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U.S.-Israeli strikes continue across Iran, Iranian drones hit Azerbaijan

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Lead: The conflict surrounding Iran widened on Thursday as Azerbaijan reported Iranian-launched drones struck the main terminal at Nakhchivan airport, injuring two civilians, while U.S. and Israeli forces continued strikes inside Iran. Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard also claimed its navy hit a U.S.-linked oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf; U.S. officials offered no immediate confirmation. The disruption has sharply reduced commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and intensified international diplomatic activity, including China naming an envoy to help mediate.

Key Takeaways

  • Azerbaijan said drones from Iran struck Nakhchivan airport on Thursday; two civilians were reported wounded and the ministry demanded an explanation.
  • U.S. Central Command and Israel reported additional strikes inside Iran overnight, with Israel saying it disabled a ballistic missile launcher near Qom and struck air defenses in Isfahan.
  • The Iranian Health Ministry reported more than 920 deaths inside Iran since the fighting began; casualty figures remain a focal point for verification.
  • Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed its naval forces struck an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf; the U.S. did not immediately corroborate that claim.
  • Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has largely halted after Iran declared the route closed and attacked some ships attempting passage.
  • The U.S. has deployed roughly 50,000 personnel, over 200 fighter jets and two aircraft carriers to the region, and CENTCOM said U.S. and Israeli strikes have hit about 2,000 targets.
  • In Congress, the House prepared a symbolic war-powers measure built on the 1973 War Powers Act; the Senate failed to advance a similar effort.
  • Six U.S. soldiers killed in a March 1 drone strike in Kuwait have been publicly identified; their deaths are under investigation by the Department of Defense.

Background

The current escalation follows a wave of strikes and counterstrikes that have drawn both Israel and the United States deeper into military operations targeting Iranian infrastructure. Iran has responded with asymmetric attacks at sea, and by launching drones toward neighboring states, expanding the conflict beyond its borders. The Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of global crude and natural gas normally transits — has been particularly affected, with traffic falling sharply as insurers and shippers reroute or pause transits.

Regionally, states with direct or indirect ties to Tehran and to the U.S.-Israel partnership are managing the spillover of violence, humanitarian displacement and diplomatic fallout. Lebanon has seen large internal displacements, while Qatar took precautionary evacuation measures near the U.S. Embassy in Doha. Major powers are coordinating responses: China has publicly urged negotiations and said it will send envoy Zhai Jun to the region to press for de-escalation.

Main Event

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said drones launched from Iran crashed into the main terminal at Nakhchivan airport and that another landed near a school, injuring two civilians. The ministry said it demanded clarification from Tehran and described the strikes as a serious breach of Azerbaijani sovereignty. Nakhchivan is an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, Armenia and Turkey, making the incident immediately sensitive for several regional capitals.

U.S. Central Command and the Israeli military both reported fresh operations inside Iran overnight. Israel said its air force dismantled an armed ballistic missile launcher near Qom that it assessed was prepared to fire at Israeli territory, and it struck an Iranian air defense site in Isfahan. CENTCOM officials said combined strikes have degraded elements of Iran’s air defense and missile-launch infrastructure.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement asserting that its naval forces struck an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf. The U.S. released no immediate public confirmation of damage to U.S.-flagged shipping in that area. The reports come amid a broader pattern of maritime incidents after Iran declared closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fired on or seized vessels attempting to transit.

The human toll of the campaign remains contested. Iranian authorities told reporters the Health Ministry records show more than 920 killed since the exchanges intensified; independent verification of the total is limited. The conflict has also claimed U.S. military lives: the Pentagon named six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed on March 1 in a drone strike in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and said the attack is under investigation.

Analysis & Implications

The immediate regional implication is a heightened risk of miscalculation. Drone strikes into Azerbaijani territory and maritime claims by the IRGC increase the number of actors with a direct stake in the conflict’s trajectory, raising the possibility of unintended escalation between states that are not primary belligerents. For smaller neighbors such as Azerbaijan and Qatar, the calculus now includes both sovereign defense and civilian protection amid attacks near airports and populated areas.

Economically, the near-shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has already pushed up crude and gas prices and strained supply chains. Because roughly 20% of global crude and associated gas flows normally travel the Strait, a sustained disruption could cause longer-term energy market volatility, accelerate strategic stock releases and prompt shifts in shipping routes that raise costs and delivery times.

Militarily, CENTCOM’s estimate that some 2,000 targets have been struck and the U.S. deployment of tens of thousands of personnel create a protracted, resource-intensive posture. That footprint complicates domestic politics in the U.S., where lawmakers pressed for a vote tied to war powers and the question of authorization for continued operations remains unresolved. A prolonged campaign will test coalition cohesion between Washington and regional partners.

Comparison & Data

Selected operational and human-impact figures reported by authorities

– Reported Iranian deaths since start of exchanges: more than 920 (Iranian Health Ministry). – U.S. forces deployed: ~50,000 personnel; >200 fighter jets; 2 aircraft carriers (U.S. officials). – CENTCOM/Israeli strikes reported: ~2,000 targets degraded (CENTCOM statement).

These figures, provided by official statements from involved militaries and ministries, give a sense of scale but are subject to change as independent verification and battlefield assessments continue. Casualty totals and target counts will likely be revised as investigators and humanitarian agencies gain access to affected areas.

Reactions & Quotes

International diplomacy moved quickly. China’s foreign minister urged a return to talks and said China would send an experienced envoy to the region to seek avenues for de-escalation. The comment came as Beijing expressed concern about energy-market impacts and civilian harm.

“The indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable; nonmilitary targets should not be attacked,”

Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister (official statement)

Iran’s foreign minister condemned the sinking of an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean and warned of consequences, framing the event as a grave escalation that warranted international attention. U.S. officials have acknowledged a submarine-launched torpedo struck the ship, and Sri Lankan authorities reported recovery and rescue operations.

“This is an atrocity at sea; those responsible will bitterly regret such actions,”

Abbas Araghchi, Iran Foreign Minister (post on X)

U.S. defense leaders reaffirmed partnership with Israel and stressed continued operations to protect U.S. forces and interests in the region. American and Israeli military cooperation has involved coordinated strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s missile and air-defense capabilities.

“We’re with you — go all the way,”

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary (in a call with Israel’s Defense Minister, as reported)

Unconfirmed

  • The report that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was among the casualties cited by Iranian sources is unverified by independent outlets and contradicts public appearances; this claim remains unconfirmed.
  • The IRGC’s assertion that its navy struck an American oil tanker has not been independently corroborated by U.S. or third-party maritime authorities at the time of reporting.
  • Details about the number and identities of civilian casualties at specific school sites in Iran remain incomplete and are still being verified by humanitarian groups.

Bottom Line

The conflict shows signs of broadening beyond direct Iran–Israel confrontations, with strikes and maritime incidents implicating regional states and global shipping. Energy markets and civilian safety are already being affected, while diplomatic channels — including a Chinese envoy — are being mobilized to reduce the risk of further escalation.

Absent rapid and verifiable de-escalatory steps, military operations and economic disruptions could persist, forcing allies and neutral states to make costly contingency plans. For readers, the most immediate indicators to watch are independent confirmation of casualty claims, verified damage to commercial shipping, and signals from major powers about mediation or deeper involvement.

Sources

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