US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 26 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.
Shrapnel lands in empty area south of Amman, no injuries reported
The spokesperson for the Public Security Directorate said that authorities recently dealt with a shrapnel fragment that fell in a sparsely populated area south of the capital.
Officials confirmed that the fragment landed in an open area, causing no injuries or notable damage. Security teams responded quickly to secure the site.
Drones hit fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport, fire reported
The General Civil Aviation Authority of Kuwait reported that drones struck fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire.
Iranian shelling fell in open area near Jerusalem, says ‘Israeli’ media
Iranian shelling that set off widespread alarms across Jerusalem and surrounding regions reportedly fell in open areas, according to Ynet.
'Israeli' air defenses intercept missiles amid explosions in Jerusalem
Following reports of massive explosions in Jerusalem, Hebrew media said ‘Israeli’ air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles over the city.
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
US demands Iran shut key nuclear sites, report says
The United States has reportedly demanded that Iran shut down its main uranium enrichment facilities, according to Israel’s Channel 12 citing informed sources.
The report said Washington’s request includes the closure of Iran’s प्रमुख enrichment sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, which are central to the country’s nuclear program.
Neither US nor Iranian officials have publicly confirmed the reported demand. The development comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing diplomatic efforts tied to the escalating conflict in the region.
VIDEO - Iranian missile scores direct hit in north ‘Israel’
Iranian missile scores a direct hit in north ‘Israel’ in the settlement of Safed.
Iran says it targeted Rafael site in Haifa
Iran’s armed forces said they carried out drone attacks targeting a facility belonging to ‘Israel’s’ Rafael weapons firm in the northern city of Haifa, according to state-affiliated Fars news agency.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said missiles and drones were launched toward several locations, including Eilat, Dimona, and areas around Tel Aviv. The statement also claimed strikes on what Iran described as US military bases in the region.
Iran said its air defenses intercepted cruise missiles and drones over central and southern parts of the country, amid ongoing exchanges.
Earlier reports indicated that aerospace facilities near Ben Gurion Airport were also targeted, along with refueling aircraft at the site.
