Four days after initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran sparked regional escalation on February 28, the conflict intensified with Israel destroying Iran's state television headquarters in Tehran, Iranian missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli targets, and the threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military facilities including ballistic missile sites, entered its fourth day with further escalations. The Israeli military announced the destruction of Iran’s state television headquarters in Tehran via intense airstrikes on the capital and other cities, following evacuation warnings. Explosions rocked districts in Tehran and Isfahan province, while 13 Iranian soldiers were killed in a strike on a base in Kerman province.
Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Israel and US sites. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned of a strengthening response, stating 'the gates of hell will open wider' for the US and Israel, and announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz— a vital global energy chokepoint—threatening to ignite any transiting vessels, though unconfirmed independently.
Iranian attacks hit US diplomatic missions across the Gulf: a drone struck the US embassy in Riyadh, sparking a limited fire and prompting closure; the Kuwait embassy was targeted earlier. Saudi Arabia condemned the Riyadh incident as a violation of international law, reserving the right to respond. Kuwait and Qatar issued similar condemnations.
In Oman, drones damaged a fuel tank at Duqm port (no injuries), with two intercepted over Dhofar and one crashing near Salalah. The UAE intercepted most of 81 Iranian drones and 186 ballistic missiles, plus eight cruise missiles, reporting three deaths and 68 minor injuries. Jordan managed 157 debris incidents without new casualties. In Iraq’s Kurdistan, over 80 Iranian missiles and drones targeted Erbil’s US consulate and a nearby coalition base, most intercepted.
In Washington, President Donald Trump did not rule out ground troops to Iran amid six US service member deaths. The State Department urged Americans to evacuate over a dozen regional countries. Iran's death toll from US and Israeli strikes reached 787 across 1,039 incidents at 504 sites in 153 cities. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traded accusations. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the campaign 'swift and decisive,' a 'gateway to peace.' The IAEA noted damage to Natanz's entrance but no radiation release.
