The Israeli military is striking targets in Tehran, including areas near Iranian state television offices, the Iranian Red Crescent building, and three hospitals, according to some media reports. The Israeli Air Force conducted large-scale strikes to establish aerial superiority and pave the path to Tehran, the IDF said. Iran's Red Crescent Society reported Tehran was hit by 60 attacks in 24 hours, killing 57 people. The humanitarian organisation reported at least 201 people killed and 747 wounded by US-Israeli strikes, though Human Rights Activists in Iran reported a much higher figure of 3,220 people killed in Iran as of 20 March, including civilians and military personnel, creating uncertainty about the scale of human loss.
The attacks have killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior figures, according to research from five sources. Mojtaba Khamenei was named as successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 8 March, research from eight sources indicates. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the successor was injured and 'likely disfigured', a claim denied by Iran. High-ranking Iranian officials killed include Ali Larijani, Esmail Khatib, and Gholamreza Soleimani, according to research from eight sources.
US and Israeli forces unleashed Operation Epic Fury, a massive campaign against Iran, US President Donald Trump announced. Iran responded by attacking Israel and US bases in the region, research from three sources confirms. Iran launched missiles and armed drones against Israel and US military facilities in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, damaging civilian infrastructure and closing the Strait of Hormuz, according to research from eight sources. Iran launched at least eight missile salvos at Israel across four locations, including Tel Aviv, research from eight sources adds.
The successor was injured and 'likely disfigured'.
Human Rights Activists in Iran reported 3,220 people killed in Iran as of 20 March, including civilians and military personnel. Iran accused the US and Israel of attacking a girls' school, killing 168 people including children; the US said it was investigating, and Israel said it was 'not aware'. Israeli authorities said 15 civilians were killed by Iranian missile fire as of 19 March.
The US and Israel targeted Iran's nuclear programme sites and oil/gas sites, including Kharg Island and South Pars, according to research from eight sources. An Iranian warship was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka on 4 March, killing at least 87 people, research from eight sources reports. At least three US jets have been shot down in the first two days of fighting, research from eight sources states. Iran has received MiG-29 Su-35 fighter jets and Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters from Russia, according to research from eight sources.
President Trump announced the US and Iran held 'productive talks' and delayed an attack on Iran's power grid. Iran called Trump's peace talk claims 'fake news designed to manipulate financial and oil markets'. Ali Larijani stated there will be no negotiations with the United States. Iran's foreign ministry denied direct negotiations with the US but acknowledged mediation efforts by regional states, indicating a fundamental disagreement on whether direct US-Iran talks are occurring.
Fake news designed to manipulate financial and oil markets.
Pakistan is stepping into a more active diplomatic role to mediate between the US and Iran, according to research from two sources. Pakistan has offered Islamabad as a venue for potential talks between US and Iranian officials, research from two sources adds. Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir spoke to Trump, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, research from eight sources reports. The United States has delivered a 15-point proposal to Iran aimed at bringing the Middle East conflict to a close, according to major_media. Pakistan served as the intermediary for delivering Washington's plan, major_media reports. The plan tackles both Tehran's ballistic missile capabilities and its nuclear programme, major_media states, though the full content and specific terms remain unknown.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to Western-affiliated commercial shipping, according to research from eight sources. Iran's war is being run by the Supreme National Security Council chaired by Larijani, with a Provisional Leadership Council convened, research from eight sources indicates.
According to arabcenterdc.org, Susan M. Akram described the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as unable to be legally justified under international law. The legal basis or justification cited by the US and Israel for launching Operation Epic Fury against Iran remains unclear.
Iran's Canberra embassy was the site of celebrations by Iranian Australians, some waving Iran's pre-1979 flag and holding pictures of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, according to research from eight sources.