The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is about to enter its third week, with no signs of letting up as missile strikes, drone strikes and airstrikes continue across the Middle East.According to Reuters citing Axios, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in a virtual meeting that Iran is “about to surrender.” He further told G7 leaders that the conflict was moving in Washington’s favor. Despite his remarks, the war has escalated on multiple fronts, with casualties mounting and global markets reacting to growing instability.Nearly two weeks after the conflict began, oil prices have soared, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted and regional powers have been drawn into the fighting. Missile exchanges between Israel and Iran continue, while allied groups and regional countries are increasingly becoming part of the conflict.
Week 1: The war begins with the killing of Iran’s supreme leader
The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting military infrastructure and missile systems inside Iran under Operation Epic Fury.The opening attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior commanders, prompting immediate retaliation from Tehran.
.
Iranian forces launched missiles and drones at Israeli and U.S. military installations in the region, marking the beginning of a rapid escalation in the conflict.
Day 2: Iran launches major retaliation
On the second day of the conflict, Iran responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, targeting Israeli cities and military infrastructure. At the same time, the U.S. military has expanded air strikes against Iranian missile launch sites and Revolutionary Guard facilities. Iran has also begun targeting U.S. bases and allies in the Middle East, signaling that the conflict will not be limited to Iran and Israel.
Day 3: Hezbollah opens northern front
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah joined the conflict, firing rockets into northern Israel. Israel retaliated with air strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern suburbs and other parts of Lebanon.The deadliest attacks included an overnight air strike on the eastern town of Nabichit, which killed at least 16 people and injured 35 others, according to Lebanon’s public health ministry. Officials warned the death toll could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Day 4: bay Tensions rise
Missiles and drones began appearing over Gulf states where U.S. military bases are located, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The attack near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted maritime traffic and raised concerns about a global energy crisis. Oil markets reacted sharply as traders worried the conflict could severely impact global supplies.
Day 5: Gulf states increasingly involved
Iranian drones and missiles have targeted multiple countries in the region. Emirati air defense forces intercepted the projectiles near Dubai International Airport and coastal areas.In Bahrain, a missile hit a state-run oil refinery, sparking a fire, authorities later said. Saudi Arabia has also intercepted drones near critical energy infrastructure.
Day 6: Mass strikes intensify
The United States and Israel have expanded attacks inside Iran, hitting hundreds of targets in a matter of days. Officials said the strikes destroyed much of Iran’s air defense network and missile systems. Israeli authorities claim to have destroyed approximately 80% of Iran’s air defense systems. Iranian authorities said the death toll from attacks across the country has risen to more than 1,300. Several cities reported severe damage to buildings and infrastructure, including government facilities, hospitals and residential areas.
Day 7: War spreads across the region
The conflict spread across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Iraq and the Gulf. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Bahrain after air defense systems intercepted incoming projectiles. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, affecting global trade routes.Trump has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” while ruling out immediate negotiations, a sign that the war could continue to expand across the region.
Week 2: Conflict expands in the Middle East
Day 8: Heavy bombing and area attacks
A week after the war began, Tehran came under heavy air strikes and Iranian missiles targeted Israel and Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting drones and missiles.As casualties rose sharply, Western countries began to strengthen military assets in the region. A new wave of heavy bombing has hit Tehran, with at least 1,332 people reportedly killed in U.S. and Israeli attacks, Al Jazeera reported.
Day 9: Attacks spread to Gulf and Iraq
Missile and drone attacks have been reported in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. A missile landed inside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, but no casualties were reported. Israel also attacked fuel storage facilities in Tehran, sparking fires.Trump said Washington was not interested in negotiating with Iran despite continued hostilities. “We’re not going to reconcile,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “They want to reconcile. We’re not going to reconcile.”Trump claimed that the United States and Israel had severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy, air force and missile infrastructure.
Day 10: Iran names new supreme leader
After his father’s death, Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader. The cleric, who has close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has taken on a leadership role as Iran continues its missile and drone attacks in the region.Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone targeting the Sheba oil fields and warned Iran it would be the “biggest loser” if the attacks continued. The United States has also begun withdrawing non-essential diplomatic personnel and family members from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries due to rising security risks.
Day 11: Intense bombings and protests
Heavy air strikes continue to hit various parts of Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and other cities.Thousands of Iranians rallied in support of Mojtaba Khamenei, and the government vowed to keep fighting. Iranian forces have also launched drone attacks on Israeli infrastructure, including energy facilities in Haifa.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would continue fighting as long as necessary, casting doubt on Trump’s insistence that the conflict would end “soon.”
Day 12: America’s largest attack
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. military carried out the largest strike since the beginning of the war. Tehran reported heavy bombing of the capital, with thousands of civilians fleeing the main city.The United States also destroyed several Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz over concerns that Tehran might try to block the shipping lane.
Day 13: War disrupts global energy markets
Conflict increasingly affects global energy supplies. With tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz all but halted, the International Energy Agency announced the release of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to stabilize the market.Missile and drone strikes continue in the Gulf, while Israel has expanded operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.The number of casualties continues to rise in the area. Iranian authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel and other countries.The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, particularly in Lebanon, where ongoing bombing has forced residents to flee their homes.Children are among the worst affected, with humanitarian agencies warning that thousands have been injured or killed since the war began.
Day 14: Explosions in Tehran as war approaches third week; U.S. plane crash heightens tensions
According to Iranian official media reports, as the war entered its 14th day, serious explosions occurred across Tehran. The explosion occurred near a large pro-government demonstration in Tehran’s central square, where large crowds gathered to mark Al-Quds Day, an annual event in support of the Palestinian cause held on the last Friday of Ramadan.A major aviation incident also occurred in the skies over Iraq that day. A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the U.S. Air Force crashed in western Iraq in the afternoon. U.S. Central Command confirmed that four of the six crew members on board died, and rescue operations for the remaining crew members are continuing.
Global Economic Impact and Energy Crisis
The conflict triggered major disruptions in global energy markets. Oil prices soared above $100 a barrel on concerns that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could be blocked.The waterway typically carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies, making it one of the world’s most important energy corridors.Some Gulf countries have also reduced oil production due to shipping disruptions and storage facilities filling up. Global leaders held emergency talks to stabilize markets and prevent a wider economic shock.
