Israel Launches Massive New Strike Campaign Across Iran
Israel’s military announced early Monday that it has begun a “wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz” — marking a dramatic escalation as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its third week with no ceasefire in sight.
The strikes represent the broadest Israeli targeting of Iranian territory since Operation Roaring Lion began alongside the US-led Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Iranian residents in Tehran reported explosions near the airport area, with one analyst describing the scene: “The war is escalating very fast — tonight felt like a bunker bomb was dropped on or near the airport.”
Meanwhile, Iran continues to retaliate across the region, with a drone attack striking oil infrastructure in the UAE’s Fujairah industrial zone on Monday, sparking a major fire. The attack underscores Tehran’s strategy of spreading the pain to Gulf states that host US military assets.
Operation Epic Fury Expands: B-52s, F-35s, and 2,500 Marines Head to the War Zone
What was initially expected to last just days has now stretched into a third week — and the Pentagon is doubling down. According to defense analysts at The Aviationist, additional B-52 Stratofortress bombers have arrived at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, while a Marine Expeditionary Unit carrying approximately 2,500 Marines aboard amphibious warships is now heading to the Middle East.
The deployment signals that Washington sees no quick end to the conflict. US Central Command has been conducting what General Brad Cooper described as “24/7 strikes into Iran from seabed to space and cyberspace,” a round-the-clock campaign targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, air defenses, and command-and-control facilities.
The US Air Force has also deployed B-52 Stratofortress bombers for nighttime strike missions, adding to the already formidable air campaign that includes F-35 stealth fighters, F-15E Strike Eagles, and a full carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf.
The Toll: 6,000 IRGC Dead, US Loses 13 Service Members
The human cost of the conflict is mounting on both sides, though Iran is bearing the overwhelming brunt of the military casualties.
According to the Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli military sources, over 6,000 members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been killed and approximately 15,000 wounded since operations began. Western intelligence estimates suggest that the combined US-Israeli strikes have destroyed roughly 80 percent of Iran’s total offensive capability, including 160 to 190 missile launchers with another 200 disabled.
Reports from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicate that Iranian missile crews are increasingly afraid to operate, with desertions and refusals to follow orders becoming widespread. The IRGC attempted to mobilize reserve forces earlier this week, but multiple individuals reportedly failed to report to military centers.
On the American side, the death toll has reached at least 13 service members. Six were killed on March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during an Operation Epic Fury sortie. The other seven were killed in combat operations. The crash marked the single deadliest incident for US forces in the conflict so far.
Trump Threatens NATO: ‘Very Bad Future’ If Allies Don’t Help Secure Hormuz
President Trump dramatically escalated pressure on US allies over the weekend, warning that NATO faces a “very bad” future if member nations fail to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz — the critical waterway through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.
Iran has effectively choked off traffic through the strait in retaliation for the strikes, deploying mines and threatening commercial shipping. The closure has sent global oil prices surging past $100 per barrel and triggered economic alarm across Europe and Asia.
Trump urged countries “who are the beneficiaries of the strait” to contribute naval assets, extending the invitation to nations worldwide. However, the response has been lukewarm at best:
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on Sunday. Rather than committing warships, Britain is reportedly considering sending mine-hunting drones to help clear the strait — a less provocative option that reflects concerns about further escalation.
- Japan: Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament that Japan is “not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation.”
- China and South Korea: Both nations said they are “still considering their options” without making commitments.
- Australia: Has so far declined to commit vessels.
- France: President Macron has deployed naval assets in the Mediterranean in a “defensive posture” and urged Iranian President Pezeshkian to end indiscriminate strikes against Gulf nations, calling attacks on French assets “unacceptable.”
The reluctance of traditional allies to join a Hormuz coalition represents a significant diplomatic setback for Washington, even as the military campaign itself continues to degrade Iranian capabilities.
Iran Defiant: ‘We Never Asked for a Ceasefire’
Despite staggering military losses, Iran’s leadership has shown no signs of backing down. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Tehran is prepared to take the war “as far as necessary,” while explicitly denying that Iran has sought any ceasefire.
“We never asked for a ceasefire,” Araghchi told NPR, as Iranian forces continued launching Shahed drones and ballistic missiles at targets across the Gulf region, including US military bases and consulates in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE.
Araghchi also accused Israel of “ecocide” for its strikes on Iranian fuel depots, warning of environmental catastrophe. The IAEA has confirmed it can no longer verify Iran’s nuclear enrichment levels or stockpile size, with Iran’s current nuclear status as of March 2026 described as “unknown” — a deeply concerning development for nonproliferation experts.
Perhaps most alarming, the Trump administration has reportedly rejected diplomatic overtures. Reuters reported that Middle Eastern allies including Oman and Egypt attempted to start diplomatic talks to end the war, but were rebuffed by Washington.
The Wider War: Lebanon, Gulf States, and Global Protests
The conflict has metastasized well beyond Iran’s borders. Israel announced “limited ground operations” in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah resumed strikes on Israeli territory, effectively opening a second major front in the 2026 Lebanon war.
Gulf states — many of which host US military installations — have found themselves in the crossfire. Dubai International Airport was set ablaze in an attack over the weekend. A missile struck the US embassy building in Baghdad on March 14. Kuwait’s airport was targeted. The UAE’s Fujairah oil zone was hit Monday morning.
Around the world, protests have swept major cities as the war continues. Reuters reported demonstrations across multiple continents, with public opinion increasingly critical of the scope and duration of the conflict.
What Comes Next?
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, the trajectory is clear: escalation, not resolution. The deployment of additional B-52 bombers, F-35s, and a full Marine Expeditionary Unit signals the Pentagon is preparing for a prolonged campaign. Iran’s continued defiance and retaliatory strikes across the region mean the war’s economic and human costs will only grow.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the single most dangerous flashpoint. Without international cooperation to secure it — cooperation that appears increasingly unlikely — global energy markets will continue to face severe disruption. Oil analysts warn that prices could climb even higher if the standoff persists.
For now, the bombs continue to fall. The diplomats remain silent. And the war grinds on.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as new information becomes available.