March 8, 2026
Israeli forces struck multiple Iranian fuel storage sites late Saturday, sending large plumes of black smoke over Tehran and nearby Karaj. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the tanks supported military infrastructure and distributed fuel to groups it described as linked to Iran’s armed capabilities, and that it would continue operations to degrade threats to Israel.
Iranian state media and officials reported damage to Tehran’s fuel distribution network and a temporary interruption to deliveries. Tehran’s governor, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, told IRNA that authorities were working to restore supplies. Videos and images of explosions circulated on social media, and news agencies published footage showing fires at fuel depots.
These strikes are 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, is aimed at Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and other military capabilities. Iran has responded with strikes across the region, targeting 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, Bahraini authorities said, no disruption to water supplies. Missile fragments also fell on a road in Manama, injuring up to three people and damaging shops.
– Kuwait: The Interior Ministry reported two Kuwaiti security officers killed while on duty, said it intercepted ballistic missiles, and reported drone attacks that targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport; debris from intercepted drones damaged civilian facilities.
– Saudi Arabia: Saudi defenses intercepted and destroyed at least 15 drones, some reported as aimed at the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh.
– Strait of Hormuz: The UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank after an explosion and fire following missile hits while it was assisting a container ship that had been struck earlier. 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, the IDF said, 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 additional casualties from recent strikes, including dozens killed in eastern 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. Some claims from Tehran-aligned sources and US/Israeli statements remain contested, including assertions of captured US soldiers that the US military denied.
Iranian leadership matters:
Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting a new supreme leader, reportedly reached a majority consensus on a successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media said. Disagreements remained over procedures, including whether a final in-person vote is feasible under current conditions.
Iran’s military posture:
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Iran could sustain an “intense” campaign for at least six months and claimed to have targeted more than 200 locations across the Middle East with ties to US or Israeli facilities. The White House, by contrast, said it expects the US-Israeli campaign to meet its objectives within four to six weeks.
Diplomacy and rhetoric:
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took a conciliatory tone in remarks broadcast 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 provoking the conflict. Despite conciliatory language, Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states and attacks on regional infrastructure have continued.
Other developments:
– Air defenses across Gulf airspace continue to intercept drones and missiles, with governments reporting ongoing engagements.
– Energy markets and shipping have been affected by attacks on refineries, gas facilities and tankers, raising concerns about supply disruptions and driving price volatility.
– French President Emmanuel Macron planned to visit Cyprus to show solidarity after a drone strike hit a British base there, and several European countries announced naval deployments to the eastern Mediterranean.
What to know now:
The conflict has entered its second week with fronts widening 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 increasing as regional leaders exchange military strikes, public statements and limited diplomatic outreach amid a heightened risk of further escalation.