Three days into Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. and Israel have sunk Iran's entire naval fleet in the Gulf of Oman, killed its Supreme Leader, and are systematically dismantling its military infrastructure. Iran is hitting back hard, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf cities, killing civilians, and vowing to fight a long war with no negotiations.

With four Americans dead, oil markets in freefall, and tens of thousands of travelers stranded across the region, President Trump is now refusing to rule out ground troops while warning the country that more casualties are coming. The world is watching a conflict that began as a surgical strike transform into something far larger and far more dangerous than anyone publicly predicted.

What We Know

• IRAN'S NAVY ELIMINATED: U.S. Central Command confirmed all 11 Iranian warships in the Gulf of Oman have been sunk. "Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman; today, they have ZERO," CENTCOM said.

• GROUND TROOPS NOT RULED OUT: President Trump told the New York Post he does not rule out deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran if "they were necessary," breaking from the traditional presidential stance.

• WAR OBJECTIVES LAID OUT: Trump publicly listed four war goals: destroying Iran's missiles, wiping out its navy, preventing a nuclear weapon, and stopping Tehran from arming proxy forces.

• REGIONAL DEATH TOLL RISING: Beyond Iran's 555 dead, casualties have now been confirmed across Lebanon, Israel, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Pakistan, where 23 protesters were killed in anti-war demonstrations.

• GULF STATES FIGHTING BACK: Qatar shot down two Iranian warplanes. Bahrain intercepted 70 missiles and 59 drones in a single wave. The UAE repelled 148 drones and 15 missiles in one day alone.

Live Updates

Iran Blasts U.S. “Hypocrisy” as Melania Trump Leads UN Security Council Meeting on Protecting Children

March 2, 2026 | 3:10 PM ET
In a moment of diplomatic theater on Monday, First Lady Melania Trump led a UN Security Council session focused on protecting children in armed conflict, while Iran’s ambassador used the occasion to blast Washington as deeply hypocritical. Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters moments before the meeting that it was “deeply shameful” for the U.S. to convene a session on protecting children, “while at the same time launching missile strikes against Iranian cities and bombing schools and killing children,” referencing the reported strike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran on Saturday. Melania Trump, for her part, offered condolences to the families of the four U.S. service members killed in the conflict and called for peace. “I hope soon peace will be yours,” she said.

U.S. Military Says It Has Sunk All 11 Iranian Warships in the Gulf of Oman

March 2, 2026 | 2:35 PM ET
U.S. Central Command announced Monday that Iran’s entire naval presence in the Gulf of Oman has been eliminated. “Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman; today, they have ZERO,” CENTCOM posted on X. The announcement builds on President Trump’s claim Sunday that U.S. forces had sunk nine Iranian naval ships and “largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters,” with Trump vowing at the time to go after the rest.

NATO Chief Backs U.S.-Israeli War on Iran, Says Nuclear Threat Would Be “Stranglehold on Israel”

March 2, 2026 | 1:55 PM ET
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte threw his weight behind the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran on Monday, calling the operation crucial for European security. Rutte said he unreservedly approved of Trump’s decision to strike Iran and kill its supreme leader, citing the threat of a nuclear-armed Tehran. “It would be a stranglehold on Israel. It could potentially mean Israel’s defeat,” Rutte told German public broadcaster ARD. While Rutte said NATO as an alliance would not enter the war directly, he said member nations could support the effort through logistics and access. “This is Iran, this is the Gulf, this is outside NATO territory,” he said.

Death Toll Across the Middle East Continues to Climb

March 2, 2026 | 12:40 PM ET

As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran enter their third day, the human cost of the conflict is coming into sharper focus. Four U.S. service members have been killed, the Pentagon confirmed, with their identities not yet released. According to Al Jazeera, citing aid organizations, government officials and local media, casualties across the region stand as follows:

• Iran: 555 killed, hundreds injured

• Lebanon: 31 killed, 149 injured

• Israel: 10 killed, hundreds injured

• Kuwait: 1 killed, 32 injured

• UAE: 3 killed, 58 injured

• Iraq: 2 killed, 5 injured

• Bahrain: 1 killed, 4 injured

• Qatar: 16 injured, no deaths reported

• Oman: 5 injured, no deaths reported

• Saudi Arabia: No deaths or injuries reported

Beyond the Middle East, 23 protesters have been killed in Pakistan after demonstrations against the strikes turned violent, according to Reuters. Ten people died in Karachi after guards at the U.S. consulate fired on demonstrators who breached an outer wall. Eleven were killed in Skardu after crowds set fire to a U.N. office, and two more died in Islamabad. One Chinese citizen was also killed in the strikes on Tehran, according to Reuters.

Trump Sets 4 to 5 Week Timeline for Iran War, Says America Is Ready to Go the Distance

March 2, 2026 | 12:35 PM ET
President Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that the U.S. projected from the start that the Iran operation would take four to five weeks, but stressed the military has the capability to sustain it well beyond that if needed. Trump also said the U.S. had projected it would take four weeks to eliminate Iran’s military leadership, but that goal was accomplished early. “We’re ahead of schedule there,” he said. On the prospect of a prolonged campaign, Trump brushed off any suggestion of fatigue. “I don’t get bored. There’s nothing boring about this.”

Trump Lays Out Four Objectives for the War in Iran

March 2, 2026 | 12:22 PM ET
President Trump on Monday publicly articulated the U.S. war goals in Iran for the first time, listing four objectives: destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, wiping out its naval capacity, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and stopping Tehran from arming and directing proxy forces across the region. Trump said U.S. strikes have already taken out 10 Iranian ships and are systematically dismantling the country’s missile production infrastructure. “This was our last, best chance to strike and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” Trump said.

Trump Says He Does Not Rule Out Ground Troops in Iran: "I Don't Have the Yips"

March 2, 2026 | 12:00 PM ET

President Trump broke from the traditional presidential playbook on ground troops Monday, telling the New York Post he would not categorically rule out sending U.S. forces into Iran. "I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground. Like, every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump told the newspaper, adding he believed troops were "probably" not needed but would deploy them "if they were necessary." The comments put Trump at odds with Vice President JD Vance, who told the Washington Post before the strikes began that there was "no chance" the U.S. would be pulled into a drawn-out war in the Middle East.

Israeli Strike Kills Senior Islamic Jihad Commander in Beirut

March 2, 2026 | 11:10 AM ET
The top commander in Lebanon of the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. The group identified him as Adham Adnan al-Othman, describing him as having a long history of fighting Israeli forces. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, like Hamas, was formed in the 1980s as a radical Islamist movement. The killing signals Israel is broadening its targeting beyond Hezbollah as the conflict in Lebanon widens.

UAE Says It Has Intercepted Hundreds of Iranian Missiles and Drones Since Saturday

March 2, 2026 | 11:05 AM ET
The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 148 drones on Monday alone. Since Iran began its retaliatory campaign Saturday, the UAE Defense Ministry said it has repelled hundreds of Iranian projectiles in total. No deaths were reported on Monday, though three people were killed in Iranian attacks on Sunday.

BREAKING: Qatar Says Its Air Force Shot Down 2 Iranian Warplanes

March 2, 2026 | 11:00 AM ET
Qatar’s military announced Monday that its air force shot down two Iranian warplanes, in what would mark a dramatic escalation of direct military confrontation between Gulf states and Iran. No further details were immediately available.

Etihad Begins Limited Evacuation Flights Out of Abu Dhabi

March 2, 2026 | 10:57 AM ET

At least 15 Etihad flights departed Abu Dhabi's airport on Monday, offering a lifeline to thousands of stranded passengers. Destinations included Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Cairo, and London. Regular commercial flights, however, remain canceled. Emirates also announced limited flights beginning Monday evening, though it was not immediately clear if those had departed.

Bahrain Says It Intercepted 70 Iranian Missiles and 59 Drones in a Single Wave

March 2, 2026 | 10:50 AM ET

Bahrain's National Communication Center confirmed Monday that the kingdom's missile air defense system successfully repelled a major new wave of Iranian projectiles, intercepting 70 ballistic missiles and 59 drones. The announcement underscored the scale of Iran's retaliatory campaign as the war continued to rattle Gulf states across the region.

Putin Calls Leaders of Qatar and Bahrain, Condemns U.S.-Israeli Strike as "Flagrant Violation of International Law"

March 2, 2026 | 10:40 AM ET

Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls Monday with the Emir of Qatar and Bahrain's King, both of whom focused on the escalating regional conflict. The Kremlin described the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran as a "flagrant violation of international law" with "grave and tragic consequences for the Iranian people." Putin and Qatar's Emir expressed concern about the risk of third countries being drawn into the war and hope that Iran's retaliatory strikes would not harm civilians. Putin also confirmed Russia's readiness to use all available means to help stabilize the situation.

Stocks Drop at the Opening Bell in New York

March 2, 2026 | 10:26 AM ET
U.S. markets opened sharply lower as the Middle East conflict continued to expand. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each fell nearly 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 350 points. Oil surged more than 6%, and U.S. natural gas prices climbed over 4%. European natural gas futures rocketed roughly 45% after QatarEnergy announced it was pausing liquified natural gas production following Iranian strikes on its Ras Laffan facility.

Trump to Address the Nation on Iran at 11 AM ET

March 2, 2026 | 10:22 AM ET
President Trump is scheduled to speak on the Iran conflict from the White House at 11 a.m. ET. It will mark the first time the president has directly addressed reporters since Operation Epic Fury began Saturday. His previous statements were pre-recorded videos posted to Truth Social.

“Nowhere in Tehran Feels Safe,” NBC Reporter Says from Inside the Capital

March 2, 2026 | 10:11 AM ET
An NBC News correspondent reporting from inside Tehran described a city shrouded in smoke, with bombs striking areas close to residential neighborhoods. Military bases and police stations have been primary targets, though the correspondent noted that those stations are often located near civilian areas, leaving surrounding buildings damaged. “Nobody knows what or who will be targeted next,” the reporter wrote.

Dubai Airports Announce Limited Resumption of Flights

March 2, 2026 | 9:41 AM ET
Dubai authorities announced a limited reopening of both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport beginning Monday evening. Emirates and flydubai said they would resume some operations. Travelers were advised not to proceed to the airport unless directly contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time. Dubai International is the world’s busiest commercial aviation hub, handling more than 95 million passengers last year.

Israel Says It Has Dismantled 600 Sites in Iran Using 2,500 Munitions

March 2, 2026 | 9:28 AM ET
The Israel Defense Forces said approximately 600 infrastructure sites have been struck in Iran, including more than 20 targets tied to Iranian military leadership, more than 150 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, and over 200 Iranian aerial defense systems. Around 30 sites have also been struck in Lebanon. Israel has called up approximately 110,000 reservists. NBC News was unable to independently verify the figures.

Hegseth: Four U.S. Service Members Died When an Iranian Munition Pierced Fortified Operations Center in Kuwait

March 2, 2026 | 9:01 AM ET
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that all four American service members killed so far died when an incoming Iranian munition struck a fortified tactical operations center in Kuwait. “Every once in a while, you might have one, unfortunately, we call it a squirter, that makes its way through,” Hegseth said. He added that the losses “only stiffen our resolve.”

Hegseth Says War in Iran “Is Not Endless” But Won’t Rule Out Ground Troops

March 2, 2026 | 8:55 AM ET

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against comparisons to the Iraq War, calling Operation Epic Fury “a clear, devastating, decisive mission.” He said there are currently no U.S. boots on the ground in Iran but declined to say whether ground troops could be deployed in the future. On the timeline, Hegseth deferred to Trump: “Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could move up. It could move back.”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Warns of More American Deaths: “We Expect to Take Additional Losses”

March 2, 2026 | 8:23 AM ET
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opened the Pentagon’s first on-camera press briefing in months by warning Americans to expect further casualties. “This is not a single overnight operation,” Caine said. “The objectives CENTCOM has been tasked with will be difficult and gritty work.” He said Trump gave the final “go order” on Friday at 3:38 pm ET — “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck,” — and the operation launched Saturday at 9:45 am local time.

Hegseth: “We Didn’t Start This War, But Under President Trump, We Are Finishing It”

March 2, 2026 | 8:13 AM ET
In opening remarks at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Hegseth framed the conflict as a response to nearly five decades of Iranian aggression, accusing Tehran of waging a “savage, one-sided war against America” since 1979. He said Iran had been “lying their way to a nuclear bomb” and that its conventional military buildup was designed to shield nuclear ambitions. “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation,” Hegseth said.

Three U.S. F-15s Shot Down by Kuwaiti Air Defenses in Friendly Fire Incident

March 2, 2026 | 6:16 AM ET
U.S. Central Command confirmed that three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat operations — a chaotic environment that included Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones. All six aircrew members ejected safely, were recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait acknowledged the incident, and a joint investigation is underway. Video geolocated by multiple outlets showed a jet descending in a steep dive near Al Jahra, Kuwait, and at least one pilot parachuting to the ground.

Qatar Halts LNG Production After Iranian Drone Strike on Energy Facility

March 2, 2026 | 7:53 AM ET
QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest LNG producer, announced it was halting liquified natural gas production after Iranian drones struck its facility in Ras Laffan. The news sent European natural gas prices surging more than 40%. Qatar accounts for roughly 20% of global LNG exports. A foreign ministry spokesperson said Qatar has faced “more than 100 missiles and scores of drones” and reserves the right to retaliate, warning “a price has to be paid.”

Iran’s Security Chief: “We Will Not Negotiate with the United States”

March 2, 2026 | 2:53 AM ET
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, flatly rejected any suggestion of diplomatic talks with Washington, posting on X that Tehran “will not negotiate with the United States.” The statement came in response to reports — and a Trump claim — that Iranian officials had sought to resume nuclear negotiations. Larijani also warned that Iran “has prepared itself for a long war” and vowed the country would “fiercely defend ourselves and our 6,000-year-old civilization regardless of the costs.”

Israel Launches Full Offensive Against Hezbollah Across Lebanon

March 2, 2026 | 6:13 AM ET
Israel announced a broad offensive against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon after the Iran-backed militant group fired missiles and drones at a military base in northern Israel overnight in what Hezbollah called revenge for the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei. Israel said it killed the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in a strike on Beirut and warned that Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem is now “a marked target for elimination.” Lebanon’s government, in a dramatic policy shift, banned Hezbollah’s military activities and called on the group to surrender its weapons. At least 31 people have been killed in Lebanon.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s Wife Dies of Injuries Sustained in Strike

March 2, 2026 | 1:00 AM ET
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, 79, the wife of killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died Monday of injuries sustained in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.