US and Israel press campaign over Iran
The Iran war update this week is defined not only by fresh Israeli strikes on Tehran, but by the broader US-Israeli campaign that has shaped the conflict since late February. Reuters reports that the war began on February 28 and has since escalated into a wider confrontation involving direct US participation, heavy strikes on Iranian targets and growing regional fallout.
Fresh strikes reported in Tehran
Israeli forces said they carried out a new wave of overnight air raids on Tehran, while explosions were also reported after Iran launched further missile barrages toward Israel. Reuters described the conflict as entering a more intense phase, with additional strikes on Tehran despite US pressure to avoid further attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. AP also reported fresh Israeli strikes on Tehran during the Nowruz period as the war deepened.
Nuclear and military targets remain central
The campaign has focused on degrading Iran’s air defences, missile capacity and military command structure. Reuters’ earlier reporting on the opening phase said combined strikes established air superiority that would allow continued operations over Iran, while Reuters and AP have both reported repeated attacks on missile-related and military targets. Reuters also reported Israeli claims that Iran’s enrichment and missile capabilities had been severely damaged, though those claims are contested.
Claim of assassination in Tehran
Israel said on Wednesday it killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an overnight strike in Tehran, according to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, in what would mark the latest assassination of a senior Iranian official. According to Katz, the Israeli government has given the military broader authority to act when intelligence opportunities arise.
“I have authorised the Israel Defense Forces to neutralise any senior Iranian official once an operational and intelligence opportunity arises – without the need for additional approval,” he said.
On Tuesday, Katz confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security official, following Israeli strikes overnight. Larijani served as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and was a representative of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the council.
Iranian retaliation spreads across the Gulf
Iran’s response has gone far beyond missile fire toward Israel. AP and Reuters say Iranian retaliation has hit Gulf energy infrastructure, including facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, while the Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint. Fires were reported at Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery after another drone strike, and the wider attacks have intensified fears over energy supply disruption.
Oil remains above $100 after energy shock
The regional spillover has rattled global energy markets. Reuters reported Brent crude at about $107.29 a barrel on Friday, after recent spikes linked to Iranian attacks on Gulf infrastructure. Other major outlets reported that prices had earlier surged above $119 before easing, underlining the scale of the shock even as markets attempted to stabilise.
No sign of a quick end
There is still no clear end date to the conflict. Reuters says the war has already caused thousands of deaths and widened into a regional and economic crisis, while AP reports that Iran continues to strike energy and security targets across the Gulf even as Israel presses attacks on Tehran and other fronts. Claims by Israel that Iran’s missile programme has been effectively crushed are disputed by Iranian officials, who insist missile production continues.
Also read: Two hospitalised after gas release triggers explosion in Vasiliko
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
