US-Israel Offensive Against Iran Enters Fifth Day Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Tehran, March 4, 2026 — The ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensified on Wednesday as joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes pounded targets across the Iranian capital and other provinces, while Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks that reached as far as Turkey and Gulf states.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with coordinated strikes codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, has already claimed hundreds of lives and drawn in multiple countries across the Middle East.
Iranian state media reported that the death toll from U.S. and Israeli attacks has surpassed 1,045, including both military personnel and civilians. Strikes have targeted Iranian military installations, nuclear-related facilities such as Natanz, security headquarters, and symbols of regime power in Tehran. Explosions were reported overnight in western and eastern districts of the capital, with thick columns of smoke visible over the city.
In a major development, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship — identified as the frigate Iris Dena — in international waters in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities reported recovering bodies and rescuing dozens of wounded sailors from the incident, with nearly 150 crew members still unaccounted for.
Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon briefing, stated that additional U.S. forces, including fighter jets and bombers, are arriving in the region, and emphasized there would be "no letup" in operations. He claimed the U.S. and Israel have established air superiority over much of Iran, severely degraded its air defenses, ballistic missile capabilities, and naval forces. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's air force and navy have been "knocked out," vowing the campaign would continue until all objectives — widely understood to include regime change — are achieved.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening days of the assault, leaving the country under an interim three-person leadership council comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and cleric Alireza Arafi. Sources indicate Khamenei's son Mojtaba is a favored candidate to succeed him, though the selection process remains complicated by ongoing strikes and leadership losses.
Tehran has responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and regional allies. Notable incidents include:
A missile intercepted by NATO defenses as it approached Turkish airspace, marking the first direct involvement of a NATO member in the conflict.
Strikes on U.S. facilities in Qatar and reported hits on bases in Bahrain and the UAE.
Coordinated attacks with Hezbollah in Lebanon, including missile launches from both countries.
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran claiming "complete control" over the vital shipping lane, raising fears for global oil supplies.