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Six days after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, tensions in the region are increasing and the conflict is escalating.
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Published March 5, 2026
On the sixth day of the US-Israel war against Iran, the situation inside Iran is escalating amid rising regional tensions across the Gulf, Lebanon and Iraq.
Iran threatens global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and fighting has spread to multiple fronts in the Middle East. Further afield, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.
in iran
Death toll: The death toll from five days of US and Israeli attacks has reached 1,045, with more than 6,000 injured, according to Iranian state media. Next supreme leader: Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as a leading candidate for the country’s top post after spending years cultivating influence within the regime and forging close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Civilian Infrastructure: Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States and Israel of attacking 33 civilian facilities in the country. These locations reportedly include hospitals, schools, residential areas, the Tehran Grand Bazaar, and the historic Golestan Palace complex. US submarine sinks Iranian warship: On Wednesday, a US submarine fired a torpedo in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, sinking the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, expanding the war zone. The Sri Lankan Navy said it had recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people. Kurdish ground offensive: There are increasing signs that Kurdish-Iranian militants have launched a ground offensive against the Islamic government in northwestern Iran. Iraqi Kurds may join conflict: US officials have reportedly asked Iraqi Kurds to assist in cross-border military operations, and Kurdish forces in northern Iraq are now said to be “on standby” to join the conflict with Iran. Strait of Hormuz: On Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guards announced the closure of the Strait. Iran’s threat to attack ships in the strait has virtually halted maritime activity. Spain’s refusal to participate: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Spain for refusing to allow the United States to use its bases for war. US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off all trade with Spain.
in the gulf countries
Retaliatory attacks: Iranian counterattacks disrupt oil flows across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia: The US Secretary of State and the Saudi Foreign Minister discussed the “continued threat posed by the Iranian regime to regional stability,” and the Saudi Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned Iran’s drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh. Qatar: The Qatari government is evacuating residents living near the US Embassy in Doha. Qatar’s Interior Ministry said this was a “temporary precautionary measure”. Diplomatic backlash: Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani contacted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, for the first time since the conflict began. Sheikh Mohammed called for an “immediate cessation” of airstrikes, saying Iran was trying to drag its neighbors into a war that is not its own. Kuwait Tanker Explosion: An explosion was reported near a tanker anchored approximately 30 nautical miles (equivalent to approximately 56 km) southeast of Mubarak Al Kabir, Kuwait. Support from Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with officials from Qatar and other Gulf states about plans to send Ukrainian experts to the region to help defend against Iranian drone and missile attacks.
in israel
Increased attacks: The Israeli military announced a new “series of attacks” against Tehran’s military infrastructure. Military Success: U.S. and Western officials said the United States and Israel succeeded in destroying a significant portion of Iran’s military capabilities. With air superiority achieved, Israeli and U.S. warplanes can fly uncontested over Iranian territory, they said. Domestic Impact: The Israeli military has slightly relaxed its wartime security rules, moving from “essential” to “limited” operations.
in the US
Congress and War Powers: On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted 53-47 against asking the Trump administration to seek Congressional authorization to continue the war with Iran, suspending the bipartisan War Powers Resolution. Public opinion: Public support for the war appears to be low. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only about 25% of respondents supported the U.S. and Israeli attacks, while 43% disapproved. Administration position: The White House strongly defends military action. Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said the administration’s goals are to eliminate Iran’s nuclear ambitions and destroy its navy. President Trump himself claimed that Iran was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, saying, “If Iran had not been able to strike within two weeks, it would have had a nuclear weapon.”
in Lebanon, Iraq, Turkiye, and China.
Lebanon conflict: The situation is escalating in Lebanon, with Israel attacking areas such as Beirut and Qiam and engaging in fierce gun battles with Hezbollah. Iraq: Kurdish forces in northern Iraq are reportedly “on standby” in preparation for a possible cross-border operation into Iran after a drone crashes into a building near Erbil airport. Missile Interception: NATO air defense forces in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted and shot down an Iranian ballistic missile that entered Turkiye airspace. “This was a deliberate attempt by the Iranian military to fire from its own territory into a country that does not have direct ties to the Gulf,” retired US general Mark Kimmitt told Al Jazeera. China: In a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, China’s foreign minister called for an “immediate halt” to US and Israeli actions, the ministry announced.
