United States and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran on February 28, setting off a military conflict that has since drawn in more than a dozen countries across the Middle East and beyond. The operation, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said could last up to eight weeks, has triggered retaliatory Iranian drone and ballistic missile strikes against regional neighbors, US military installations, embassies, and civilian infrastructure.
President Donald Trump said on March 2 that the administration projected the operation would last four or five weeks but retained “the capability to go far longer than that.” As of March 5, Congress has not declared war, despite holding that authority under the US Constitution.
Iran and Israel at the Center
Iran has absorbed the heaviest toll. Iranian state media estimates more than 1,000 people have died inside the country since the strikes began, with several schools and hospitals hit, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli Air Force reports striking Iran with over 5,000 munitions since the operation started.
Israel has not been spared. Retaliatory Iranian strikes have killed at least 11 people and damaged over 40 buildings in Tel Aviv as of March 4, according to Al Jazeera. Israel also began striking southern Lebanon after the militant group Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks against it. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam subsequently moved to restrict Hezbollah’s activities in the country.
Regional Spillover
The conflict has spread well beyond its two main combatants. A summary of affected countries:
- Azerbaijan: Drone attacks launched from Iran crossed the border on March 5, damaging an airport building and injuring two civilians. President Ilham Aliyev ordered his military to prepare retaliatory measures. Iran denied responsibility.
- Bahrain: Missile and drone strikes hit multiple sites, including a US naval base. On March 2, Amazon reported a drone strike near one of its data centers in the country. Iranian state media said the data center was targeted because of the company’s support for the US military.
- Cyprus: A drone strike hit a British air base on March 2, causing limited damage with no casualties. Greece, the UK, and France have provided defensive support.
- Iraq: Multiple Iranian strikes have targeted a US military base near Erbil International Airport since February 28, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data monitoring group.
- Jordan: Jordanian forces have intercepted dozens of missiles. The US embassy in the country announced on March 2 that all personnel had temporarily departed.
- Kuwait: Multiple waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks have struck the country. On March 2, US Central Command confirmed three US fighter jets were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during a mixed Iranian attack involving aircraft, missiles, and drones.
Economic Disruption
The conflict has rattled global supply chains. Shipping traffic along the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil flows, has halted. The oil, gas, and fertilizer industries face mounting uncertainty as key infrastructure has been struck or taken offline as a precaution.
The Trump administration has offered multiple justifications for the military action, citing a potential “nuclear threat” and unverified claims that Iran interfered in the 2020 and 2024 US presidential elections. The stated rationale has shifted at points, adding to uncertainty about the operation’s defined objectives.
Iran has continued launching hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles across the region since February 28. Many have been intercepted, but casualties have been recorded and buildings damaged across multiple countries, including luxury hotels in Dubai and international airports and marine ports.
This article is a curated summary based on third-party sources. Source: Read the original article
