US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 31 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.
Yemen’s Houthi movement entered the war early, launching missile and drone attacks toward ‘Israel’ and expanding the conflict beyond the Gulf and Levant theaters.
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.
Iran FM says “high time” for Saudi Arabia to eject US forces
Iran's top diplomat urged Saudi Arabia on Monday to evict US forces from its territory, reiterating that its attacks in the region only targeted its enemies.
"Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.
"Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security... High time to eject U.S. forces."
UAE defenses “engaging” with missiles, drones: defense ministry
The United Arab Emirates defense ministry said Monday night that its air defenses are “actively engaging” with missiles and UAV (drones) threats, as Iran continues its campaign against the Gulf countries for what it says is retaliation for US-‘Israeli’ strikes.
“The sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAV's,” the defense ministry said in a statement.
All-clear sirens sound across Jordan
All-clear sirens sound across Jordan
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
All-clear sirens sound across Jordan
All-clear sirens sound across Jordan
Wave of missiles fired toward occupied territories: Iran state TV
Iranian state television reported Monday that a new wave of ballistic missiles targeting ‘Israel’
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
VIDEO - Kuwait says one killed in attack on desalination plant
Kuwait says an attack on a desalination and electricity plant killed one worker and caused damage to a building as Iran pressed its aerial campaign against its Gulf neighbours.
VIDEO - Syria’s Sharaa condemns Iranian attacks on Arab countries
Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa, during a press conference with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, condemned the ongoing Iranian attacks on Arab countries, which the Islamic Republic says is in retaliation for ‘Israeli’-US strikes.
Sharaa rejected the region being used as a “theatre for settling scores” per his expression.
170 targets: ‘Israel’ says used 400 munitions in 24 hours against Iran
The ‘Israeli’ military said Monday that it struck 170 Iranian targets over the past 24 hours using approximately 400 munitions.
According to ‘Israeli’ claims, among the sites targeted were:
- A central site used to produce key components for a variety of weapons in Iran
- Sites used for the production of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engines
- An industrial complex where components for weapons were developed and a research and development site
It further claimed it struck several key headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, including the main Basij compound in the city of Dehgolan and a police station of the Internal Security Forces in the city of Sanandaj.
Jordan activates all-clear alarm
Jordan activates all-clear alarm
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
Sirens activated in Jordan amid danger
UNIFIL says two peacekeepers killed in south Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said two of its personnel were killed on Monday in a blast in the country's south, after another peacekeeper was killed a day earlier.
"Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were tragically killed in south Lebanon today, when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also hurt," the force said in a statement, adding it had launched an investigation.
VIDEO - Jordan-Saudi-Qatar summit held in Jeddah
His Majesty King Abdullah II, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, prime minister of Saudi Arabia, and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a trilateral summit in Jeddah, “focusing on the situation in the region and ways to de-escalate tensions,” the Royal Hashemite Court (RHC) said in a statement.
VIDEO - Jordan's King, Saudi Crown Prince discuss damaging repercussions of regional developments
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks on Monday addressing the regional developments affecting the security of the Middle East and the entire world.
During the discussions, both leaders condemned ongoing Iranian attacks on Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states, describing them as a continued threat to regional stability.
VIDEO - Saudi crown prince receives Qatar's emir in Jeddah
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Jeddah.
Mojtaba Khamenei may be alive but in “extraordinarily bad shape”: Trump
US President Donald Trump addressed the uncertainty regarding Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, telling the New York Post that he is “probably” alive but in "extraordinarily bad shape”.
“Nobody’s heard from him,” Trump said. “He’s very seriously injured.”
“We don’t know [if he’s alive]. We think probably yes, but in extraordinarily bad shape.”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker, was mentioned in reports that he’s willing to participate in peace talks with the United States.
“We’re gonna find out,” Trump told The Post if Ghalibaf will work with the US on a peace plan.
“I’ll let you know that in about a week.”
He also reiterated his claim that there has been a “regime change” in Iran, citing the massive death toll of the Islamic Republic’s top leadership.
“There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people.”
“And thus far, they’ve been much more reasonable.”
UAE minister says Iran’s actions cannot be tolerated
A senior United Arab Emirates minister warned that it is no longer possible to coexist with the Iranian regime, calling its actions a form of extortion that must be confronted.
He stressed that Iran must be held accountable for the consequences of its “terrorist aggression” and emphasized that the region now faces a critical crossroads due to Iran’s attacks against Arab states.
The statements reflect growing Gulf concerns over Iran’s escalating provocations and their impact on regional security.
Turkey says fourth ballistic missile intercepted after entering airspace
Turkey said Monday that a fourth “ballistic projectile” launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace and has been intercepted.
It added that it has been “neutralized” by NATO air and missile defense units in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“All necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace,” the ministry added in its statement.
The incident is the fourth of its kind since the start of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran, with Turkey previously protesting and warning Iran.
Jordan's King, Saudi Crown Prince discuss damaging repercussions of regional developments
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks on Monday addressing the regional developments affecting the security of the Middle East and the entire world.
During the discussions, both leaders condemned ongoing Iranian attacks on Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states, describing them as a continued threat to regional stability.
King Abdullah II also warned against exploiting the current situation to restrict freedom of worship or access to holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and opposed the imposition of new realities in the West Bank and Gaza.
The King further stressed the importance of halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon, highlighting efforts to support the country’s security, stability, and sovereignty.
The talks reinforced the shared commitment of Jordan and Saudi Arabia to address regional threats and uphold peace and security across the Arab world.
