LIVE | The Pentagon identifies the fifth service member killed in the drone attack in Kuwait
Attacks by the Israeli military and U.S. aircraft have increased in force and hit targets in the heart of Tehran as the Revolutionary Guard Corps continues attacks on key energy facilities in Gulf countries and American diplomatic buildings in the region. Stock markets remain in the red, and the prices of gas and oil continue to rise.
An F35 on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln
Sirens and explosions have once again acted as the alarm clock for the people of Iran, Israel and many Gulf countries at the dawn of the fifth day of war in Iran. The main actors in the conflict are intensifying the strength and scope of their attacks, according to each one’s strategy. While the U.S. and Israel are already hitting the main Iranian regime buildings in the heart of Tehran, the Islamist dictatorship has intensified the attacks against the economic infrastructure of its neighbors and U.S. diplomatic buildings.
The other facet of Iran’s plan, the block of the Strait of Hormuz, which they claim to control 100% of at the moment, has the global economy suffering the consequences of war, with markets around the world in the red and the prices of oil and gas rising with no ceiling in sight.
Pentagon confirms one soldier killed and another believed dead after Iranian drone attack in Kuwait
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that one American soldier was killed and another is believed to have died following an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on Sunday.
In a statement, the Pentagon identified Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, a reserve officer from Waukee, Iowa, as one of the victims. O’Brien was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, the same unit as four soldiers whose deaths were announced earlier this week.
In a separate statement, the department said Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, is believed to have been killed in the same attack. Officials said a medical examiner will confirm the identification of his remains.
Pro-U.S. Kurdish forces in Iraq preparing possible incursion into Iran, NYT reports
Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq and considered close to the United States are preparing armed units that could enter Iran, potentially opening a new front in the conflict, The New York Times reported.
According to the newspaper, the CIA has previously supplied small arms to these groups as part of a covert effort aimed at putting pressure on the Iranian government. The White House, however, denied that any decision has been made to support a Kurdish insurgency inside Iran.
The discussions come as U.S. and Israeli strikes continue against targets in Iran. Officials cited by the paper said a Kurdish incursion could force Iranian troops to deploy along the border, though analysts warn the militias lack heavy weapons and are unlikely to seriously threaten the government in Tehran.
U.S. investigating airstrike that hit girls’ school in Iran, killing at least 175
Senior U.S. officials say they are still investigating who was responsible for an airstrike that struck a girls’ elementary school in Iran at the start of the war.
The strike occurred Saturday in the southern town of Minab and killed at least 175 people, most believed to be children, according to Iranian state media and health officials.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States has no indication it carried out the attack and that the Defense Department is reviewing the incident.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the U.S. military “does not target civilians,” adding that the situation remains under investigation.
U.S. arranges charter flight to evacuate Americans from the Middle East, State Department says
The U.S. State Department said it arranged a charter flight to bring American citizens from the Middle East back to the United States, as officials continue assisting people seeking to leave the region.
Deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said department staff have helped about 6,500 people trying to exit the area.
He added that assistance has ranged from answering hotline calls to advising citizens on commercial travel options. Pigott also said an earlier recorded message suggesting Americans were on their own to leave the Middle East is outdated.
Iran says it will continue fighting enemies after call with Turkey
The foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey spoke by phone after NATO air defenses shot down an Iranian missile headed toward Turkish airspace, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
According to the statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s armed forces “will not rest” until they fully repel what he described as hostile actions by its enemies.
Araghchi defended Iran’s strikes, saying they targeted bases used to plan and carry out operations against Iran. He also called for greater cooperation between Iran and Turkey against what he described as Israeli plots in the region.
The White House assures that the United States is moving closer to complete control of Iranian airspace
The United States expects to have complete control of Iranian airspace in the coming hours, the White House said on Wednesday.
"We expect to have complete and total dominance over Iranian airspace in the coming hours," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier in the day that the United States and Israel "will have complete control of Iranian skies, uncontested airspace," without giving a specific timeline.
That means "we will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing the missiles and defense industrial base of the Iranian military," Hegseth said.
Spain assures that it did not agree to cooperate with the U.S. military
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, informed the media that Spain agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military regarding Iran. "The U.S. military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain," Leavitt said.
For its part, the Spanish government denied that it would cooperate militarily with the United States in its war against Iran, reiterating its refusal to allow U.S. aircraft to use bases on its territory, according to a statement made on Wednesday by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
"Our position remains absolutely unchanged and I categorically deny any change," Albares said in statements to Cadena Ser radio, in response to the White House, whose spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, had stated moments earlier that Spain had agreed to "cooperate with the U.S. military."
Iranian regime threatens to attack Israeli embassies around the world if Israel attacks its mission in Lebanon
Iran's military said Wednesday, in statements reported by AFP, that it could respond by attacking Israeli embassies in different countries if Israel were to strike the diplomatic representation of Tehran in Lebanon, a military spokesman said.
Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Iranian military, said in a live television broadcast that "if Israel commits such a crime, it will force us to make every Israeli embassy in the world a legitimate target."
On Tuesday, Avichay Adraee, IDF spokesman for the Arab world, said he "warns representatives of the Iranian terrorist regime still in Lebanon to leave immediately before they are attacked," giving them a 24-hour deadline to leave the country.
Oil tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz drops 90%, says Kpler
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has seen a dramatic drop, although it has not stopped completely following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, energy analysis firm Kpler said Wednesday.
"Analysis of vessel activity indicates tanker transits are now around 90% lower than last week" through this sea lane, the company noted on X.
Iranian military commanders say they have taken control of the passage—through which one-fifth of the world's oil travels—and have claimed attacks on vessels, although Kpler says some ships are still daring to cross it.
"Unlike several other vessel segments where movements have largely ceased, some tankers are still travelling east and west through the strait, with a number of voyages occurring under AIS blackouts," Matt Wright, senior transportation analyst at Kpler, said, referring to the maritime traffic monitoring system.
Sri Lanka recovers bodies of 87 Iranian crew members from sunken vessel in Indian Ocean
The Sri Lankan navy recovered 87 bodies of Iranian crew members from a warship sunk Wednesday by a U.S. submarine off the country's coast in the Indian Ocean, police and defense sources said.
The first 27 bodies were taken to Karapitiya Hospital, where 32 sailors who managed to be rescued remain admitted, according to an AFP photographer.
Police and navy spokesmen said the search continues for 61 other crew members who are still missing.
Stocks hold firm, oil falls after a wave of selling driven by tensions in the Middle East
U.S. and European stock markets rallied and energy prices eased Wednesday after President Donald Trump tried to quell oil supply concerns generated by the conflict between United States and Iran.
The president sought to calm concerns Tuesday about a possible oil supply blockade, saying the Navy was ready to escort oil tankers and that the U.S. would offer insurance to shippers.
Stock indexes
New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.4% to 48.684.43 points.
New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3% to 6.835.52.
New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.5% to 22,627.11.
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8% to 10.578.02.
Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.1% to 8.190.13.
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.5% to 24,151.04.
Seoul - Kospi: DOWN 12.1% to 5.093.54 (close).
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 3.6% to 54,245.54 (close).
Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 2.0% to 25.249.48 (close).
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.0% to 4.082.47 (close).
Currencies
Euro/dollar: UP to $1.1637 from $1.1617 on Tuesday.
Pound/dollar: UP to $1.3374 from $1.3358.
Dollar/yen: DOWN to 157.28 yen from 157.59.
Euro/pound: UP to 87.01 pence from 86.98.
Energy
West Texas Intermediate (WTI): DOWN 1.1% to $73.77 per barrel
North Sea Brent: DOWN 0.9% to $80.65 per barrel.
Pentagon says U.S. submarine sank Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka
War Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that a U.S. submarine caused the sinking of an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka.
"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters."
148 missing after Iranian warship sinks off Sri Lanka
Nearly 150 people are missing and several died after an Iranian warship sank Wednesday off the coast of Sri Lanka, following what crew members reported as an explosion, authorities said.
The Sri Lankan Navy rescued 32 sailors from the frigate IRIS Dena, one of Iran's most modern vessels, but hopes were fading for the other 148, the island's foreign minister and defense officials said.
Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said they "found some bodies in the area where the ship sank," without specifying an exact number. The cause of the alleged explosion that hit the frigate, which was traveling after reportedly taking part in military maneuvers in the eastern Indian port of Visakhapatnam, was unclear.
A new country enters the conflict: Turkey claims that NATO intercepted an Iranian missile headed for its territory
The Turkish Defense Ministry announced the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile headed for its territory. This is Tehran's first attack against Ankara, and the rocket was shot down by NATO anti-aircraft defenses.
"An identified ballistic munition heading towards Turkish airspace after being fired from Iran and passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace was neutralized by NATO anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense elements stationed in the eastern Mediterranean," the statement read.
Turkey’s defense minister called his Iranian counterpart to demand restraint and to avoid actions that extend the conflict, warning that Turkey reserves the right to respond to aggression: "We reiterate that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile action directed against our country."
"Our willingness and ability to ensure the security of our country and our citizens are at the highest level. While Turkey stands for regional stability and peace, it is capable of ensuring the security of its territories and citizens, regardless of who the threat comes from or where it originates," the statement concluded.
Several Gulf countries report that they intercepted a barrage of Iranian missiles against their territories
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar reported that their anti-aircraft defenses had succeeded in intercepting a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones launched against strategic points in their territory from Tehran.
UAE authorities said they prevented the impact of three ballistic missiles and up to 129 drones launched by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In Saudi Arabia, defenses were able to stop an intrusion by drones targeting the giant Ras Tanura refinery, which already took a hit last Monday.
For its part, Qatar succeeded in shooting down 10 drones and two cruise missiles that were headed for its territory.
In Kuwait, military forces noted that they are working to intercept missiles and drones coming from Iran that they have detected.
CENTCOM raises to six the number of service members killed in the conflict with Iran
Six American service members have been killed in combat against Iran since March 2, according to U.S. Central Command.
“US forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” CENTCOM stated.
“As of 4 p.m. ET, March 2, six US service members have been killed in action,” the command added. “Major combat operations continue. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.”
Pentagon identifies four of the soldiers killed in the war with Iran
The Armed Forces identified the first four U.S. casualties during the conflict with Iran. All were assigned to the 103rd Support Command, which is responsible for providing food, fuel, water and ammunition, as well as transporting equipment and supplies.
The deceased were Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was posthumously promoted from the rank of specialist.
"These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten," said Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll.
Society
Pentagon identifies four of six servicemen killed in Iranian drone strike in Kuwait
Sabrina Martin
Oil prices moderate their rise, although Asia closes in the red and Europe opens amidst doubts
El petróleo moderó sus subidas a lo largo de la jornada bursátil asiática, pero el miedo en los principales mercados del continente volvió a llevar a los principales parqués a cerrar en rojo.
Por su parte, Europa alternó ligeras caídas con ganancias en la apertura de algunas de las principales plazas. El Ibex 35 español es el peor parado tras el pulso del socialista Pedro Sánchez con Trump y las amenazas de represalias económicas por parte de éste.
Spain insists on its "no to war" without fear of retaliation from Trump
Spain's Prime Minister, Socialist Pedro Sánchez, stood firm on his "no to war" despite warnings from Donald Trump of retaliation against the European country for refusing to allow the Armed Forces to use U.S. bases on its territory to resupply for attacks on Iran.
"The position of the Spanish government can be summed up in four words: no to war," Sanchez said in an institutional statement at the Moncloa palace in Madrid, the day after Trump accused Spain of having cbehaved "terribly" in this crisis.
"We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests, simply because of fear of reprisals from someone," Sanchez added.
Explosions in Jerusalem and Tehran at dawn of fifth day of war
The Israeli army reported Wednesday that it has launcheda new wave of attacks on Tehran, where an AFP reporter saw an explosion in the northeast of the city.
"The Israeli Air Force began launching a series of large-scale strikesagainst targets of the Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran," the military said in a statement.
For its part, the Revolutionary Guards claimed to havefired more than 40 missiles at Israeli and U.S. targets. Explosions reported in Jerusalem
Revolutionary Guards respond to Trump that they have "full control" of the Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed in a statement Wednesday that they have "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz, a key point for world oil trade at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Statements that respond to Donald Trump's offer to escort with U.S. warships any commercial vessel that dares to try to cross the narrow passage.
"Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the full control of the Islamic Republic Navy," assured Mohamad Akbarzadeh, a senior official of the Guardians' naval forces, quoted by Fars news agency.
Watch highlights of the conflict so far
LATEST
