BREAKING — March 10, 2026 — On the 11th day of Operation Epic Fury, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a jaw-dropping announcement from the Pentagon: Tuesday will be “the most intense day of strikes inside Iran” since the war began on February 28. Meanwhile, Iran is escalating its own attacks — firing missiles and drones at Gulf neighbors including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in what military analysts are calling a desperate but dangerous gambit.
Hegseth: ‘The Most Fighters, The Most Bombers, The Most Strikes’
Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing alongside General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth laid out an aggressive escalation of American firepower.
“Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran — the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth declared.
General Caine opened the briefing by paying tribute to the seven American service members killed in action since Operation Epic Fury began. He then outlined the joint force’s three main objectives: destroying Iran’s missile and drone capability before it can threaten American interests, degrading the Iranian navy, and preventing the regime from being able to attack the US and its partners “for years to come.”
The general reported a significant development — Iranian ballistic missile attacks have trended downward by 90% since the start of the campaign. US forces are also actively striking Iranian mine-laying capabilities in the Persian Gulf.
5,000+ Targets Struck: The Scale of Operation Epic Fury
The numbers coming out of US Central Command are staggering. According to a statement released Monday evening, American forces have attacked more than 5,000 targets since Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28. President Trump separately told reporters that US forces have carried out 3,000 airstrikes alone — not including cruise missile attacks and naval operations.
The campaign has targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile production sites, IRGC headquarters across multiple provinces, drone manufacturing plants, naval installations, and — as of this past weekend — oil storage depots and refining facilities for the first time.
Satellite imagery published on March 8 confirmed that the combined US-Israeli force struck the Shahed Aviation Industries Production Facility in Isfahan — the factory responsible for producing Iran’s infamous Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, Shahed-129 surveillance drones, and Shahed-171 stealth drones. The IDF also confirmed strikes on an IRGC Drone Command Headquarters used to coordinate drone launches against Israel.
Iran Strikes Back — At Its Own Neighbors
In what Defense Secretary Hegseth called a “big mistake,” Iran has expanded its retaliatory attacks far beyond Israel, firing missiles and drones at Gulf states that host US military bases.
On Tuesday morning, incoming missile sirens sounded in Dubai, UAE. Bahrain reported an Iranian strike that hit a residential building in the capital Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight others. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region. Kuwait’s National Guard reported shooting down six Iranian drones.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a chilling threat: they would not allow “one litre of oil” to be shipped from the Middle East if US-Israeli attacks continued.
“Big mistake by the Iranian regime in attacking its neighbors,” Hegseth responded. “Flailing recklessly… it demonstrates a miscalculation by pushing other countries into supporting the US campaign.”
Trump Sends Mixed Signals: ‘We’ve Already Won — But Not Enough’
President Trump has been sending contradictory messages about the war’s timeline, whipsawing global markets in the process.
On Monday, Trump told CBS News that the war was “very complete, pretty much” and “very far ahead of schedule.” Those comments sent oil prices plummeting from near $120 a barrel to below $90 as markets interpreted the remarks as signaling a near-term end to hostilities.
But hours later, speaking to Republican lawmakers in Florida, Trump struck a dramatically different tone: “We have won in many ways, but not enough. We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all.”
Asked directly if the war would be over this week, Trump said simply: “No.” Then added: “Soon, very soon.”
Trump also expressed displeasure at Iran’s selection of Mojtaba Khamenei — the slain Ayatollah’s son — as the new Supreme Leader, calling it “disappointing” because “it’s going to lead to more of the same problem.” Israel has already warned that any successor to Khamenei will be targeted.
Lebanon in Crisis: 100,000 Displaced in a Single Day
The humanitarian toll is expanding rapidly beyond Iran’s borders. The UNHCR reported Tuesday that more than 100,000 people in Lebanon registered as displaced in just the past 24 hours, bringing the total to over 667,000 since Hezbollah entered the war and Israel expanded its strikes into Lebanon.
Syrian authorities report more than 78,000 Syrians have fled from Lebanon back into Syria since the strikes began, some of whom were refugees who had planned on returning in the coming months but were forced to accelerate. More than 7,700 Lebanese have also crossed into Syria seeking safety.
The war has now killed approximately 1,300 people in Iran according to Iranian officials, more than 300 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. Seven American service members have been killed in action, with the most recent being identified as an Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer from Sacramento who died March 1 in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait — one of six Americans killed at that location.
Oil Markets in Turmoil — But Sanctions Relief May Be Coming
The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — remains effectively closed to shipping despite Trump’s claims otherwise. International monitors contradict the president’s assertion that the strait has reopened.
Oil prices have been on a roller coaster, briefly touching $120 a barrel before Trump’s “war is almost over” comments sent them crashing back below $90. The G7 nations announced they are considering market interventions to bring prices down.
In a significant move, Trump said the US would waive oil-related sanctions on “some countries” to ease the global supply shortage, a decision that came after he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, the CSIS think tank estimated the cost of Operation Epic Fury’s first 100 hours alone at $3.7 billion, with both Trump and Hegseth indicating the conflict could continue for weeks.
Diplomacy? Don’t Hold Your Breath
On Tuesday, Trump told Fox News it’s “possible” his administration could begin peace talks with Iran — but added that he “sort of” doesn’t need to talk to them anymore. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the door even harder in a PBS interview: “I don’t think the question of talking with Americans or negotiation with Americans once again would be on the table, because we have a very bitter experience of talking with Americans.”
With the Pentagon promising its heaviest day of strikes yet, Iran threatening to block all Middle Eastern oil exports, and both sides rejecting diplomatic off-ramps, Day 11 of Operation Epic Fury shows no signs of de-escalation. If anything, the conflict appears to be intensifying — with consequences rippling far beyond the Middle East.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.