The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is about to enter its third week with no signs of de-escalation as missile strikes, drone attacks and air raids continue across the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran is “about to surrender” in a virtual meeting, news agency Reuters reported citing Axios.
He further told the leaders of the Group of Seven that the conflict was moving in Washington’s favour.
Despite his remarks, the war has escalated across multiple fronts, with casualties mounting and global markets reacting to the growing instability.
Nearly two weeks after the conflict began, oil prices have surged, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted and regional powers have been drawn into the fighting.
Missile exchanges between Israel and Iran continue, while allied groups and regional states are increasingly becoming part of the conflict.
Week 1: War begins with killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader
The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes inside Iran under 'Operation Epic Fury' targeting military infrastructure and missile systems.
The opening attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior commanders, triggering immediate retaliation from Tehran.
.
Iranian forces launched missiles and drones toward Israel and US military facilities across the region, marking the start of a rapidly escalating conflict.
Day 2: Iran launches major retaliation
On the second day of the conflict, Iran responded with large waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and military infrastructure.
At the same time, US forces expanded their air campaign against Iranian missile launch sites and Revolutionary Guard facilities. Iran also began directing attacks toward American bases and allied states across the Middle East, signalling that the conflict would not remain confined to Iranian and Israeli territory.
Day 3: Hezbollah opens a northern front
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah joined the conflict, firing rockets into northern Israel. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern suburbs and other parts of Lebanon.
Among the deadliest attacks were overnight airstrikes on the eastern town of Nabi Chit, where at least 16 people were killed and 35 injured, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health. Officials warned the death toll could rise further as rescue efforts continue.
Day 4: Gulf tensions rise
Missiles and drones began appearing over Gulf states hosting US military bases, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Attacks near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted maritime traffic and triggered fears of a global energy crisis. Oil markets reacted sharply as traders worried that the conflict could significantly affect global supply.
Day 5: Gulf states increasingly drawn in
Iranian drones and missiles targeted multiple countries in the region. Air defences in the UAE intercepted projectiles near Dubai's international airport and coastal areas.
In Bahrain, a missile struck a state-run oil refinery, triggering a fire that authorities later said. Saudi Arabia also intercepted drones near key energy infrastructure.
Day 6: Massive strike campaign intensifies
The United States and Israel expanded their attacks inside Iran, striking hundreds of targets over several days.Officials said that the strikes destroyed large parts of Iran’s air defence network and missile systems.
Israeli authorities claimed to have destroyed roughly 80 per cent of Iran’s air-defence systems. Iranian authorities said the death toll from the strikes had risen to more than 1,300 people across the country. Several cities reported heavy damage to buildings and infrastructure, including government facilities, hospitals and residential areas.
Day 7: War spreads across the region
Clashes spread across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Iraq and the Gulf. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Bahrain as air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed, affecting global trade routes.
Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” while ruling out immediate negotiations, signalling that the war could continue to expand across the region.
Week 2: Conflict widens across the Middle East
Day 8: Heavy bombardment and regional attacks
A week into the war, intense airstrikes hit Tehran while Iranian missiles targeted Israel and Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE reported intercepting drones and missiles.
Western countries began reinforcing military assets in the region as casualties rose sharply. At least 1,332 people have been reported killed in US-Israeli attacks as a new wave of intense bombing struck Tehran, according to Al-Jazeera.
Day 9: Attacks spread across Gulf and Iraq
Missile and drone strikes were reported across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. A missile landed inside the US embassy complex in Baghdad, though no casualties were reported. Israel also struck fuel storage facilities in Tehran, setting off large fires.
Trump said Washington is not interested in negotiating with Iran despite ongoing hostilities.“We’re not looking to settle,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “They’d like to settle. We’re not looking to settle.”
Trump claimed the United States and Israel had severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy, air force and missile infrastructure.
Day 10: Iran names new Supreme Leader
Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father. The cleric, known to have close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, assumed leadership as Iran continued missile and drone attacks across the region.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone targeting the Shaybah oil field and warned Iran it would be the “biggest loser” if attacks continued.
The United States also began withdrawing non-essential diplomatic staff and families from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries due to rising security risks.
Day 11: Intensified bombardment and protests
Heavy airstrikes continued across Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and other cities.
Thousands of Iranians rallied in support of Mojtaba Khamenei as the government vowed to continue fighting. Iranian forces also launched drone attacks targeting Israeli infrastructure, including energy facilities in Haifa.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran would continue to fight as long as necessary, casting doubt on Trump’s insistence that the conflict would be over “soon”.
Day 12: Largest wave of US attacks
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces had carried out the largest wave of strikes since the war began. Tehran reported heavy bombardment across the capital while thousands of civilians fled major cities.
The United States also destroyed several Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz amid fears Tehran might attempt to block the shipping route.
Day 13: War disrupts global energy markets
The conflict increasingly affected global energy supplies. The International Energy Agency announced the release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves to stabilise markets as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted.
Missile strikes and drone attacks continued across the Gulf while Israel expanded operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Casualties have mounted across the region. Iranian authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, while hundreds have died in Lebanon and dozens in Israel and other countries.
The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, particularly in Lebanon, where continuous bombardment has forced residents to flee their homes.
Children have been among the worst affected, with humanitarian agencies warning that thousands have been injured or killed since the war began.
Day 14: Explosions in Tehran as war nears third week; US aircraft crash adds to tensions
Trump says Russia helping Iran
Donald Trump said in an interview on Friday he suspected Russian president Vladimir Putin was aiding Iran in the war against the United States and Israel.
"I think he might be helping him a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?" Trump said in an interview with Fox News Radio.
Several US media outlets have reported that Russia has provided targeting information to Iran for attacking US forces during the ongoing conflict.
US nod to Russian oil
Washington on Friday also temporarily permitted the sale of Russian oil already in transit. This came as energy prices surged following US-Israeli strikes and Iran choked curcial Strait of Hormuz as "leverage" to "pressurise" the West.
As the war entered its 14th day, heavy explosions were reported across Tehran, according to Iranian state media. The blasts were heard near a major pro-government demonstration in Tehran’s central square, where large crowds had gathered to mark Quds Day, the annual event held on the last Friday of Ramadan in support of the Palestinian cause.
The day also saw a major aviation incident over Iraq. The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the United States Air Force crashed in western Iraq during the afternoon. United States Central Command confirmed that four of the six crew members onboard were killed, while rescue operations for the remaining personnel continued.
Six US crew members killed
The US military said a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq, killing at least four of its six crew members.
The US Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.
Meanwhile, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s new supreme leader “is wounded and likely disfigured.”
"We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth told a press conference.
Khamenei issued a written statement on Thursday but has remained in hiding since taking over from his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in bombing at the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28. Iranian officials have confirmed the new leader is wounded but have given no further detail.
Global economic impact and energy crisis
The conflict has triggered major disruptions in global energy markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel amid fears that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could be blocked.
The waterway normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, making it one of the most critical energy corridors globally.
Several Gulf states have also reduced oil production as storage facilities fill up due to shipping disruptions. Global leaders have held emergency talks to stabilise markets and prevent a broader economic shock.