US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 40 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 war 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 six 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.
UAE says responding to “fire incident” at gas-processing facility
Authorities in Abu Dhabi were responding to a "fire incident" at a gas complex in the emirate on Wednesday, the government media office said.
"Abu Dhabi authorities are responding to a fire incident at Habshan gas-processing facility," the media office posted on X, without providing details on the cause of the fire.
VIDEO - Iran fires multiple salvos at ‘Israel’ after ceasefire with US
Footage of multiple Iranian missiles in skies of ‘Israel’, after the Islamic Republic fired six salvos over an almost two-hour period immediately after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
Pakistan PM says US-Iran ceasefire covers “everywhere” including Lebanon
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the United States, Iran and their allies had agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere", including Lebanon, following mediation by his government to stop weeks of fighting.
"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Sharif posted on X.
Pakistan confirms Iran, US agreed to “immediate ceasefire”
Pakistan confirms Iran, US and allies agreed to “immediate ceasefire”
Iran fires sixth wave of ballistic missiles
Iran continued firing waves of ballistic missiles towards ‘Israel’, firing a sixth wave aimed at Tel Aviv and central ‘Israel’.
Iran fires fifth ballistic missile salvo at ‘Israel’
Iran continued its barrage of ballistic missiles towards ‘Israel’, firing its fifth wave after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.
Sirens were activated in the Negev, southern ‘Israel’.
Iran fires fourth missile salvo at ‘Israel’
Iran has fired its fourth consecutive wave of ballistic missiles, this time targeting north ‘Israel’.
The salvos came immediately after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.
Iran fires third missile salvo at central ‘Israel’
Iran has fired a third wave of missiles at ‘Israel’ after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.
Sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and central ‘Israel’.
Hebrew media: Iran-US ceasefire includes Lebanon
Hebrew media reported that the two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States includes Lebanon, where the ‘Israeli’ military is carrying out attacks against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Iran fires second missile salvo at ‘Israel’ after Trump says attacks paused
Iran fires second missile salvo at ‘Israel’ after Trump says attacks paused
Iran agrees to safe passage through Hormuz for two weeks “if attacks halted”: FM
Iran said Wednesday it would guarantee safe passage for maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, announcing that the pause would be used for talks with the United States on ending the war, starting Friday in Islamabad.
"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
The Islamic republic's Supreme National Security Council said in a separate statement the negotiations were set to last two weeks but could be "extended by mutual agreement of the parties."
Iran says negotiations with US set for Friday in Islamabad
Iran’s National Security Council said negotiations with the United States will begin Friday in Islamabad, amid “complete distrust” of the American side.
The council described the outcome of talks as a “great victory,” claiming Washington agreed to a ten-point proposal. According to the Iranian statement, the agreement includes:
- Coordinated passage through the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian oversight.
- Ending the war against all members of the “Axis of Resistance.”
- Withdrawal of US forces from all regional bases.
- Full compensation to Iran of the war’s damages.
- Lifting all sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets abroad.
Iranian state media: Trump agreed to Iran’s conditions to end war
Iranian state media said that US President Donald Trump agreed to Iran’s conditions to end the war.
Tasnim News Agency said that more details regarding the ceasefire will be released later by Iran.
Iran’s National Security Council said that negotiations will take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, to put the final touches on the agreement.
Missiles fired by Iran at ‘Israel’: military
‘Israel's’ military warned early Wednesday that Iran had fired missiles toward it.
"The (Israeli army) identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said on its official Telegram channel.
Trump says US “very far along” negotiating long-term deal with Iran
Trump says US “very far along” negotiating long-term deal with Iran
Trump says Iran has sent “workable” 10-point proposal to US
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he agreed to suspend a devastating attack on Iran by two weeks and was ready for a ceasefire in the war if Tehran completely reopens the vital Strait of Hormuz.
"I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump posted on social media a little more than an hour before his deadline, after talks with Pakistani mediators.
Trump announces ceasefire with Iran for two weeks
US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran for a period of two weeks, in which Iran will also open the Strait of Hormuz, according to a his statements on Truth Social.
JD Vance acting as US intermediary in Iran ceasefire talks: CBS News
US media reported Wednesday that a ceasefire with Iran is being negotiated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with US Vice President JD Vance serving as the US “interlocutor in the talks” - according to sources cited by CBS News.
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif said earlier that his country offered a deal that involves a two-week ceasefire in which Iran would also open the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia says intercepted five missiles fired towards east
Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Wednesday its military had intercepted five missiles fired towards the kingdom's east while Iran presses an aerial campaign against its neighbours.
The ministry's spokesperson announced the "interception and destruction of five ballistic missiles launched towards the eastern region", after overnight attacks the previous day hit a petrochemical complex in the eastern city of Jubail.
Two civilians, including a child, killed by projectile in Baghdad: police source
Two civilians, one of them an eight-year-old child, were killed late on Tuesday in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, causing a fire, a police source told AFP.
"Three other civilians, including a woman, were wounded" in the western Amiriya district of the Iraqi capital, according to the source. A security official told AFP earlier that "a rocket fell on a house in the Amiriya district".
Strikes hit Aluminum plant in Arak: Iranian media
Iranian media reported that an Aluminum plant in central Iran’s Arak was hit by strikes
Reports also said the “Fajr Petrochemical Complex” in Mahshahr was hit.
Qatar says four wounded, including a child, by falling missile debris in Iran attack
The Qatari Ministry of Interior said Wednesday that debris resulting from interceptions of Iranian missiles resulted in four moderate injuries, including a child.
The debris fell on a Qatari citizen’s home in the Muraikh area, according to the statement.
‘Israel’ military issues evacuation warning for Tyre, south Lebanon
‘Israel's’ military warned residents of Tyre in southern Lebanon to evacuate late Tuesday as it continued to fight Hezbollah.
"Urgent warning to the residents of the city of Tyre, specifically in Shabriha... you must evacuate your homes immediately," the ‘Israeli’ military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, wrote on Telegram, illustrated by an image of the area to be targeted with a tower block highlighted.
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