US Military Says It Has Struck Nearly 2,000 Targets in Iran as War Escalates

The United States military says it has struck nearly 2,000 targets inside Iran as part of a large‑scale military campaign launched over the past week, marking one of the most intense offensives in the region in decades. The operation — coordinated with Israel — has rapidly expanded the conflict, drawing in multiple fronts and prompting sharp responses from Tehran.

According to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces have carried out sustained day‑and‑night strikes using more than 2,000 munitions against Iranian military and strategic infrastructure. “We’ve already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions,” Cooper said in an operational update, adding that the US has severely degraded Iran’s air defenses and destroyed hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones.

The strikes form part of what CENTCOM officials are calling an unprecedented operation, described by some military analysts as the largest build‑up of firepower in the Middle East in a generation. Cooper said the US campaign has targeted a wide range of military assets, including missile batteries and launchers, air defence systems and radar sites, naval vessels — including 17 Iranian ships and a submarine — command and control centres, and drone and UAV facilities. Cooper also asserted that the Iranian navy has been effectively neutralised in key waterways. “Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman,” he said, highlighting the sweeping impacts of the strikes.

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The Pentagon has compared the pace and scale of the initial strikes to the “shock and awe” campaign during the 2003 Iraq invasion, with the number of targets hit in the first 24 hours described as nearly double that earlier offensive. US officials say the current campaign — sometimes referred to as Operation Epic Fury — continues around the clock as forces aim to eliminate Tehran’s ability to project power.

Iran has responded vigorously, launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones at US bases and allied positions across the Gulf region, including strikes against American facilities in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The volatility has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict, with both sides trading increasingly severe attacks. Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard has made conflicting claims about control of strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that Iran maintains dominance even as US and allied forces press their assault. Independent verification of these claims remains difficult amid the fog of war.

Beyond military dynamics, the conflict has disrupted global energy markets and raised concerns about the safety of key shipping lanes. President Donald Trump has indicated that the US Navy may escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, aiming to keep energy flows stable and reassure global markets. The massive number of targets hit reflects the breadth of the US strategy, which combines air, naval, missile and cyber capabilities to degrade Iran’s defence posture. CENTCOM has deployed tens of thousands of troops, hundreds of aircraft, carriers, and bombers to sustain the pressure.

Humanitarian organisations estimate that hundreds of Iranian civilians have been killed, and thousands more injured, as the conflict continues to escalate, drawing international concern over civilian harm and the legal basis for such large‑scale offensive operations. As the military campaign unfolds, analysts warn that the conflict has the potential to widen, involving more actors across the Middle East and prompting further diplomatic and economic fallout.

US Military Says It Has Struck Nearly 2,000 Targets in Iran as War Escalates

Trade Row Looms as Trump Threatens Spain After Refusal to Support Iran Strikes

US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt all trade with Spain after Madrid refused to allow US military aircraft to use Spanish bases for operations linked to recent strikes on Iran, escalating tensions with a key NATO ally. The warning came during a White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where Trump also criticised the United Kingdom for what he described as limited cooperation.

Spain’s leftist administration under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintained that US forces could only use bases in Rota and Morón for operations consistent with the United Nations Charter, noting that the bases were not involved in recent strikes. Trump dismissed this position, calling Spain “terrible” and asserting that he had directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to suspend all economic dealings with Madrid.

Trump also targeted Spain for not meeting his preferred NATO defence spending target of 5% of GDP, arguing that the US bears too much of the alliance’s costs. “So we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said, claiming he could terminate business ties immediately.

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Legal experts have questioned the feasibility of Trump’s threat, noting that trade agreements with Spain are negotiated through the European Union, limiting any unilateral action. Madrid responded by describing its US trade relationship as mutually beneficial, emphasizing adherence to international law, EU agreements, and the ability to mitigate potential economic impacts while diversifying supply chains.

Sánchez has consistently called for diplomatic solutions to the Iran conflict, arguing that opposing repressive regimes does not justify military escalation. Spain has also been critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing its government of genocide — a claim Israel denies.

Trump’s criticism of the United Kingdom focused on restrictions regarding the use of UK bases in Cyprus and Diego Garcia, which are limited to “specific and defensive” operations. He also expressed frustration over the UK’s agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, home to the Diego Garcia base.

The dispute highlights mounting strains in transatlantic relations, exposing disagreements over military strategy, defence spending, and the conduct of operations in the Middle East. Analysts warn that such tensions could complicate NATO coordination and EU‑US relations if left unresolved.

Trade Row Looms as Trump Threatens Spain After Refusal to Support Iran Strikes

UK, France Deploy Warships, Anti‑Drone Helicopters to Cyprus After RAF Akrotiri Strike

The United Kingdom and France have bolstered their military presence in Cyprus following a suspected Iran‑made drone strike on the British RAF Akrotiri airbase, in a move reflecting escalating Middle East tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that London is deploying the Royal Navy’s HMS Dragon, one of the world’s most capable Type 45 air‑defence destroyers, along with AW159 Wildcat helicopters equipped with counter‑drone systems. The deployment follows a conversation with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and is aimed at ensuring the security of British personnel and bases in Cyprus.

Starmer emphasised that the UK remains “fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there” and that the reinforcements are defensive measures rather than a step toward wider conflict. The HMS Dragon, crewed by over 200 personnel, can launch up to eight missiles in under ten seconds and is equipped to neutralise aerial threats, including drones and missiles.

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The drone attack on March 2, 2026, caused only minor damage at RAF Akrotiri, with no casualties reported. Two additional drones were reportedly intercepted by RAF aircraft shortly afterward, highlighting the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems in the region.

In parallel, France has dispatched a frigate and air‑defence systems to Cyprus, while President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to send the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean. The French deployment aims to strengthen Cypriot defences and demonstrate France’s commitment to allies and its strategic partnership with Cyprus.

Other European allies, including Greece, have also contributed to regional security by sending F‑16 fighter jets and naval frigates equipped with anti-drone jamming systems, creating a coordinated European defence posture in response to potential threats from Iran and its allied militias.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey described the incident as evidence of “dangerous and indiscriminate attacks” and said the deployments are essential to protect allied personnel, airbases, and regional security. The European reinforcements underscore Cyprus’ role as a key strategic location amid rising tensions from the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

With air‑defence destroyers, anti-drone helicopters, frigates and missile systems now operational in the region, the UK and France are signalling a strong deterrent posture, aimed at safeguarding personnel while preventing escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

UK, France Deploy Warships, Anti‑Drone Helicopters to Cyprus After RAF Akrotiri Strike