The United States Embassy in Albania issued a warning that Iran-linked groups could target Americans and US-affiliated entities in Albania, urging vigilance in public spaces like tourist areas, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and clubs. Albanian authorities, however, dismissed the U.S. warning as speculation, though authorities in Tirana stated that security institutions are on high alert, with all mechanisms 'active and functional'. Albanian President Bajram Begaj is in daily contact with the National Security Council and is being continuously briefed on all potential threats, with coordination with international partners remaining at 'extremely high levels'. Albania's National Security Council brings together top state officials to assess risks and recommend measures, but does not take binding decisions, and the president is informed about every situation and scenario, as well as all measures taken under security protocols.
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel attacked Iran, an operation that quickly escalated into a regional war with widespread ramifications. U.S. President Donald Trump declared the aim of the attack was regime change in Iran, and the U.S.-Israeli operation decapitated key political and military leadership in Iran. The attack involved two aircraft carrier strike groups and advanced aircraft, and in the first two days of fighting, at least three U.S. jets have been shot down. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military facilities and energy and civilian infrastructure in Gulf states, and Iranian missiles caused serious damage in Israel, killing and injuring scores.
More than 1,800 people have been killed in the conflict, with at least 8 U.S. service members among the dead. Human rights organizations report that at least 40% of fatalities from Israeli strikes were civilians, approximately 440 out of over 1,100 killed, and a strike on Evin Prison killed more than 70 people. The civilian death toll from the war in Iran has reached nearly 1,500, with at least 1,443 killed between Feb. 28 and March 23, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). Children account for at least 217 of the civilian fatalities, and the deadliest day was March 9, with at least 252 civilians killed.
Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a global energy shock, prompting the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels from its strategic reserve. In Israel, Iranian attacks killed at least 28 people, mostly civilians, and injured 3,000, while Tehran is deploying a strategy of escalating strikes on neighbors' energy and economic infrastructure. The war is challenging the Gulf states' economic model, and the extent of Russian military support to Iran beyond reported aircraft and helicopters remains unclear.
The civilian toll in Iran includes at least 175 students killed by a reported U.S. strike on an Iranian elementary school. Airwars reported at least 130 civilian injuries in Iran, and HRA verified damage to 60 hospitals, 44 schools, and 129 residential buildings. Approximately 3.2 million people have been displaced from their homes in Iran, according to UN figures, and over 21 million people in Iran were exposed to Israeli strikes.
Iranian civilians have faced intensified domestic repression since Feb. 28, including arbitrary arrests, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). Internet connectivity in Iran dropped to approximately 1% of normal levels, hindering communication and information flow. The specific evidence supporting the U.S. warning about Iran-linked threats in Albania has not been disclosed publicly.
Following the attack, Iran's war is being run by the Supreme National Security Council chaired by Ali Larijani, and a new Provisional Leadership Council is being convened in Iran. The Assembly of Experts is working to select Khamenei's replacement, but the current status of Iran's leadership and governance following Khamenei's death is uncertain.
There will be no negotiations with the United States.
International reactions include legal criticism, as Susan M. Akram, an ACW Non-resident Fellow, stated that the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran cannot be legally justified under international law. How international legal bodies are responding to allegations of war crimes in the conflict is not yet clear, and diplomatic efforts or mediation attempts to de-escalate the regional war have not been detailed.
Iran has received MiG-29 Su-35 fighter jets and Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters from Russia, bolstering its military capabilities. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense stated several U.S. warplanes crashed over their territory, but the United States claims the jets were shot down by friendly fire.
In Albania, security coordination involves the National Security Council assessing risks without binding decisions, as noted earlier. Hackers linked to Iran carried out cyberattacks on Albanian state institutions, part of Tehran's broader strategy.
In Bulgaria, authorities in Sofia have confirmed that Iran sent a diplomatic note last month warning Bulgaria against allowing U.S. military aircraft to use its airports for operations targeting Iran. The warning came after reports of U.S. military planes being spotted in the capital, and Bulgaria has assured Tehran it is not involved in any military activity, with no combat flights over its airspace or refuelling on its territory.
Israel secured control of airspace from its west to Tehran, crippling Iran's air defenses, and ACLED records over 160 Israeli strikes on military targets and 10 on police bases in Iran. Israel targeted Iranian government buildings and killed senior commanders and nuclear scientists, contributing to the high casualty figures.
The global energy shock from the Strait of Hormuz closure led to the IEA's reserve release, as mentioned previously. Friendly fire incidents, such as the U.S. claim about downed jets, add complexity to the conflict's narrative.
Iran's cyberattacks on Albania and regional strategy highlight its asymmetric warfare tactics, complementing physical strikes.