US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 25 coverage
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28 when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched an operation dubbed Epic Fury by the US and Lion's Roar by ‘Israel’, unleashing nearly 900 airstrikes in 12 hours on Iranian missile systems, air defenses, nuclear facilities, military bases, and leadership targets.
This direct assault followed years of shadow conflict, including the first-ever Iran-‘Israel’ missile exchanges in April and October 2024 and a limited 12-day war in June 2025 that damaged Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of top officials were killed in the opening salvo, while a US Tomahawk strike on a school adjacent to a naval base near Bandar Abbas killed about 170 civilians, mostly children.
Iran responded within hours by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and launching thousands of drones at ‘Israel’, US bases in the Gulf, and targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait.
Tehran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of global oil flows—disrupting shipping and spiking oil prices.
The retaliation reignited fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon, prompting ‘Israeli’ strikes there and spreading the conflict regionally while hitting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, airports, and heritage sites.
Over the next three weeks, US-‘Israeli’ forces conducted sustained air campaigns that destroyed much of Iran’s air-defense network, missile production sites and navy assets.
Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, but pragmatic senior official Ali Larijani was assassinated in an ‘Israeli’ strike on March 17.
More than 80,000 civilian sites were hit, including 260 medical facilities and UNESCO-listed buildings, causing widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, toxic pollution, and over 2,000 total deaths across Iran, ‘Israel’, Lebanon, and Gulf states.
The war remained active in its fourth week with ongoing US-‘Israeli’ airstrikes on remaining Iranian targets and Iranian retaliatory barrages, including recent cluster-munition attacks on ‘Israel’ and a failed long-range missile attempt at Diego Garcia.
Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens fully but has signaled possible winding down or deals, which Tehran denies pursuing.
US pushing for one month ceasefire with Iran: Hebrew media
The United States is pushing for a “framework deal” for the war with Iran, starting with a “one-month ceasefire”, according to Hebrew channel 12.
Trump’s administration 15-point plan proposal includes nuclear limits, such as no enrichment and dismantling key Iranian nuclear sites” in exchange for lifting sanctions and support for civilian nuclear projects.
The report adds that ‘Israel’ is concerned such a deal could let Iran “come out on top”.
Nine injured in Tel Aviv from Iranian cluster bomb
Nine ‘Israelis’ were injured from the impact of an Iranian cluster bomb in the settlement of Bnei Brak in the district of Tel Aviv.
‘Israel’s’ emergency service Magen David Adom said one man is in moderate condition, and eight others are in good condition.
They were hit by shrapnel and the initial blast, the rescue service added.
Bushehr nuclear plant compound hit: Iran atomic energy agency
Iran's atomic energy organisation accused the US and ‘Israel’ on Tuesday of attacking its Bushehr nuclear power plant, saying a projectile had landed within its compound but caused no damage.
"The American-Zionist enemy has attacked the Bushehr nuclear power plant site again," the organisation said in a statement, adding that "a projectile hit inside the enclosure of the Bushehr power plant".
"Initial reports indicate this incident did not cause any financial or technical damage, or human casualty, and the various areas of the power plant are unharmed."
VIDEO - Moment Iranian cluster missile warhead triggered over ‘Israel’
Moment during an Iranian ballistic missile attack on ‘Israel’, where the cluster missile body can be seen releasing several smaller submunitions in mid-air over central ‘Israel’.
VIDEO - Trump says Iran gave US “very big present” related to oil and gas
US President Donald Trump says Iran gave him a "very big present" related to oil and gas, not offering details but saying he has new faith in Tehran's leaders.
‘Israeli’ plans in Iran & Lebanon unchanged regardless of talks: military
The’ Israeli’ military said on Tuesday that it was operating "according to an unchanged plan" in Iran and Lebanon, regardless of any talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the hostilities.
"Regarding this or that agreement, we are currently operating according to an unchanged plan," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said during a televised briefing when asked about efforts to launch a diplomatic process that could put an end to the war.
"We are acting, and will continue to act... to deepen the damage and remove existential threats," Defrin added.
"We are striking both in Iran and in Lebanon".
Iraq to summon US & Iranian envoys over strikes
Iraq's foreign ministry will summon the United States charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador following two deadly strikes targeting former paramilitaries and Iraqi Kurdish fighters from the autonomous northern region, an official statement said Tuesday.
The ministry of foreign affairs will summon the representatives to "deliver formal notes of protest regarding the attacks", the Iraqi prime minister's office said in a statement following a meeting of the National Security Council.
Iran gave US “very big present” related to oil and gas: Trump
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran gave him a "very big present" related to oil and gas, not offering details but saying he had new faith in Tehran's leaders.
"It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump said.
“They're going to make a deal. They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present, and the present arrived today. It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money.
“And I'm not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize. And they gave it to us, and they said they were going to give it. So that meant one thing to me, we’re dealing with the right people.
“No, it wasn't nuclear related. It was oil and gas related. And it was a very nice thing they did.”
Trump says US in negotiations with Iran “right now”
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that negotiations with Iran to end the Middle East war were underway "right now," adding Tehran wants to make a deal "so badly."
"We're in negotiations right now," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, saying that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were involved.
Iran agreed to never have nuclear weapon: Trump
Iran has agreed to never possess a nuclear weapon, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
“They've agreed to that.”
US war on Iran “unabated” as Trump mulls diplomacy: White House
Donald Trump is pressing on with military operations against Iran even as he examines "newfound" diplomatic options, the White House said Tuesday, after the US president announced talks with Tehran and Pakistan emerged as a possible mediator.
"As President Trump and his negotiators explore this newfound possibility of diplomacy, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated to achieve the military objectives laid out by the Commander in Chief and the Pentagon," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Reports of Iranian missile impact in Safed: Hebrew media
Hebrew media said rescue forces are responding to reports of an Iranian missile impact in the northern settlement of Safed.
Initial reports added that two people were lightly injured in the area.
This is the 11th Iranian attack on ‘Israel’ on Tuesday.
Iran launches new wave of missiles at ‘Israel’: state TV
Iran has launched another wave of missiles targeted at ‘Israel’, Iranian state television said.
The ‘Israeli’ military said in a statement it detected the missile launch and its “defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat”.
Woman killed in northern ‘Israel’ after rockets fired from Lebanon
‘Israeli’ emergency services said a woman was killed in the north on Tuesday following rocket fire from Lebanon, where ‘Israeli’ forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.
"Following a launch toward northern Israel... teams are reporting a woman of about 30 with no signs of life and severe multi-system trauma, and have pronounced her dead at the scene," Magen David Adom said in a statement, adding that teams were treating two other people in mild condition with shrapnel injuries.
The ‘Israeli’ military said that dozens of rockets from Lebanon were fired at the area at the time the incident occurred.
VIDEO - ‘Israel’ strikes south Lebanon village Yohmor
Explosions and smoke on the outskirts of the village of Yohmor, south of Lebanon's Nabatiyeh, as ‘Israel’ keeps striking Lebanon's south and east.
Hezbollah blasts Lebanon’s decision to expel Iranian ambassador
Hezbollah on Tuesday called the decision by Lebanon's foreign ministry to expel the newly appointed Iranian ambassador a "sin", and demanded the authorities "immediately reverse" the move.
"Hezbollah calls on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister to demand that the Minister of Foreign Affairs... immediately reverse this decision because of its dangerous repercussions," the Iran-backed group said in a statement, calling the move a "national and strategic sin".
The foreign ministry had earlier given the Iranian diplomat until Sunday to leave the country.
VIDEO - CENTCOM: USS Abraham Lincoln continues air operations in region
Footage by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) shows operations carried out by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln against Iran.
VIDEO - Destruction in Tel Aviv following Iranian attacks
Footage shows destruction in Tel Aviv following a wave of attacks by Iran.
Critical injury reported by Soroka hospital after Negev attack
Soroka Medical Center in ‘Israel’ said a person in critical condition was admitted following the latest strike on the Negev region.
Initial reports of debris falling in Dimona, north ‘Israel’: Channel 14
Hebrew Channel 14 said there are initial reports in north ‘Israel’ of missile debris falling in Dimona, after Iran said it launched a new wave of attacks.
