US-Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates: Over 2,000 Targets Hit as Tehran Retaliates Across Gulf
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 4, 2026 — The military confrontation between Iran and the joint forces of Israel and the United States has intensified significantly on its fifth day, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting that American forces have now struck nearly 2,000 targets inside Iran.
This massive campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” has utilized B-52 bombers and F-15 fighter jets to neutralize Iranian naval vessels, submarines, and anti-ship missile sites, marking the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East in a generation.
In retaliation, Tehran has expanded its strikes across the region, with Iranian drones reportedly hitting a U.S. facility near Baghdad airport and a CIA station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while ballistic missiles targeted the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The conflict has caused significant disruption to global energy supplies and air travel, as President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy is prepared to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iranian threats to seal the vital chokepoint.
Amid the heavy fighting, which has reportedly claimed nearly 800 lives in Iran since Saturday, significant political shifts are occurring within the Islamic Republic following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Reports indicate that the Assembly of Experts has selected his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader to guide the nation through this existential crisis. However, Israel has already issued a stern warning, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that any future Iranian leader who continues to threaten regional stability will remain a target for elimination.
As Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Iranian nuclear research facilities and missile arrays, the U.S. has authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy personnel from several neighboring countries, reflecting the high state of alert as the war shows no immediate signs of a pause.