The conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States is escalating rapidly, with strikes and retaliatory attacks spreading across the Middle East and drawing in regional and Western powers. These are some of the key developments unfolding across the region:

23.38 – Rubio: ‘Hardest Hits Are Yet to Come From the U.S. Military’

“The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday about Iran.

“We have objectives. We will do this as long as it takes to achieve those objectives, and we will achieve those objectives. The world will be a safer place when we’re done with this operation.”

Rubio said the U.S. got involved in the Iran strikes because the Trump administration was concerned that Israel’s planned military action would result in an attack on U.S. forces.

He also said the U.S. wanted to stop Iran from continuing to grow its naval and ballistic missile capabilities.

Rubio denied that Israel’s planned attack on Iran forced the U.S. into the conflict, but said that the country’s plans played into the U.S.’s decision to act in what he called “proactively in a defensive way.”

“Had we not done so, there would have been hearings on Capitol Hill about how we knew that this was going to happen and we didn’t act pre-emptively to prevent more casualties and more loss of life,” he told reporters Monday afternoon.

Rubio said the objective of the operation wasn’t regime change, but that he would “love to see a new regime.”

And he pushed back on questions that the administration hadn’t properly involved Congress in the decision to start the conflict and said the president had the authority to put boots on the ground if he chose.

23.23 – Six Troops Killed in Iran Attacks

The U.S. Central Command said Monday that two more servicemembers were killed in action, increasing the total number of deaths of U.S. servicemembers to six after the American-Israeli strike on Iran.

“U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” Centcom, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said in a statement on X.

22:30 – Israeli Army Strikes Dozens of Iranian Intelligence, Security Command Centers

The Israeli army on Monday evening said it had struck dozens of command centers in Tehran that were part of Iran’s intelligence services and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) internal security forces. The Israeli Air Force targeted IRGC command centers that it said were responsible for directing violence against Iranian civilians and suppressing protests. The Israeli army also said it hit more than 10 bases belonging to the Iranian intelligence services IRGC’s Quds Force, which conducts and oversees paramilitary operations abroad.  

20.18 – Stock Market Today: Oil Prices Jump; Stocks Pare Losses; European natural-gas prices surge

Oil prices surged after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran showed signs of sparking a widening conflict across the Middle East.

The U.S. dollar and Swiss franc rallied amid a broad investor flight to safety. Gold futures rose around 1.5%.

Stocks fell sharply at the open, only to quickly pare losses on Monday morning. The Dow industrials and S&P 500 traded near flat, while the Nasdaq composite edged higher.

Futures for Brent crude oil, the global energy benchmark, rose about 7%, fueled by fears of a protracted closure of the key Strait of Hormuz corridor and attacks on Mideast energy infrastructure. European gas futures surged, getting an extra boost after the world’s largest liquefied natural-gas producer halted output.

European and Asian stocks largely sold off, with airlines posting particularly sharp losses. However, shares in oil, shipping and defense companies rallied, with Lockheed Martin and RTX both jumping.

U.S. Treasury yields pushed back above 4%. Concerns that a sustained spike in oil prices would boost inflation appeared to outweigh the perceived role of Treasurys as a haven asset.

19:15 – Trump: Operation to Last 4-5 Weeks or Longer

US President Donald Trump said the US military operation against Iran is projected to last four to five weeks, “but we have capability to go far longer than that.”

Trump, speaking at the White House, said the operation was already unfolding more quickly than his administration had projected. “Whatever the time is, it’s okay. Whatever it takes,” he said.

“Somebody said today, they said, ‘Oh, well, the president wants to do it really quickly. After that, he’ll get bored.’ I don’t get bored. There’s nothing boring about this,” the president added.

18:55 – Read-out of the Security College of 2 March 2026

The Security College reviewed the evolving situation in Iran and the Middle East and the spill-overs
for the European Union, according to a press release by the EU Commission.
The Commission’s work will be guided by two priorities: supporting Member States and protecting EU
citizens from the adverse consequences of the events unfolding in Iran and the Middle East.
The Commission’s work will focus, in particular, on the following areas.
The Commission is stepping up support for Member States’ evacuation and repatriation efforts,
including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Emergency Response Coordination
Centre, working closely with EU Delegations.
The Commission is also reinforcing monitoring of transport disruption risks, notably around the Strait
of Hormuz and the Red Sea, and intensifying coordination with airlines, shipping companies and
national authorities.
On energy, the Commission is closely tracking both price and supply developments and will convene
an Energy Task Force with Member States, in liaison with the International Energy Agency, with a first
meeting this week.
On internal security, the Commission is maintaining heightened vigilance and close cooperation with
Europol and Member States regarding potential internal security risks.
Finally, on migration, the Commission is enhancing preparedness through closer monitoring of trends
and reinforced cooperation with relevant UN agencies and partner countries.

17:35 — Trump says to CNN “big wave” of Iran strikes still to come

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday, US President Donald Trump offered a stark assessment of the conflict with Iran, saying US military operations are “going very well” and asserting that Washington has “not even started hitting them hard” yet. He told Tapper the campaign could last around four weeks, though he stressed that timeline isn’t fixed. The US President signaled more intense strikes could be imminent, CNN reported. “We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” Trump said. Trump also said the US is doing more to support the Iranian people against their regime but cautioned that it isn’t safe for civilians to emerge from shelters.

Trump said his administration had attempted to negotiate with Tehran but “we couldn’t make a deal with these people,” arguing that Iran repeatedly walked back previous offers and refused to end uranium enrichment. He defended military action as “the way” to handle Iran, saying the US does not need to rely on agreements and citing what he described as Iran’s long record of regional destabilization since 1979.

17:20 — IRGC says it has hit 500 US and Israeli targets

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed it has targeted around 500 US and Israeli sites in its ongoing retaliation.  The Guardian reported that the statement came as thick smoke was seen rising from the US embassy complex in Kuwait amid continued Iranian strikes triggered by the weekend campaign by US and Israeli forces that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

16:20  — Huge blast rocks Beirut after evacuation warning

A massive explosion was heard in Beirut, with the blast in Dahieh — a Hezbollah stronghold in the city’s southern suburbs — described by the BBC as so powerful it felt as though it had struck central Beirut. The BBC also reported that warnings were broadcast over loudspeakers from the US Embassy in Awkar instructing staff to take cover and move away from windows.

Separately, The Guardian reported that the Israeli military issued an “urgent” evacuation warning for buildings in southern Beirut. In the past hour, large plumes of smoke have been seen rising over the Lebanese capital, according to reports cited by the newspaper.

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

15:50 — Putin says Russia ready to help stabilise Middle East

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain about what Moscow described as the “unprecedented escalation” around Iran, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. Putin said Russia is prepared to use “all available means to stabilise the situation in the region,” according to TASS.

CNN reported that Putin also spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. According to the Kremlin, Putin told the UAE leader that Moscow has sought a peaceful resolution to Iran’s nuclear issue and “mutually acceptable compromises,” and thanked the UAE for its support of Russian nationals. In his call with Qatar’s emir, the Kremlin said both sides voiced concern about the conflict widening and pulling in third countries, expressing hope for a “rapid de-escalation” of hostilities

15:25 — Hegseth defends Iran strikes at Pentagon briefing

Speaking at a Pentagon news conference alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the ongoing operation against Iran as the “most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history,” according to the BBC’s live coverage. Hegseth said the campaign was carried out under direct orders from President Donald Trump and declared, “We didn’t start the war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it.” He warned that anyone who kills or threatens Americans would be pursued “without apology and without hesitation,” and argued that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons.

At the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said the US is not pursuing regime change or an “endless war,” but aims to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and broader security infrastructure. Hegseth also said the United States is not ruling out any options in the war in Iran and added, “we fight to win.” He accused Tehran of stalling negotiations to rebuild its arsenal and said major combat operations remain ongoing. He also paid tribute to the four US service members killed so far in the conflict, calling them “the absolute best of America.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

15:00 — Fourth US service member dies in action

A fourth US service member has died in action, US Central Command said in a new statement, after it had previously announced three American fatalities in the conflict with Iran. According to the statement, the service member had been seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks and later succumbed to those injuries. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” CENTCOM said, adding that the identities of the fallen are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

14:30  — Iran says it is prepared for “long war”

Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani said the country has “prepared itself for a long war,” following US and Israeli strikes that have fueled escalating violence across the region. In a post on X, Larijani said Iran did not initiate the conflict and that its armed forces have acted only in self-defense. He added that Tehran would “fiercely defend” itself and its “6,000-years old civilization” regardless of the cost, warning that its adversaries would regret what he described as a miscalculation.

13:17 — US jets previously reported crashed were downed by friendly fire

Three US F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets that were earlier reported to have crashed in Kuwait were shot down in an apparent friendly fire incident, US Central Command said, according to CNN. CENTCOM said Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly targeted the aircraft during active combat involving Iranian planes, ballistic missiles and drones.  “All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation” US Central Command said, according to CNN.

A person parachutes in Al Jahra, Kuwait, in this still image obtained from social media video released on March 2, 2026. Social Media/via REUTERS

13:05 — IAEA sees no damage to nuclear sites

The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it has no indication that Israeli or US strikes have damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said sites including Bushehr and the Tehran Research Reactor appear unaffected and that radiation levels in neighboring countries remain normal. Reuters reported that Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA had said the Natanz facility was attacked, as US President Donald Trump continues to cite Iran’s nuclear program as justification for US strikes.

13:00 — Aftermath of the Gandhi Hospital bombardment in Tehran

A view shows the aftermath of an Israeli and the U.S. strike on Gandhi Hotel Hospital, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Debris lies next to beds inside a damage hospital ward following an Israeli and the U.S. strike on Gandhi Hotel Hospital, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA

12:47 GMT — US, Gulf states condemn Iran’s actions

Iran’s actions across the region represent a “dangerous escalation” that threatens Middle East stability, according to a joint statement by the United States and six allied Gulf states, the BBC reported. The statement — issued by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and the US, and shared by Kuwait’s foreign ministry — said that “targeting civilians and non-combatant states is reckless behaviour that undermines stability.” The countries reaffirmed what they described as their right to self-defense as apparent Iranian strikes continued. The statement said attacks had taken place in Bahrain, Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the BBC.

12:15 — EU: No immediate oil supply threat

The European Commission does not expect the widening Iran-Israel-US conflict to have an immediate impact on the European Union’s oil supply security, according to an email seen by Reuters on Monday. “At this stage, we do not foresee an immediate oil SOS (security of supply) impact,” the Commission said in a message to EU governments. The update came as oil prices surged 9% after shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by retaliatory Iranian attacks following initial bombing by Israel and the United States that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported. The Commission has asked member states to share their national assessments of oil supply security and is considering convening a virtual meeting of the EU’s oil coordination group later this week to coordinate any response. Analysts expect prices to remain elevated as markets assess the risks to flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for more than 20% of global oil.

What’s happening today:

The US-Israeli air campaign against Iran expanded significantly on Monday, with hostilities spreading across the region and beyond. According to Reuters, Iran’s army said it fired missiles at a US air base in Kuwait and targeted “enemy vessels,” while Kuwaiti authorities said hostile drones were intercepted. Video verified by Reuters showed a US warplane falling over the Al Jahra area, with the pilot parachuting to safety; Kuwait’s defense ministry said several American aircraft had crashed but crews were unharmed. Explosions were reported in Tehran, Doha and Dubai, while air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as Iran launched a fresh missile barrage.

The conflict also intensified on Israel’s northern front. Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, opening what Reuters described as a major new front in Lebanon. Israel responded with sweeping strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other areas it said were linked to Hezbollah. Lebanon’s state news agency reported at least 31 people killed and 149 injured, figures cited by Reuters and the BBC. In Israel, an earlier Iranian strike killed nine people in Beit Shemesh on Sunday, the BBC reported.

Inside Iran, fresh explosions were heard in Tehran, with Iranian state media reporting damage to multiple hospitals. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said 555 people have been killed across more than 130 cities following US and Israeli attacks, according to the BBC. Beyond the immediate combatants, the fallout has reached US and European allies: a drone struck Britain’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus overnight, while sirens were heard in Bahrain. The widening conflict has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil artery, contributing to a sharp rise in energy prices, Reuters said.