The Iran War Just Got Bigger — And There’s No Off-Ramp in Sight
As the clock ticked past midnight into Day 18 of Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israel war on Iran is no longer a two-party conflict. It’s a sprawling, multi-front regional war that now stretches from the mountains of southern Lebanon to the shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz — and into the diplomatic corridors of every US embassy on the planet.
Here’s everything you need to know about the dramatic escalations that unfolded on Day 17.
Israel Launches Ground Invasion of Southern Lebanon
In one of the most significant escalations since the war began on February 28, the Israeli military announced “limited” ground operations in southern Lebanon on Monday, March 16. Israeli forces are targeting key Hezbollah positions and seeking to expand what the IDF calls “forward defense zones” to protect northern Israel from relentless rocket and drone barrages.
The town of Khiam has emerged as a focal point of the offensive, with Israeli troops meeting resistance as they push deeper into Lebanese territory. According to Reuters, the IDF has framed the ground assault — launched shortly after March 2 — as a defensive measure against Hezbollah attacks that have averaged at least 100 rockets and drones per day, some reaching as far as central Israel.
UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, reported monitoring over 210 missiles fired by Hezbollah into Israel since the war began. Israel has responded with airstrikes on Beirut, including strikes in Hezbollah’s stronghold of south Beirut that killed a Hamas official.
Bilal Y. Saab, a former senior adviser in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy during Trump’s first term, told NBC News that Israel is “trying to apply as much pressure as possible on the Lebanese government and Hezbollah” to negotiate disarmament. He warned that if diplomacy fails, Israel would “consider mounting a large-scale ground invasion.”
The fear among hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians: this could become a prolonged occupation.
Top Kata’ib Hezbollah Commander Killed in Baghdad Airstrike
In a major intelligence victory announced on March 17, Abu Ali al-Askari — the security commander of Kata’ib Hezbollah, one of Iran’s most powerful proxy militias in Iraq — was confirmed killed in a US airstrike on Baghdad that took place on March 14.
Kata’ib Hezbollah has been one of Iran’s primary instruments for attacking US forces in Iraq and the broader region. The militia claimed responsibility for two strikes on US targets in Baghdad on Day 17, though Iraqi officials said both were intercepted.
The elimination of al-Askari represents a significant blow to Iran’s proxy network and its ability to coordinate attacks against American forces in the region. It also signals that the US is not limiting its operations to Iranian territory — Washington is actively hunting Iran’s proxy leadership across the Middle East.
CENTCOM: 6,500+ Combat Flights, 7,000 Targets Hit, 100+ Iranian Ships Destroyed
US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, delivered a comprehensive update on Operation Epic Fury that underscored the sheer scale of the American military campaign.
The numbers are staggering:
- 6,500+ combat flights conducted since February 28
- 7,000+ targets struck across Iran
- 100+ Iranian ships damaged or destroyed
- Nuclear-powered submarines now confirmed as part of the US arsenal deployed in the operation
- Targets include storage bunkers, military support infrastructure, and naval assets
Yet despite these devastating numbers, Iran continues to fight back. As Al Jazeera noted in a pointed analysis, the US has repeatedly claimed to have destroyed Iran’s missile capacity — so how is Iran still shooting? Analysts point to dispersed mobile launchers, underground facilities, and the sheer size of Iran’s pre-war arsenal, including Russian-produced and possibly modified Shahed drones that continue to target US bases and Gulf nations.
State Department Orders Every US Embassy to Pressure Allies
In one of the most significant diplomatic moves of the war, the State Department sent a cable to every US diplomatic post worldwide, ordering ambassadors to deliver a stark message to their host governments: join the fight against Iran or face the consequences of inaction.
The cable, titled “Elevated Concern of IRGC Activity; Action Needed Now” and obtained by NBC News, directed diplomats to tell foreign governments “at the highest appropriate level” that they “must move expeditiously to diminish the capabilities of Iran” because of an “elevated risk of attack” on their own countries.
The talking points are blunt:
- “Iran has unleashed its proxy network to wreak havoc and to reduce tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to inflict economic pain globally.”
- Countries are urged to designate the IRGC and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations “proactively, rather than retroactively following an attack on your soil.”
- “Joint pressure is more likely to compel behavior change by the regime than unilateral actions alone.”
- All countries should add IRGC and Hezbollah members to their terrorist watch lists.
The cable sets a deadline: all messages must be delivered before Friday.
This comes as several key allies have publicly rejected Trump’s call to join a military coalition to protect the Strait of Hormuz, creating a rift between Washington and its traditional partners at the worst possible time.
Iran Threatens USS Gerald Ford and US Industrial Facilities
Iran is not backing down. The IRGC issued two major threats on Day 17:
First, the spokesperson for Iran’s unified military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, warned that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group in the Red Sea is “considered a threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran” — and that its logistical and service centers “are considered targets of the armed forces.”
Second, the IRGC warned that US-linked industrial facilities across the region “could come under imminent attack” and called on the United States to evacuate personnel from them. This represents a significant escalation in Iran’s targeting strategy, moving beyond military assets to potentially strike economic infrastructure.
A missile that fell on a civilian vehicle in Abu Dhabi killed one person on Day 17, a grim reminder that Iranian strikes are hitting population centers across the Gulf.
Trump: ‘It’ll Be Over Soon’ — But Delays China Trip
President Trump struck an optimistic tone at a White House signing event, telling reporters the war would be “wrapped up soon” — though he declined to give a specific date.
“I don’t think so,” he said when asked if the war would end this week. “But it’ll be soon. Won’t be long, and we’re gonna have a much safer world. I had an obligation to do this. I didn’t want to. I call it an excursion.”
Notably, Trump announced he would delay his upcoming trip to China — originally scheduled for the end of March — by “a month or so,” saying “I think it’s important that I be here.” His administration insisted the delay was not intended to pressure Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though the timing speaks for itself.
Vice President JD Vance, who has previously criticized open-ended US foreign interventionism, deflected when asked if he supports Trump’s war on Iran, instead attacking reporters for the question.
Kharg Island: The Oil War Escalates
The aftermath of the US strike on Iran’s Kharg Island — the country’s most critical oil export terminal — continues to ripple through global markets. Iranian parliamentarians visited the island on Monday to inspect the damage after Trump announced the strike on Friday.
Trump claimed the strikes targeted military assets while leaving oil infrastructure “unscathed,” but the very act of striking Kharg Island sent oil prices surging. Iran had previously warned that any attack on the island would represent a dramatic escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial shipping, with Iran continuing to attack tankers. Oil prices climbed again on Monday amid mounting supply fears, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling Trump’s proposed international coalition to protect tanker traffic “reasonable.”
What Happens Next?
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, the war shows no signs of de-escalation. The conflict has expanded from targeted airstrikes on Iran to:
- A ground war in Lebanon
- Proxy battles in Iraq, with militia leadership being hunted
- Naval confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea
- Drone and missile attacks across a dozen countries
- A global diplomatic pressure campaign
Trump says it’ll be over soon. Iran says it won’t negotiate. Israel is deepening its footprint in Lebanon. And the world’s oil supply hangs in the balance.
Day 18 is just beginning.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.