US and Israel pound Iran as regional conflict widens

Monday 02 March 2026 - 11:58

By: Dakir Madiha

US and Israel pound Iran as regional conflict widens

The United States and Israel have launched a large-scale air and missile offensive against Iran that has killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and shattered key elements of the country’s command structure, triggering a wave of Iranian retaliation that has pushed the wider Middle East to the brink of a broader war. Washington says the campaign aims to cripple Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and neutralize what President Donald Trump has described as an intolerable threat to US forces and allies in the region. Iran has responded with missile and drone salvos that have struck US positions and Arab Gulf states, disrupting air travel and trade routes and drawing traditionally cautious governments closer to the heart of the confrontation.

Israel opened the assault in daylight under a coordinated air campaign that officials have framed as an effort to eliminate what they call an existential security threat from Tehran. The Israeli military has reported hundreds of strikes across Iran targeting air defences, missile batteries, Revolutionary Guard facilities, and sites linked to its nuclear and ballistic programmes, asserting that its forces have achieved near-total control of Iranian airspace in the early days of the operation. Khamenei was killed when precision munitions hit his compound in Tehran, according to Iranian media and Western officials, a blow that has left uncertainty over who wields ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic.

Hours after Israel’s opening strikes, the United States joined the campaign with its own operation that has combined long-range cruise missile barrages with bomber sorties and carrier-based strikes. US warships in the region fired Tomahawk missiles at radar sites, command centres, and suspected missile launch locations, while stealth bombers attacked heavily defended targets deeper inside Iran. The Pentagon has described the strikes as part of a focused effort to dismantle Iran’s ability to launch further missile and drone attacks, while Trump has said publicly that “hundreds of targets” have been hit, including Revolutionary Guard infrastructure and naval assets. Israeli and US officials say the campaign will continue for as long as needed to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, though they have not set a clear end date.

Tehran has countered with its own large-scale operation, launching ballistic missiles and armed drones toward Israel, US bases, and Gulf states that host American forces or sit along key air and maritime corridors. Missiles or debris have struck international airports and high-rise districts in cities including Dubai, Doha, Manama, and Kuwait City, as well as industrial and port areas critical to regional trade. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait report that their air defences have intercepted large numbers of projectiles but acknowledge that several missiles and drones have hit civilian neighbourhoods and commercial sites, killing at least three people in the UAE and injuring dozens more across the Gulf. US Central Command has confirmed that American service members have been killed and wounded in the attacks, and officials warn that additional casualties are possible if the confrontation drags on.

The Iranian Red Crescent says at least 555 people have been killed inside Iran since the strikes began, with more than one hundred cities and regions affected by the bombing. Rescue workers have been deployed nationwide to pull survivors from collapsed buildings and evacuate residents from heavily damaged districts, particularly in and around Tehran, which has endured repeated waves of attacks. Iranian officials accuse the United States and Israel of unlawful aggression and warn that retaliation will continue until, in their words, the attackers are “decisively defeated,” while also indicating that US bases and assets across the region remain potential targets. State media and officials close to the security establishment have vowed a prolonged struggle and have hinted that the conflict could expand beyond current fronts if the bombardment persists.

The fighting has rattled governments across the Gulf, where leaders have long tried to balance security ties with Washington against economic and diplomatic engagement with Tehran. All six Gulf Cooperation Council states have now been touched by the fallout, whether through direct hits, missile debris, or the sudden halt of flights and shipping through key hubs. Airlines have suspended many routes over the Middle East, leaving Iranian airspace almost empty and complicating global travel and cargo flows. Disruptions at airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City, along with reported strikes near oil facilities and ports, have raised fears about potential pressure on energy markets if the crisis deepens.

In Washington, senior officials and lawmakers describe the current phase as an extended air and naval campaign designed to weaken Iran’s missile arsenal and deter further attacks on US forces and partners. They also acknowledge the risk that a downed aircraft or mass-casualty strike could trigger an even faster escalation, drawing in more actors and limiting room for de-escalation. Israeli leaders, meanwhile, signal that they intend to keep striking targets linked to Iran’s missile, drone, and nuclear infrastructure and are openly urging Iranians to challenge their leaders amid the turmoil. With no sign of diplomatic talks and both sides warning of further action, residents across the region face the prospect of weeks of continued air raids, missile alerts, and uncertainty over how far the confrontation will spread.