In a dramatic escalation of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran that commenced on Feb. 28, the U.S. military on Wednesday confirmed that an American submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena—reportedly returning from participation in multinational naval exercises—off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.
At least 87 sailors were killed and 32 rescued, while 61 remain missing, as of the latest reports. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth highlighted the sinking during a Pentagon press briefing, calling it the first such submarine sinking by an American vessel since World War II. He stressed that U.S. forces “will take all the time we need to win” against Iran’s military apparatus, further claiming more than 20 Iranian naval vessels had been destroyed in the conflict thus far.
Devastating airstrikes
Joint U.S.-Israeli air operations continue to pound military and infrastructure targets across Iran, as Tehran’s forces respond with hundreds of missiles and drones launched toward Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf states, many of which have been intercepted by regional air defenses.
In the past six days, the U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 civilians in Iran, according to rights groups, with at least 5,000 injured across multiple urban centers. A devastating strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab alone reportedly killed 165–180 students and wounded dozens more. Unverified reports suggest the total Iranian deaths may have crossed 1,500 though it is difficult to obtain precise figures of the losses incurred during the conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States has confirmed the killing of six service members in Iranian counter-attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East. It has also suffered extensive damage to facilities and bases across the Gulf, with cost estimates ranging in the billions of dollars.
Across the Gulf, Lebanon has reported the deaths of 52 people and 154 injuries amid ongoing Hezbollah-Israel exchanges; the U.A.E. has reported at least three civilians killed and 58 injured in Iranian strikes around Abu Dhabi and Dubai; and Israel has claimed at least a dozen killed, with scores injured as Iranian missiles and rockets are intercepted. Iran has also staged strikes on Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, though exact casualty figures remain fluid.
Overall, per one Al Jazeera analysis, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones in retaliation, with many engaged or destroyed by allied defenses.
Peace efforts
In Washington, Defense Secretary Hegseth’s press conference underscored the Pentagon’s position that the conflict is not open-ended and aimed at clear military objectives rather than indefinite war. He also addressed U.S. casualties and reiterated that strikes including the submarine attack show U.S. reach and determination.
Amidst this, members of Congress have debated authorizing or restraining further military actions, with bipartisan pressure mounting on the White House to pursue diplomatic avenues and potential ceasefire negotiations. Reports indicate some lawmakers are drafting measures aimed at compelling diplomatic talks or restricting funding for prolonged operations, though none have been enacted yet.
International calls for de-escalation, including from U.N. officials and European capitals, continue, but there appears little appetite from either the U.S., Israel or Iran for a détente. Tehran has explicitly stated it will continue offensive operations as long as U.S.-Israeli strikes persist.
The conflict has already widened to include Hezbollah rocket strikes into northern Israel, intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles toward Turkiye, and repeated drone/missile engagements across the Gulf, prompting evacuation advisories from multiple Western embassies. However, Iran has denied firing any missile toward Turkiye, insisting it respects Turkiye’s sovereignty.
The ongoing conflict has roiled oil and gas markets, with global energy prices edging higher as strategic waterways and trade routes remain under tension.