What we know on day four of US-Israeli attacks on Iran

Washington has warned that ‘harder hits’ are still to come, as Tehran retaliates by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on US and allied targets across the region.Published On 3 Mar 2026The Middle East is facing a sharp escalation after a series of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran triggered retaliatory strikes and widening violence across the region.In Iran, key government and symbolic sites in Tehran have been struck, including the state broadcaster and a UNESCO World Heritage landmark, while the death toll has topped 600 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Washington has warned that “harder hits” are still to come, as Tehran escalates retaliatory attacks by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on US and allied targets across the region, including attacks on energy facilities.Here’s where things stand.In Iran Key sites damaged in Tehran: Recent strikes in the capital have hit the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) complex. The strikes have also damaged the historic Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further escalation expected: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the “hardest hits” on Iran are “yet to come”. Ongoing military actions: Trump stated that attacks on Iran will persist until all US objectives are met. US and Israeli justifications: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, stating they are designed to cripple Iran’s navy and end its nuclear and missile ambitions. Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps have declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening to set fire to any vessel attempting to pass. Death toll: More than 600 people have been killed in Iran, notably including Supreme Leader Khamenei. Additionally, Iranian state media reported that a US-Israeli strike hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people. In Gulf nations