March 8, 2026
Israeli forces struck multiple Iranian fuel storage sites late Saturday, producing large plumes of black smoke over Tehran and nearby Karaj. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the tanks were used to support military infrastructure and distribute fuel to entities it described as linked to Iran’s armed capabilities. The IDF said it would continue operations to degrade threats to Israel.
Iranian state media and officials reported damage to the fuel supply network in Tehran, temporarily interrupting fuel distribution. Tehran’s governor, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, told IRNA authorities were working to resolve the problem. Videos and images of explosions circulated on social media; Reuters and other outlets published footage and photos showing fires at depots.
The strikes mark the first known attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure since the wider US-Israeli campaign against Iran began on February 28. That campaign, according to US and Israeli statements, targets Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and other military capabilities. Iran has since launched attacks across the region, striking sites in Gulf states and facilities it says are linked to US and Israeli forces.
Regional incidents and damage
– Bahrain: An Iranian drone strike damaged a desalination plant, causing material damage but, the Bahraini authorities said, no impact on water supplies. Missile fragments also landed on a road in Manama, injuring up to three people and damaging shops.
– Kuwait: The Interior Ministry said two Kuwaiti security officers were killed “while performing their duties.” The ministry also reported intercepting ballistic missiles and that fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport were targeted in drone attacks; debris from intercepted drones damaged civilian facilities.
– Saudi Arabia: Saudi defenses intercepted and destroyed at least 15 drones, some reported as aimed at Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter.
– Strait of Hormuz: The UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank after an explosion and fire following missile hits while assisting a container ship previously struck. Indonesia said three of its crew remain missing; four survivors were reported among seven crew from Indonesia, India and the Philippines.
Beirut and Lebanon
Israel continued strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah sites and, according to the IDF, IRGC commanders operating in Beirut. An Israeli strike on a central Beirut hotel in the Raouche district killed at least four people and injured others. Lebanon’s health authorities reported higher tolls from other recent strikes, including dozens killed in east Lebanon.
Casualties and scope
Officials reported mounting casualties across the conflict: at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, with six US troops killed, according to those governments’ figures. Both Tehran-aligned and US/Israeli statements have included contested claims, such as assertions of captured US soldiers that the US military denied.
Iranian leadership matters
Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body tasked with choosing a new supreme leader, reportedly reached a majority consensus on a successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media said. Some procedural disagreements remained, including whether a final in-person vote was possible under current conditions.
Iran’s military posture
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Iran could sustain an “intense” campaign for at least six months and said it had targeted more than 200 locations across the Middle East with ties to US or Israeli facilities. The White House said it expects the US-Israeli campaign to meet its objectives within four to six weeks.
Diplomacy and rhetoric
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a conciliatory tone in remarks aired on state television, apologizing to neighboring countries affected by Iranian strikes and calling them “friends and brothers,” while also accusing the US and Israel of fomenting discord. Nevertheless, Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states and attacks on regional infrastructure have continued.
Other developments
– Drones and missiles continue to be intercepted across Gulf airspace, with governments reporting ongoing air-defense operations.
– Energy markets and shipping have been affected by attacks on oil refineries, gas facilities and tankers, raising fears of supply shortages and driving price volatility.
– France’s President Emmanuel Macron planned to visit Cyprus to show solidarity after a drone strike hit a British base there; several European countries announced naval deployments to the eastern Mediterranean.
What to know now
The conflict entered its second week with expanding fronts across the Middle East, including direct strikes inside Iran, missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, and Israeli operations in Lebanon. Humanitarian and infrastructure impacts are growing, and regional leaders continue to exchange military strikes, statements and limited diplomatic outreach amid heightened risk of further escalation.