minimum wage, local media reported on Sunday, in the annual adjustment that follows months of anti-government protests initially driven by economic grievances.
The Islamic Republic revises the minimum wage each year based on inflation, which had reached record levels in the months leading up to the war with the United States and 'Israel', largely under the pressure of international sanctions.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the labor minister said that “after government approval,” the monthly minimum wage will rise from 103 million rials to 166 million rials in the next Iranian year, which begins in the coming days under the solar Hijri calendar used in the country.
Based on black market exchange rates, the new minimum wage is equivalent to roughly $112 per month.
Protests erupted across Iran in late December over deteriorating living conditions, quickly evolving into broader demonstrations that included slogans against the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
Thousands of people were killed during the authorities’ crackdown on the protests, according to reports.
