It’s been three days since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing the regime’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and U.S.military bases across the Middle East.
According to the BBC, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has confirmed the strikes have killed 555 people in Iran since Saturday.
Strikes have killed 50 people in Lebanon, 10 in Israel, and six U.S. service personnel across the region.
Let’s recap the evolving conflict.
Background
The U.S. and Israel have raised concerns about Iran’s nuclear program for years.
Last year, the UN nuclear watchdog raised concerns that Iran hadn’t proved it was only developing nuclear energy, not weapons.
Israel then launched strikes on Iran, and was joined in the strikes by the U.S.
In December, mass civilian protests against the Iranian regime broke out. A crackdown caused tens of thousands of deaths.
28 February
The U.S. and Israel carry out strikes on Iran. Trump calls it a “major combat operation” to “defend the American people”.
Strikes hit Iranian military and naval bases, a school, and the home of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – killing him.
The Iranian regime announces a 40-day public mourning period for Khamenei.
Many in the Iranian diaspora celebrate his death.
Iran responds with retaliatory strikes: first on Israel, then on U.S-aligned locations, including its embassies in the Middle East and military facilities.
The airspace across the Middle East begins to close, resulting in flight cancellations at major transit hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
Reuters reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has told maritime officials that the Strait of Hormuz is closed.
The Strait is a key trade route – 20% of the world’s oil supply travels through it.
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1 March
Iranian strikes impact Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain international airports. A drone is intercepted at Abu Dhabi, but still causes debris that results in one death.
The U.S. military confirms Iranian strikes killed three personnel. The Washington Post reports the deaths occurred in Kuwait.
Iranian state media reports a death toll of 165 from the 28 February strike on a girls’ school in Minab in southern Iran.
An Iranian strike kills nine people in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh.
2 March
Iran-backed, Lebanon-based group Hezbollah begins launching rocketsat Israel.
Israel retaliates, striking Beirut, the Bekaa valley, and southern Lebanon,The Guardian reports.
The U.S. directs citizens to “departnow” from 14 countries in the Middle East.
Trump says the Iranian naval HQ is “largely destroyed”.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirms its death toll has increased to six, after recovering the bodies of two soldiers, and the death of another from their injuries.
CENTCOM confirms six U.S. aircrew safely ejected from three fighter jets shot down in “friendly fire” by Kuwaiti air defences.
Iran strikes a UK military base in Cyprus. PM Keir Starmer clarifies the UK’s Cyprus bases “have not been used by U.S. forces for offensive strikes.”
3 March
Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia hit the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, as well as a state-owned oil refinery in the country’s east.
In the UAE, Amazon Web Services said two of its facilities were “directly struck” by drones.
Iranian state media reports the IRGC hit a U.S. air base in Bahrain with a “massive drone and missile attack... destroying the main command and headquarters”.
Israel continues strikes on Beirut.
