Israel Hits Tehran in Broad-Scale Strikes

Israel conducted heavy overnight air strikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern Beirut and launched what it described as “broad-scale” attacks on infrastructure in Tehran. The Israeli military reported 26 waves of strikes targeting command centers and weapons storage sites linked to Hezbollah. Explosions and flashes illuminated Beirut’s southern suburbs, causing 123 fatalities and 683 injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Tel Aviv in what its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described as the 21st wave of “Operation True Promise 4.” The IRGC also targeted Ramat David air base and a radar site in Israel, Al-Adiri camp in Kuwait, and a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq. Iranian drones additionally struck the U.S. Al Udied airbase in Qatar, the region’s largest, with no reported casualties.

The conflict extended beyond Israel and Iran, with Azerbaijan preparing retaliatory measures after four Iranian drones crossed its Nakhchivan border on March 4, injuring four people. Iran denied targeting its neighbor, which hosts a significant Azeri minority. U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq to strike Iran, stating, “I think it's wonderful that they want to do that, I'd be all for it.” Iranian Kurdish militias have consulted with U.S. officials on operational coordination.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that military objectives remain limited to neutralizing Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and preventing nuclear development. Hegseth and Admiral Brad Cooper affirmed that U.S. forces have sufficient munitions to sustain ongoing operations indefinitely. Hegseth said, “Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation. Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad.”

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported at least 1,230 deaths in Iran since hostilities began a week ago. The week-long escalation has disrupted global energy markets, causing spikes in oil and liquefied natural gas prices and contributing to Wall Street declines. Asia’s share markets face their steepest weekly drop in six years. Air transport and logistics have experienced increasing delays due to regional instability.