On Feb. 28, the US and Israel launched massive strikes on Iran in an operation concentrating on navy and authorities websites that President Donald Trump has mentioned might final as little as 4 weeks.
One month later, each nations stay engaged in a warfare that has impacted the broader Gulf area, killing hundreds of individuals, because the Pentagon is preparing to surge hundreds of troops to the Center East, in response to U.S. officers.
Because the U.S. enters its fifth week of the battle, this is a take a look at how we bought right here, the place issues stand and the place they could go from right here.
Watch particular protection on Nightline, “Struggle with Iran,” every night time on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Negotiations break down
Operation Epic Fury started months after the U.S. and Israel carried out strikes on nuclear weapons services in Iran, with Trump declaring at the moment that the regime’s nuclear capabilities had been “obliterated.”
Within the weeks leading up to the Feb. 28 strikes, the U.S. tried to barter with the Iranian regime to succeed in a nuclear deal, with Trump saying he was weighing whether or not to strike. A day earlier than launching Operation Epic Fury in opposition to Iran, Trump mentioned he was “not comfortable” with the negotiations.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was amongst these killed in Tehran within the preliminary strikes, together with his son Mojtaba Khamenei later chosen to succeed him.
A poster of the late Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is pasted on the wall of a residential constructing broken after a close-by police station was struck two days earlier in a U.S.-Israeli assault in Tehran, Iran, March 15, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
Trump mentioned at first of the “main fight operations,” which occurred with out Congressional approval, that they have been to “defend the American individuals by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” and he referred to as on the Iranian individuals to depose the regime.
Within the weeks since, greater than 1,440 civilians, together with a minimum of 217 youngsters, have died from U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran as of March 23, in response to a report from a number of human rights teams. Iranian officers have blamed the U.S. for a missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed practically 170 individuals. The Trump administration has mentioned it’s investigating the incident.
Regional allies attacked
Iran retaliated in opposition to the strikes with missile and drone assaults concentrating on Israel, regional U.S. bases and a number of Gulf nations, primarily concentrating on U.S. interests within the area.
13 American servicemembers have been killed for the reason that warfare started, together with seven from retaliatory strikes in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and six from an plane crash in Iraq. Over 300 troops have additionally been injured, a U.S. official mentioned Friday.
Iran has additionally launched a collection of retaliatory strikes in opposition to the energy infrastructure in a number of Gulf states after Israel hit its largest fuel area — in what one Qatari official referred to as a “harmful escalation.”
A fireplace and plume of smoke rise after, in response to authorities. particles from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 14, 2026.(AP Picture/Altaf Qadri)
The Related Press
Specialists say the strikes and the specter of additional assaults threat throwing world vitality markets right into a state of protracted chaos.
Amid the battle, Israel has additionally intensified its long-running strike marketing campaign in opposition to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and expanded its floor operations within the south of the nation. Greater than 1,000 individuals have been killed and hundreds extra injured in Lebanon amid this escalation, in response to Lebanese officers.
Strait of Hormuz shutdown
Map of the Strait of Hormuz
Anadolu through Getty Photos
In response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran has successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz, a significant maritime passage for the oil and delivery trades, threatening an vitality disaster.
Iran has attacked a number of oil tankers for the reason that warfare started in late February, halting practically all delivery site visitors. The availability shock has despatched the price of oil surging.
Trump has threatened to assault Iran’s energy vegetation if it does not absolutely reopen the strait, since extending the deadline to take action to April 6.
US’ expansive goals
Trump’s acknowledged objectives in Iran have shifted and expanded within the weeks for the reason that battle started, from talks of regime change and peace all through the Center East to, extra lately, reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Amongst different key goals, the U.S. navy has mentioned Iran’s navy and ballistic missile shares and manufacturing capabilities have been degraded by airstrikes.
Ensuring Iran doesn’t acquire a nuclear weapon has been one other main purpose of Trump’s. Iran’s intent to construct a nuclear weapon, in response to Trump, was a central justification for the warfare.
Trump has instructed that Individuals might go in to grab Iran’s enriched uranium. Specialists previously told ABC News that a big American drive on the bottom would probably be wanted to take the nuclear materials however would carry a number of threat.
Throughout a Cupboard assembly on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance emphasised the significance of stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and warned that there are “additional navy choices” potential.
Injury to the Isfahan Optics Industries constructing and the encompassing space in Isfahan, Iran, March 24, 2026.
Social Media through Reuters
The place issues go from right here
The White Home has mentioned “productive” negotiations have been ongoing between the U.S. and Iran, whereas officers in Tehran have publicly denied that any talks have taken place.
The U.S. has offered Iran with a 15-point framework for a peace deal through Pakistan, in response to White Home particular envoy Steve Witkoff. As of Friday, the U.S. has not obtained a response from Iran, in response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Sources beforehand instructed ABC Information the plan addressed Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear applications in addition to maritime routes.
The negotiations come because the U.S. is getting ready to surge as many as 5,000 troops to the Center East, in response to two U.S. officers, and the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in supplemental funding for the warfare. The funding request has been met with bipartisan skepticism from some lawmakers.
Rubio on Friday declined to reply questions from reporters on whether or not the U.S. deliberate to deploy floor troops in Iran. Although he mentioned the U.S. can obtain its objectives with out placing boots on the bottom.
A person stands subsequent to buildings broken by Israeli strikes, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, because the U.S.-Israel battle with Iran continues, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, March 27, 2026.
Reuters
Trump, who has mentioned he believed the warfare might last as long as 4 weeks, and at different instances 4 to 6 weeks, mentioned this week that the operation is “forward of schedule” and will finish quickly. Rubio instructed reporters Friday that the operation might finish in a “matter of weeks, not months.”
The Israel Protection Forces said Friday they want “just a few extra weeks” to totally degrade Iranian navy capabilities, equivalent to missile-launchers, a senior Israeli safety official instructed ABC Information.
