US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 28 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 war, 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.
WATCH: 'Israel’ mourns soldier killed in southern Lebanon
Hundreds gathered today to bid a final farewell to Staff Sergeant Ori Greenberg, 21, who fell during intense fighting in southern Lebanon. Greenberg, a member of the elite Golani Reconnaissance Unit, was killed in an overnight exchange of fire with Hezbollah militants.
Hezbollah strikes ‘Israeli’ troops near Al-Qantara
Hezbollah announced that it launched rockets at a gathering of ‘Israeli’ troops and their vehicles near a cemetery in the town of Al-Qantara.
Sharjah air defenses respond to missile threat
The media office of the Sharjah government announced that air defense systems are actively responding to a missile threat.
Authorities confirmed that defensive measures are in place and stressed the importance of public compliance with safety guidance. No casualties or damage have been reported so far.
WATCH: Israel’ Chief warns military could collapse amid soldier shortage
'Israeli' opposition leader Yair Lapid has issued a stern warning, stating that 'Israel' are "stretched to the limit and beyond." In a televised briefing following a reported Security Cabinet meeting, Lapid highlighted the "10 red flags" raised by the Chief of Staff regarding the military's inability to sustain current missions.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard targets oil facilities in Ashdod
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly targeted oil tanks and storage facilities in the Israeli port city of Ashdod.
‘Israel’ intercepts missiles launched from Iran
The ‘Israeli’ military reported that missiles were launched from Iran toward its territory. Defensive systems are currently operating to intercept the incoming threat.
The Home Front Command issued precautionary alerts directly to mobile phones in affected areas. Citizens have been instructed to enter protected spaces and remain there until official clearance. Leaving shelters is allowed only after explicit instructions.
Explosions reported in Tabriz, Urmia, and Kashan
Iranian media have reported explosions in the cities of Tabriz and Urmia in the northwest, and in Kashan in central Iran.
Kuwait responds to missile, drone attacks
Kuwait’s military announced it is responding to missile and drone attacks, urging citizens to follow official safety and security guidance.
In a statement, the army said that explosions heard across the country were caused by successful interceptions. Officials called for calm and emphasized the need to adhere to authorities’ instructions during the ongoing engagement.
Sirens sound in Upper Galilee, 'Israel'
Air raid sirens sounded in the Upper Galilee area in northern ‘Israel’, according to Channel 12.
The broadcaster reported that warning systems were activated across parts of the region, but did not provide immediate details on the cause of the alert.
Iran bans teams from traveling to 'hostile' countries
Iran has announced a ban on its sports teams traveling to countries it considers 'hostile', in a decision that underscores the increasing overlap between politics and athletics.
According to local reports, the move follows official instructions aimed at “protecting” Iranian athletes amid what authorities describe as security and political concerns abroad.
‘Israel’ strike kills two in south Lebanon
Two people were killed and eight others injured in an air strike carried out by ‘Israel’ on southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency.
The strike targeted the town of Kfar Reman in the Nabatieh district, a region that has seen repeated cross-border escalations in recent months.
Air strike hits PMF base in western Iraq
An air strike targeted a military base used by Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces in the border town of al-Qaim, west of the country.
The base, located in Anbar province near the Syrian frontier, is known to host factions aligned with Iran.
Local sources said the attack left three people injured. The extent of the damage remains unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility so far.
Al-Qaim has long been a sensitive military area due to its proximity to Syria and its role as a key crossing point for armed groups and supply routes.
The Popular Mobilisation Forces, a state-recognized coalition of mostly Shiite armed factions, maintain a strong presence in the region.
VIDEO - Iran allowed passage of 10 oil tankers as a “present”: Trump
Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a "present" to show it was serious about negotiations to end the war, US President Donald Trump says.
Referring to cryptic comments earlier this week about a "gift" from Tehran, Trump said Iran allowed eight "big boats of oil" to transit the waterway earlier this week, followed by two others later on.
