Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated on Sunday (March 8, 2026) that the nation’s forces might combat an intense warfare for six months in opposition to america and Israel, which stated it struck Tehran’s commanders at a seaside resort within the coronary heart of Beirut.
Because the battle spilled into its second week, the regional repercussions spiralled, with Saudi Arabia intercepting a wave of drones headed for targets together with the diplomatic quarter in capital Riyadh and Kuwait saying an assault hit gasoline tanks at its worldwide airport.
Israel-Iran warfare LIVE updates
The strike on Kuwait’s aviation gasoline storage compounded fears over vitality provides with the nation’s nationwide oil firm additionally saying a minimize in crude manufacturing over threats to the Strait of Hormuz, the place a fifth of the world’s oil and fuel transit.
Tehran accused the U.S. and Israel of placing an oil depot within the Iranian capital on Saturday, the primary reported assault on the Islamic republic’s oil infrastructure as inventory markets have slumped and crude costs surged.
The Israeli navy stated it struck “plenty of gasoline storage services in Tehran” that have been used “to function navy infrastructure”.
Israel’s navy additionally launched a brand new wave of strikes “throughout Tehran” on Sunday (March 8), after finishing up a precision strike concentrating on “key commanders” within the Quds Drive, the international operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, at a resort in an space of central Beirut common with vacationers.
Lebanon’s Well being Ministry stated the strike killed not less than 4 individuals on the resort, the place an AFP photographer noticed shattered home windows and charred partitions.
In Frames: Per week of fireplace
Capital underneath hearth: Smoke rises over Tehran after a U.S.- Israel strike on March 3. Washington warned it was ‘too late’ for talks as Iran intensified assaults on financial targets and U.S. missions throughout West Asia.
Shattered energy: Destroyed buildings contained in the compound of Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Conflict’s echo: Smoke rises over Manama, Bahrain, after explosions have been heard throughout the town on February 28.
Downed eagle: A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashes in Kuwait in the course of the third day of Iranian strikes concentrating on international locations internet hosting U.S. navy bases, on March 2.
Fallen chief: Mourners carry a coin throughout a symbolic funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Najaf, Iraq, following his reported loss of life in Israeli and U.S. air strikes.
Skies of warfare: Smoke rises over buildings in Doha, Qatar, on March 5 after explosions have been heard hours after authorities started evacuating residents residing close to the U.S. embassy.
Innocence close by: Kids collect round an unexploded missile in an open subject on the outskirts of Qamishli, jap Syria, on March 5.
Metropolis in smoke: Smoke billows over Beirut’s southern suburbs after reported Israeli strikes, seen from Baabda, Lebanon, on March 6.
Rows of loss: Graves are being ready for victims after a strike hit a ladies’ main college in Minab, Iran, killing about 150 individuals and injuring practically 100.
Streets of sorrow: A highway strewn with rubble and particles after in a single day Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, on March 6.
Rescue at sea: Sailors being rescued after the Iranian ship IRIS Dena sank o Galle, Sri Lanka, following a U.S. submarine assault.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the warfare in opposition to Iran “with all our drive”, with a plan to eradicate the nation’s management after joint U.S.-Israeli raids killed supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei final week, sparking the regional battle.
Regardless of the risk, the Revolutionary Guards stated on Sunday (March 8) that the Islamic republic’s forces might wage an “intense warfare” for six months on the present pace of combating.
Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini stated Iran had to date used “first and second era” missiles, however will use “superior and less-used long-range missiles” within the coming days.
‘Trapped’
The widening attain of the warfare and Iran’s means to inflict injury and hurt have been underscored by U.S. President Donald Trump attending the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait final Sunday.
Iran’s safety chief Ali Larijani accused the Trump administration of searching for to copy a situation just like Venezuela the place it ousted chief Nicolas Maduro.
“Their notion was that it might be like Venezuela — they might strike, take management and it might be over — however now they’re trapped,” he stated in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV on Saturday.
Iran’s hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei additionally warned Center East neighbours that are “overtly and covertly on the disposal of the enemy” that “the heavy assaults on these targets will proceed”.
Tehran had vowed to go after U.S. belongings within the area, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Sunday all reported new assaults.
Saudi Arabia stated it intercepted greater than a dozen drones whereas Qatar stated Iran fired two cruise missiles and 10 ballistic missiles on the nation on Saturday (March 7).
UAE forces have been intercepting incoming missile and drones from Iran, the defence ministry stated in a submit on X.
On Saturday, video footage confirmed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport, whereas AFP journalists heard blasts in Iraq’s Baghdad and Erbil on Saturday night.
Inside Iran, injury to infrastructure and residential areas is mounting as its individuals report rising nervousness and a heavy safety presence.
“I don’t assume anybody who hasn’t skilled warfare would perceive it,” a 26-year-old trainer instructed AFP on situation of anonymity.
Iran’s well being ministry stated on Friday (March 6) not less than 926 civilians had been killed and round 6,000 wounded — figures AFP couldn’t independently confirm.
Air supremacy
Israel launched strikes on a Hezbollah bastion within the southern suburbs of Beirut, after Lebanon was drawn into the Center East warfare this week when the militant group attacked Israel with rockets and drones in response to Khamenei’s loss of life.
Lebanon’s well being ministry stated not less than 294 individuals have died in Israeli air strikes over the previous week, prompting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to warn of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe”.
The recent Israeli strikes got here after it launched a few of its largest raids in Iran for the reason that warfare started on Saturday (March 7), concentrating on a navy academy, an underground command centre and missile storage websites.
Mr. Netanyahu stated Israel had achieved nearly whole management of the skies over the Iranian capital.
Mr. Trump struck a equally defiant tone, repeating the declare that Iran had been near growing a nuclear weapon.
He additionally advised U.S. troops might ultimately be wanted to safe Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
Individually, he blamed Iran for what the nation’s authorities stated was a lethal strike on an elementary college in Minab final Saturday that killed not less than 150 individuals. Iran has blamed Washington for the strike.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel has claimed accountability for the assault and AFP couldn’t independently confirm the circumstances.
No clear method out
Analysts warn there’s nonetheless no clear path to ending a battle that U.S. and Israeli officers say might final a month or longer.
Mr Trump has advised Iran’s economic system may very well be rebuilt if a frontrunner “acceptable” to Washington replaces the late supreme chief, which Tehran has rejected.
China and Russia have largely stayed on the sidelines regardless of shut ties with Tehran.
China’s high diplomat Wang Yi stated on Sunday that the warfare within the Center East ought to “by no means have occurred”.
“It is a warfare that ought to by no means have occurred,” he instructed a press convention in Beijing, including that “a robust fist doesn’t imply sturdy motive. The world can’t return to the regulation of the jungle.”
Printed – March 08, 2026 11:10 am IST