Ongoing Conflict News

Cross-border shelling and a reported Taliban airstrike mark the latest escalation along the Durand Line Fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan intensified over the past 24 hours as Taliban officials claimed responsibility for a strike on a Pakistani security base while heavy shelling continued across multiple sections of the border. The Taliban government said its forces carried out an attack on a Pakistani Frontier Corps facility near Kuchlak in Balochistan, describing the strike a

Ukrainian Strike Hits Russian Naval Assets in Novorossiysk Ukrainian forces struck the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on March 2, damaging three naval vessels and killing three sailors, according to a source in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). Fourteen additional personnel were reportedly injured. The SBU source said the operation was conducted in coordination with Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The minesweeper Valentin Pikul was hit, while two anti-submarine ships, the Yeysk and t

Joint U.S.-Ecuador Operations Target Designated Trafficking Groups U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced Tuesday that American and Ecuadorian forces have begun joint military operations in Ecuador aimed at dismantling what it described as “narco-terrorist” organizations. In a statement, SOUTHCOM said the mission seeks to confront groups responsible for “terror, violence, and corruption” across the hemisphere. The operation marks the first publicly announced U.S. ground missio

PrSM Employed in Combat for First Time During Operation Epic Fury US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the US Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has been used in combat for the first time since its fielding in late 2023. The employment occurred during Operation Epic Fury, according to an official statement posted on CENTCOM’s social media channels. “In a historic first, long-range Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) were used in combat during Operation Epic Fury, providing an

Qatar Downs Two Iranian Su-24MK Bombers During Airspace Intercept Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on March 2, 2026, that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24MK tactical bombers as they approached national airspace. The engagement occurred on the third day of combat operations associated with Operation Epic Fury, also referred to as Roaring Lion. It marks the first confirmed destruction of an Iranian aircraft in flight since the outbreak of the 2026 Iran war. Acco

RAF F-35s Record First Combat Kill Over Jordan British Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II aircraft have achieved their first confirmed combat kill, downing hostile drones over Jordan, the UK Ministry of Defence announced Tuesday. The engagement marks the first time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a target during operational deployment. According to the ministry, the stealth fighters were supported by Typhoon aircraft and a Voyager aerial refueling tanker during the mission. The intercep

Ukraine Reports Net Territorial Gains in February 2026 Ukrainian forces captured more territory in February 2026 than Russian troops seized during the same period, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 2. The statement follows a winter slowdown in Russian advances across much of the front line, while Ukrainian units conducted offensive actions in select sectors. Syrskyi described the period as a difficult winter campaign, noting that Ukraine’s relative territorial gains we

Three U.S. F-15s Lost Over Kuwait in Allied Air Defense Misidentification The United States Central Command has confirmed that three U.S. fighter jets were shot down by friendly fire during Operation Epic Fury, marking the first confirmed U.S. aircraft losses of the conflict, not due to Iranian action, but to a misidentification by allied air defenses. According to CENTCOM, the incident occurred late March 1 during active combat operations over Kuwait, as coalition forces responded to

In an escalating phase of Operation Epic Fury, the USS Gerald R. Ford has entered active support of U.S. combat operations against Iran, marking a significant intensification of American naval involvement in the conflict. According to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the nuclear-powered supercarrier is “in the fight” and has been conducting sorties from its flight deck in support of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure and strategic targets. The carrier’s aircraft, includ

The United Kingdom’s involvement in the widening Operation Epic Fury conflict has taken a new turn after an Iranian-made drone strike hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, prompting London to shift toward a more active defensive role while insisting it is not formally at war with Tehran. Timeline of UK Developments March 1 – UK Grants U.S. Use of British Bases for Defensive Strikes Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom would allow United States Armed Forces to use Briti

Afghan Forces Fire on Pakistani Jets as Conflict Enters Fourth Day Fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated sharply today, with Afghan forces firing on Pakistani aircraft over Kabul, marking one of the most serious developments yet in a conflict that both sides now describe as open warfare. According to multiple international reports, explosions and gunfire were heard in the Afghan capital as Afghan air defenses engaged Pakistani jets amid claims of attempted strikes on Bagr

Maritime Warfare Emerges as a Central Front in the U.S.–Iran Conflict As Operation Epic Fury continues, naval combat has emerged as a significant and increasingly visible component of the conflict, with the United States Navy confirming strikes against Iranian naval assets and Iranian forces attempting to contest maritime control across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. U.S. officials have stated that degrading Iran’s naval capabilities is a deliberate component of the operation

No Formal Ceasefire Offer Confirmed, but Both Sides Signal Openness to Future Talks As fighting continues under Operation Epic Fury, public discourse has increasingly framed Iran’s statements about rejecting a ceasefire as evidence that Tehran turned down a formal U.S. peace offer. Current reporting, however, does not support that interpretation. There is no verified confirmation that the United States formally offered Iran a ceasefire that was then rejected. Instead, Iranian statement

U.S. Service Members Killed and Wounded in Iran Operations Three American service members were killed and five others seriously wounded during ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Sunday. The announcement marks the first publicly disclosed U.S. fatalities since the start of the current campaign. In a statement, CENTCOM said several additional personnel sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of returnin

Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes following the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury appear to have produced an unintended strategic effect: pushing Gulf states toward tighter coordination against Tehran, after many regional capitals had been working to avoid being pulled directly into a U.S.–Iran war. While several Gulf governments initially emphasized restraint and de-escalation as the U.S.-Israel strikes unfolded, Iran’s decision to expand its retaliation across the region, in

Launch of Operation Epic Fury The United States and Israel initiated a coordinated military campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026, marking one of the largest U.S. combat operations in the Middle East in decades. The Pentagon has designated the campaign “Operation Epic Fury,” while some reporting has referred to it as “Operation Lion’s Roar.” The opening phase involved extensive use of manned aircraft, cruise missiles, and stand-off strike systems targeting high-value military obje

Israel Details Large-Scale Air Campaign in Iran The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it conducted strikes on more than 500 targets across Iran as part of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation. According to the IDF, approximately 200 Israeli Air Force (IAF) warplanes participated, marking what officials described as the largest coordinated flyover in the service’s history. Israel designated its campaign “Operation Roaring Lion,” while the United States referred to its involvement as “Opera

Pentagon Reports No Confirmed U.S. Casualties After Initial Strikes The U.S. Department of Defense has reported no confirmed American casualties following the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-led strike campaign targeting Iranian assets on February 28, 2026. According to official statements from the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), no U.S. service members have been reported killed or wounded during the initial operation or its immediate aftermath. The announceme

Operation Epic Fury Targets Iran’s Senior Leadership Operation Epic Fury, launched on 28 February 2026 as a joint U.S.–Israeli offensive, marked a significant escalation in hostilities with Iran. U.S. officials described the campaign as “major combat operations” aimed at dismantling the core of the Islamic Republic’s political and military command structure. Strikes reportedly focused on leadership compounds, military headquarters, and intelligence facilities in Tehran and other strategic l

Missile Strikes Target US Facilities in Bahrain and Qatar Iran launched ballistic missiles toward United States military installations in Bahrain and Qatar early February 28, according to official statements and regional reporting. The strikes marked a significant escalation involving US assets in the Gulf, with air defense systems activated across multiple locations. In Bahrain, Iranian ballistic missiles targeted a US Navy logistics facility that supports operations of the US Fifth F

Operation Epic Fury Launched After Iranian Missile Strike On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel initiated Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated multi-domain strike campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. The operation was followed by Iranian missile launches toward Israeli territory earlier in the day, according to Reuters and U.S. defense officials. The Pentagon confirmed the operation’s designation and stated that its objectives include dismantling I

Kremlin Acknowledges Unmet Objectives Four Years Into War Four years after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has publicly acknowledged that its primary objectives remain unfulfilled. On Feb. 24, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has not yet achieved the goals it set at the outset of the war, marking a rare admission of limited progress in a conflict initially expected to be swift. Peskov said the “main goal is to ensure the safety of peo

Medvedev Issues Nuclear Warning Over Alleged Arms Transfers Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Feb. 24 that Russia would consider using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine and potentially against France and the United Kingdom if the two NATO members were to provide Kyiv with nuclear weapons technology. Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, made the remarks on Telegram on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The recent fall of Pokrovsk marks a notable development in eastern Ukraine, but it does not resolve the larger military or political questions shaping the war. Instead, it sharpens them. As Russian forces consolidate control over the city, attention is increasingly shifting beyond the battlefield to the negotiating table, where troop withdrawal, fortified cities, and security guarantees have emerged as some of the most contentious issues in any prospective peace talks. This is not a story o