By Gulshan Luthra & R Chandrakanth
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US Central Command may deploy the Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for possible use against Iran
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US vows to denuclearize Iran
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Mojtaba Khamenei says US military presence in Middle East is ‘the most important factor in insecurity in the region’
New Delhi. The United States Air Force (USAF) and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) unleashed a coordinated and overwhelming bombardment on Iran, pummelling key military and nuclear targets in a wave of relentless fireballs starting on February 28.
USAF war jets bombarded Tehran and other strategic locations, while precision strikes damaged nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. Command centres and senior leadership were hit hard. Among those killed was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a figure of immense political and religious authority.
It was an explosive morning in Iran, difficult to perceive, but the anger and mourning were spontaneous.
The strikes left the country reeling. For supporters of the Islamic regime, it triggered grief and calls for unity. For others, it exposed deep internal divisions. The feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) saw its ranks shattered, with key commanders eliminated in the bombardment. With the hardline Ayatollah, many commanders of the dreaded IRGC were decimated. Israeli jets carried out parallel strikes, amplifying the scale and intensity of the assault.
Vance Vows to Destroy Now Iran’s Nuclear Capability
US President Donald Trump has issued a blunt warning to Iran, “get smart soon”, signalling talks have hit a wall and tensions are edging higher.
US Vice President JD Vance, declared that Washington would not leave the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon unresolved for future US Presidents. The latest is that the US Central Command has requested deployment of the Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for possible use against Iran.
While Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian energy, enrichment levels, now exceeding 60-65 percent, have raised alarm among international observers. Nuclear experts say Iran is dangerously close to bomb grade enrichment. Despite the pulverising bombing of its nuclear facilities at Isfahan and Fordow, Iran is still believed to have some 450 kg of enriched Uranium.
That’s what the US War on Iran is about. Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran will protect its Nuclear and Missile assets and technologies at all costs.
Iran Attacks Gulf Neighbours and Claims Strait of Hormuz
Iran retaliated by launching waves of drones at Israel and Gulf neighbours, targeting infrastructure and US bases across the region. While many were intercepted, some strikes hit civilian sites, including facilities in Dubai, including the Dubai International Airport (DXB) which is a key transit hub.
For the first time, Iran retaliated also with claiming exclusive rights over the narrow, 31 km wide Strait of Hormuz shipping channel closer to its shores, and blocked it for international Oil and commercial tankers. The US President Donald Trump is now weighing a months-long naval blockade to choke Iran’s oil exports, even while the US is trying to cushion the global oil shock. The markets are already volatile, with prices climbing on fears of disruption.
Sustained Bombardment
With sustained bombardment continuing, Iran remains under intense and unrelenting fire, its military capabilities degraded and its leadership structure severely disrupted.
Dooms-day
It all began on February 28, 2026, the air over Iran was still. Tehran lay in that brief moment of quiet before sunrise. Then the sky changed.
At first, it was just light. Thin streaks cutting across the darkness, almost silent. A few seconds later, the first explosions rolled across the city, distant at first, then closer, sharper, immediate.
Windows shattered here and there. Car alarms went off in waves. In some neighbourhoods, power dropped and returned in flickers. Sirens followed, but unevenly, as if the system itself had been caught off guard. Within minutes, it was clear this was not a single strike.
This was the opening of a coordinated assault by the United States and Israel, an operation built on speed, reach and simultaneity. It was designed to begin everywhere at once.
First Phase of Attack
The first phase of the attack did not begin with bombs. It began with silence. Electronic interference hit Iran’s radar and communication networks before the first visible strike. Signals dropped out. Some systems remained active but stopped tracking. Others went dark completely. Command links between units faltered. Then the missiles arrived.
Cruise missiles approached at low altitude, moving fast and close to the terrain, avoiding detection until the final moments. They struck fixed targets, radar installations, communications hubs, early warning systems, removing Iran’s ability to see clearly in the opening minutes of the war.
Stealth Platforms Take over
Almost at the same time, aircraft entered Iranian airspace. Stealth platforms led the penetration. These were followed by long-range bombers striking hardened and underground facilities. Precision-guided munitions hit bunkers designed to withstand conventional attack.
Israeli fighter aircraft followed in coordinated waves. These were long-range missions, supported by aerial refuelling, pushing deep into Iranian territory. Their targets overlapped with those of the United States but also extended to specific military and intelligence sites. Above and between these layers, drones filled the sky.
Surveillance and Armed Drones in Action
Surveillance drones transmitted real-time imagery. Armed drones moved against mobile targets. Loitering munitions hovered over suspected missile launch areas, holding position before diving toward movement below. The attacks were spread across the country. Tehran, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas and other strategic locations all reported explosions within a narrow window. There was no single front line. The entire map was active.
Leadership Comes Under Attack
As the first day unfolded, the focus of the strikes became clearer. This was not only about infrastructure. It was about leadership. Several high-level compounds in Tehran were struck in rapid succession. These were not random targets. They were locations associated with senior political, military and intelligence figures.
One of the most significant strikes hit a heavily secured compound believed to be hosting a high-level meeting. The attack was precise but overwhelming. Multiple munitions struck within seconds, followed by additional hits on surrounding access points. The damage was immediate and extensive.
In the hours that followed, reports began to emerge of major losses within Iran’s leadership structure. Senior military commanders, intelligence officials and key decision-makers were believed to be among those killed.
Supreme Leader, Prime Target
At the centre of these reports was the status of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Information remained unclear in the immediate aftermath. Communication disruptions made confirmation difficult. However, it became increasingly evident that the strike had targeted the highest levels of leadership in a coordinated attempt to disrupt command and control at the very top.
Other senior figures were also reported killed in the opening phase. These included individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), defence planning and national security coordination. Among them were senior military commanders responsible for missile forces and external operations, as well as officials tied to intelligence and strategic planning. The eliminations took place at different locations and at different times, but all with precise targeting.
Mohammad Pakpour, head of IRGC, the force responsible for Iran’s missile programme and external operations was eliminated. His role placed him at the core of Iran’s offensive capabilities.
Abdolrahim Mousavi, who coordinated operations across Iran’s armed forces, and Ali Shamkhani, a key defence and intelligence coordinator, were also eliminated, weakening inter-agency command.
In the political-security sphere, Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted strike. A long-time insider, he played a key role in national security strategy and nuclear decision-making.
Among intelligence figures, Saleh Asadi was killed during a high-level meeting. He was involved in shaping covert strategy against the US and Israel. Additional losses include Majid Khademi and Yazdan Mir, both linked to overseas and asymmetric operations.
Together, these eliminations removed key figures tied to Iran’s nuclear planning, missile development, and proxy warfare networks. While replacements are being installed, the strikes have created visible gaps in experience and coordination at the top of Iran’s power structure.
The losses were not incidental. They were targeted. The aim was to fracture Iran’s leadership structure in the opening hours of the war and thereafter. Sometime in March,Trump announced that regime change had taken place.
The pattern of attack
By the end of the first day, the assault had settled into a clear sequence. First came suppression. Air defence systems, radar installations and communication networks were degraded. This created blind zones across the country, allowing follow-on strikes to move with reduced resistance.
Second came decapitation. Leadership compounds, command centres and secure facilities were struck in rapid succession. The objective was to disrupt coordination by removing or isolating key decision-makers.
Third came infrastructure. Airbases, missile depots, naval facilities and logistical hubs were hit repeatedly. Runways were cratered. Storage facilities were destroyed. Supply chains were interrupted. Aircraft returned to the same targets more than once. Drones remained overhead, tracking movement and relaying information.
For civilians, the experience was continuous. The sky did not clear. The sound of distant impacts became constant. Fear gripped across the nation.
Iran’s retaliation
Iran’s response came quickly, but it followed a different logic. Rather than attempting to match airpower directly, the response relied on missiles and drones.
Within hours, ballistic missiles were launched toward Israeli territory. Air defence systems intercepted many, but some reached their targets. Explosions were reported in urban areas. Emergency services moved in as sirens continued to sound. At the same time, Iran expanded the battlefield.
US Bases Attacked
Iran’s retaliation after Operation Epic Fury followed a broad, multi-country pattern, beginning with limited, mostly intercepted strikes in Iraq and escalating into region-wide missile and drone attacks on US bases. While early attacks caused minimal damage, later barrages increased pressure on US assets, resulting in equipment losses, injuries, and sustained operational strain, though air defence systems prevented large-scale destruction.
Missiles and drones were launched toward US military installations across the Gulf. Bases that had been far from direct conflict were suddenly within range.
On February 28, Iran first targeted the Erbil International Airport and the US Consulate using missiles and drones. Most projectiles were intercepted and no casualties or major damage was reported.
On March 1 and 2, Iran used missiles and drones to attack the RAF Akrotiri, UK base used by US A drone reportedly impacted the airfield causing minor damage without any casualty. Similarly, the Victory Base in Baghdad was targeted by drones without any impact.
Iran continued its attacks in neighbouring countries. US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia came under ballistic missile and drone attacks. While many of these munitions were intercepted, some did cause localized damage to infrastructure, including a reported explosion near the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. It is reported that about 1,700 projectiles in March alone were intercepted.
On April 4, in the Isfahan region (inside Iran), a temporary US forward operating base which was on a rescue mission was targeted using ground fire and air defence. Two US C-130 aircraft reportedly were disabled, forcing US forces to withdraw under fire. The US was ready and quickly moved personnel moved into shelters. Interceptors were launched. The sky over multiple locations became active with defensive fire.
Aerial Warfare, US-Israel Dominance
By the end of the first week, the air campaign had become sustained. US and Israeli forces maintained continuous operations. Aircraft operated in cycles, launching precision strikes and returning with updated targeting information. Electronic warfare platforms continued to disrupt Iranian systems.
The US-Israel campaign combined stealth, long-range precision, and heavy strike capability, allowing them to target hardened nuclear infrastructure, missile sites, and command centres while minimising exposure to Iran’s air defence network.
The US deployed F-35 Lightning II (5th Generation stealth jet); F-22 Raptor (air dominance and escort); F-15E Strike Eagle (Long-range strike aircraft capable of carrying heavy payloads); F-16 Fighting Falcon (for precision strikes); the B-2 Spirit (Strategic stealth bomber); B-52 Stratofortress (Used for stand-off strikes with cruise missiles and large-scale bombardment).
Israel supplemented the deployment by F-35I Adir (stealth strike aircraft, central to deep penetration missions into Iranian airspace); F-15I Ra’am (Long-range strike jet modified for heavy payloads, including bunker-busting weapons); and the F-16I Sufa (precision strikes and support missions).
Stealth platforms (F-35, B-2) were used to penetrate Iranian air defences and strike nuclear and command facilities. Strike fighters (F-15E/F-15I, F-16 variants) delivered heavier payloads and follow-on attacks.
Limited Role by Iran’s Air Force
On the other hand, Iran’s air force played a limited role. Its aircraft were used cautiously, reflecting the technological imbalance. Instead, Iran relied on persistence. Missile launch sites were dispersed. Some were mobile. Others were concealed. This allowed continued strikes even after initial losses. The war in the air became less about dominance and more about endurance.
However, Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the US military presence in the Middle East is “the most important factor in insecurity in the region.”
Low-flying Stealth Drones
The US – Israel strikes were coordinated with low-flying drones approaching in waves, some acting as decoys, others carrying explosive payloads. They targeted infrastructure, runways, fuel storage, radar systems, aiming to disrupt operations rather than destroy them outright. The response was not a single strike. It was sustained.
A Widening Conflict
Within days, the conflict extended beyond the initial exchange. The Strait of Hormuz became a central point of tension.
Iran signalled its ability to disrupt shipping through one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. Naval activity increased. Commercial vessels slowed or altered course. Energy markets reacted immediately.
The Battle at Sea
The maritime dimension added further complexity. Iran relied on asymmetric tactics, fast attack craft, dispersed operations and the threat of mines, to complicate naval movement. Even limited disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has had global consequences.
The United States focused on maintaining access and control. Naval vessels conducted patrols, escorts and surveillance operations. Mine-clearing capabilities were positioned as a precaution. The risk of direct confrontation at sea remained constant.
The United States responded by reinforcing its naval presence. Warships moved into escort roles, ensuring the movement of commercial traffic through the Strait. The US naval buildup near the Strait of Hormuz combined high-end destroyers for combat dominance with specialised mine-countermeasure vessels to neutralise Iran’s asymmetric threats. This layered deployment was designed to ensure freedom of navigation while countering missiles, drones, mines, and fast-attack boats, core elements of Iran’s maritime strategy.
US Deploys over 17 Warships
The US Navy flexed its muscle by deploying USS Frank E.Petersen (equipped with the Aegis Combat System for air and missile defence and capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-series interceptors, besides advanced radar for tracking aircraft, missiles, and surface threats and anti-submarine warfare systems and onboard helicopters); USS Michael Murphy (a force-multiplier; Multi-role platform with ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability; Anti-air, anti-ship, and land-attack strike functions etc); Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers (Heavy missile armament, maritime interdiction, protect mine-clearing operations and enforce naval blockade); USS Chief (Specialized mine detection and neutralisation systems); USS Pioneer (Mine-hunting and clearance systems, designed for shallow-water operations); USS Tulsa (additional mine countermeasure and littoral assets)
The US deployed over 17 warships, including destroyers and support vessels, to enforce a blockade and secure the Strait. The focus has been on Missile defence (destroyers); Mine clearance (MCM ships) and deterrence and escort operations.
Regional Actors Enter Fray
Elsewhere, regional actors became involved. The Houthis of Yemen; Hezbollah from Lebanon; and Iraqi Shia militias (Islamic Resistance in Iraq / PMF factions) launched drones and rockets at US bases in Iraq and occasionally toward Israel. Iraq became a key secondary battlefield, with dozens of attacks targeting US forces and infrastructure.
Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is aligned with Iran, initially held back from direct involvement, while openly declaring political support for Tehran and warning that it was ready to intervene if the conflict escalated. Armed groups aligned with Iran launched rockets and drones toward Israeli territory. Israel responded with airstrikes, extending the conflict into neighbouring areas. What had begun as a concentrated assault was now regional in scope.
The human cost
On the ground, the impact was immediate. In Iran, strikes damaged military infrastructure and affected surrounding areas. Power disruptions, damaged roads and limited access to services became part of daily life in affected regions. Iran has said that over 3,500 people have died in the bombings. There have been missile impact in Israel that have caused casualties and infrastructure damage despite active air defence systems.
Across the region, the effects extended beyond the battlefield. Travel was disrupted. Economic activity slowed. Daily routines were interrupted. The full scale of casualties remained unclear, but the disruption was widespread.The Pentagon has pegged that the Iran war cost at $25 billion so far, with at least 14 US service members killed.
Strategic balance
Despite the intensity of the opening phase, the conflict did not produce a decisive outcome. The United States and Israel demonstrated clear advantages in airpower, precision strike capability and coordination across domains. Iran, however, retained the ability to respond. Its missile and drone capabilities allowed it to continue applying pressure, even after sustained strikes. The conflict shifted from a rapid offensive to a prolonged confrontation.
The Uneasy Pause
By early April, the pace of strikes slowed. Diplomatic pressure and the cumulative cost of continued escalation led to a fragile pause. It was not a formal end to the conflict, but a reduction in intensity. Military forces remained deployed. Naval operations continued. Air defence systems stayed active. The region entered a state of tension rather than resolution.
Ceasefire
On April 7, ceasefire was announced, taking effect the next day. This was a two-week, Pakistan-mediated ceasefire covering US and Iranian hostilities, with Israel aligned operationally but disputing parts of the scope. The talks had failed in Islamabad and Vance said Iran was unwilling to work on limiting nuclear programmes.
On April 16, Israel–Lebanon (Hezbollah front) ceasefire came into effect. This was a 10-day truce, separate from but linked to the wider Iran conflict, aimed at pausing fighting on Israel’s northern front.
The war as it stands
What began in the early hours of a single day evolved into a conflict defined by speed, reach and technology. The attempt to strike at leadership in the opening phase reshaped the course of the war, but it did not end it.
The skies may have quietened down for now, but they have not gone silent. And across the region, the expectation remains the same, that what began in a single morning could begin again, unless, of course, Iran agrees to denuclearizing.
