Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) they’d whole management of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for international power transit, as Israel launched a brand new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital.
In Lebanon, the Israeli navy informed residents south of the Litani River to maneuver north, warning that the military was “compelled to take navy motion” in opposition to Hezbollah within the space.
Iran-Israel warfare LIVE: Khamenei’s successor will probably be ‘goal for assassination’, says Israeli Minister
With international power costs already on the rise over the increasing warfare, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated it has “full management” of the Strait of Hormuz, the essential chokepoint into the Gulf.
However Mr. Trump stated the U.S. had “knocked out” Iran’s navy, together with its air power and radar techniques, and that the U.S. Navy was able to escort tankers by means of the waterway by means of which one-fifth of worldwide seaborne oil move.
The U.S. navy stated it has hit practically 2,000 targets since first launching lethal strikes with Israel on Iran on Saturday (February 28, 2026) that killed Iranian chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel saved up the bombardment, with its navy asserting a “broad wave of strikes” after midnight throughout Iran, which within the hours earlier than had launched three waves of missile barrages at Israel.
Saudi Arabia stated it intercepted two cruise missiles, whereas drones struck close to the U.S. consulate in Dubai, beginning a fireplace, and in opposition to the U.S. navy base at Al-Udeid in Qatar.
America inspired all People to go away the area if they will discover business flights, regardless that air journey has been severely disrupted, whereas governments together with Britain and France despatched in chartered flights to get residents out.
Pressing warning
The warfare took a rising toll on Lebanon, the place Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme chief Ali Khamenei within the U.S.-Israeli opening strikes.
Early on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), the Israeli navy referred to as on residents to go away 16 cities and villages in southern Lebanon, in an “pressing warning” earlier than utilizing power in opposition to Hezbollah militants.
Lebanese state media stated Israeli assaults on a constructing killed 4 in Baalbek in Lebanon’s east, removed from the border, in addition to a Beirut resort in an space up to now spared the violence.
In Aramoun and Saadiyat — two cities south of Beirut and out of doors the Hezbollah’s conventional strongholds — the Well being Ministry stated Israeli strikes killed six folks and wounded eight. It cautioned that this was a “preliminary toll”.
It was not instantly clear what was focused in these cities or in Baalbek, and there was no rapid remark from the Israeli navy, which earlier introduced “broad-scale strikes” in opposition to Hezbollah.
Extra leaders killed: Donald Trump
The U.S. navy focused ballistic missiles and “all of the issues that may shoot at us” in its assaults on Iran since Saturday (February 28, 2026), stated Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.
“These forces convey a large quantity of firepower, representing the most important buildup by the U.S. within the Center East [West Asia] in a era,” he stated in a video message, describing the primary day’s barrage as larger than the so-called “shock and awe” in opposition to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 2003.
Mr. Trump walked again an announcement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio the day earlier than, who stated the U.S. assault’s timing was precipitated by Israel’s plans to strike. “If something, I may need compelled Israel’s hand,” Mr. Trump stated as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the White Home.
Mr. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged Iranians to stand up however Mr. Trump stated regime change was not the aim. The assault got here weeks after Iranian authorities clamped down on mass protests, killing hundreds.
America and Israel have acquired lukewarm assist, with Western nations limiting involvement to serving to Gulf states and repatriating residents.
The U.S. President stated that two waves of U.S.-Israeli assaults had killed Iranian figures he had eyed as potential new leaders, including that there had been a “substantial” new assault on a gathering to decide on the brand new management.
“The general public we had in thoughts are useless. Now now we have one other group. They could be useless additionally, primarily based on experiences,” he stated.
The U.S. and Israeli assaults have killed 787 folks in Iran, in accordance with the Iranian Pink Crescent, a toll that would not be independently confirmed by AFP. Iran repeatedly vowed to inflict a heavy worth in retaliation.
“We’re saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our essential centres, we are going to hit all financial centres within the area,” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Basic Ebrahim Jabbari stated.
Ghost city
In Tehran, residents who haven’t fled remained shut away of their properties, fearing the U.S.-Israeli bombardment.
The Iranian capital is often house to round 10 million folks, however in latest days “there are so few folks that you simply’d assume nobody ever lived right here”, stated Samireh, a 33-year-old nurse.
Authorities had beforehand urged folks to go away the town, and cops, armed safety forces and armoured autos have been stationed at essential junctions, finishing up random checks on autos.
Within the extra upmarket north of Tehran, the meowing of cats and chirping of birds changed the standard din of site visitors jams.
Iranian authorities stated a strike on a faculty within the metropolis of Minab on the primary day of the warfare killed greater than 150 folks. AFP has been unable to entry the situation independently to confirm the toll or circumstances.
The U.S. navy started naming the primary of six troops who’ve been killed. In Israel, 9 folks died on Sunday (March 1, 2026) when a missile hit the city of Beit Shemesh. A minimum of eight folks have died throughout the Gulf.
Israeli strikes have killed not less than 52 folks in Lebanon, in accordance with the federal government, whereas the United Nations stated that greater than 30,000 folks had been displaced. World Well being Group chief Tedros Ghebreyesus stated amongst these killed in Lebanon had been three paramedics.
Printed – March 04, 2026 12:41 pm IST