Highlights of the US-Israel-Iran war: As tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran rose, the conflict entered its eighth day. Israel launched a new wave of attacks and explosions at one of Tehran’s main commercial airports, where eyewitnesses said planes were burning on the tarmac.
The confrontation, which began on February 28 with an attack in Tehran, has expanded beyond airstrikes to include naval activity in the Indian Ocean and drone strikes across the Gulf. US President Donald Trump said there will be “no deal” with Iran except an “unconditional surrender”, adding that after any capitulation, the country should elect a new leader acceptable to his administration.
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‘MIGA’ ultimatum
In a definitive hardening of the US stance, President Donald Trump declared via Truth Social that diplomatic negotiations are off the table until the Iranian regime agrees to an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that… we will work tirelessly to pull Iran back from the abyss… making it economically bigger, better and stronger than ever. MAKE THEM GREAT AGAIN (CRUMB!),” Trump posted.
The president further escalated the rhetoric by urging Iranian Kurdish forces to open an internal front against the central government, signaling a strategy aimed at the total collapse of the regime.
Naval escalation: “Silent death” off Sri Lanka
The geographic scope of the war expanded significantly following a rare submarine engagement in the Indian Ocean. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US Navy submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka.
- Damaged: At least 87 sailors are confirmed dead.
- Rescue: 32 survivors were rescued by Sri Lankan naval units and admitted to hospitals in Galle.
- Context: Hegseth characterized the attack as a “silent death,” marking the first time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War II.
In this rapidly evolving kinetic environment, The Indian Express Global Desk prioritizes official military reports from the IDF and CENTCOM, corroborated by satellite intelligence. All casualty figures are attributed to specific reporting agencies. Given the unstable situation in Tehran and the Gulf, we advise readers to strictly follow the government’s official travel advisories.
