★ IRAN

1. Trump Signals Possible Escalation In Iran Conflict, Leaves Troop Option Open

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States “hasn’t even started hitting them hard” in the conflict with Iran and declined to rule out deploying ground troops, while Axios reported Trump held phone calls on March 1 with Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Bafel Talabani to discuss the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran and regional developments.

2. CENTCOM Commander Reports U.S. Strikes Degrading Iranian Military

U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said more than 50,000 U.S. troops, 200 fighter aircraft, two aircraft carriers, and U.S. strategic bombers are participating in operations against Iran, reporting nearly 2,000 targets struck with more than 2,000 munitions, severe degradation of Iranian air defenses, destruction of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones, cruise missile strikes from two carrier strike groups, deep bomber strikes on missile facilities, 17 Iranian naval vessels destroyed, and Iranian retaliation involving more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones.

3. Iran Launches 1,400 Missiles And Drones Across Gulf In Four Days

Iranian attacks across Gulf states during the first four days of the war included 186 ballistic missiles and 812 drones directed at the United Arab Emirates, 97 missiles and 283 drones toward Kuwait, 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones intercepted by Qatar, 61 missiles and 34 drones intercepted by Bahrain, at least eight drones intercepted by Saudi Arabia, several drones striking Oman’s Duqm port, and more than 70 missiles and drones targeting Erbil in northern Iraq.

4. Report: Mojtaba Khamenei Chosen as Iran’s Supreme Leader

Opposition-linked Iran International reported Tuesday that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei—killed in the opening strike of Operation “Roar of the Lion”—was selected as Iran’s new supreme leader. The decision followed a strike on the Assembly of Experts’ meeting site. Mojtaba holds no official post and is accused of aiding in recent crackdowns on protests.

5. IRGC Claims Control Of Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Route

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy has full control of the Strait of Hormuz and warned vessels transiting the waterway risk damage from missiles or drones, while U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy is prepared to escort oil tankers through the strategic Gulf route.

6. China Urges Iran Keep Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Open

China urged Iran not to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or target energy exports from Qatar as conflict threatens global supply chains, while Asian buyers moved to secure alternative LNG supplies after Qatar halted production at Ras Laffan following an Iranian drone attack.

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★ ISRAEL

7. Israel Strikes Iranian Clerics While Voting For Next Ayatollah

Israeli airstrikes hit a building housing Iran’s Council of Experts in Qom as clerics were counting votes to select a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Israeli officials, while reports said more than 40 senior Iranian leaders have been killed since the start of the U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s political and military leadership.

8. Iran Missile Barrage Triggers Sirens Across Israel As War Intensifies

Iran fired ballistic missiles toward Israel, triggering sirens in Jerusalem, central and southern Israel, while Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon that damaged buildings in the northern town of Hatzor Haglilit, as Israel ordered evacuations in dozens of villages in southern Lebanon and carried out strikes on Basij and internal security headquarters in Tehran.

9. Israel Issues Threat to Khamenei’s Successor

Israel has reportedly issued a “kill threat” against the successor of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in response to a strike on Tehran. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that any new leader advancing Iran’s attacks on Israel, the U.S., or regional allies would be a “clear target” for elimination, with the military ready to act alongside U.S. partners as part of Operation “Roar of the Lion.”

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★IRAQ

10. Drone Targets U.S. Victoria Base At Baghdad International Airport

A security source said a drone targeted Victoria base, the U.S. logistics support center inside Baghdad International Airport, on Wednesday without causing injuries, after air defense systems at the base intercepted and shot down a drone Sunday night before it approached the perimeter, while Iraqi Shiite factions have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against American bases in Iraq and the region.

11. Basra Crude Prices Rise As War Threatens Regional Oil Supplies

Basra Heavy and Basra Medium crude prices rose alongside Brent and West Texas Intermediate as escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz increased concerns about regional supply stability and global oil flows, prompting investors and traders to reassess risks to energy markets.

12. Drones, Rockets, And Airstrikes Escalate Attacks On U.S. Sites Iraq

Iraqi authorities shot down a drone targeting the U.S. consulate and Erbil International Airport. Security forces seized a launcher with nine rockets prepared to strike Baghdad International Airport in Abu Ghraib. American Airstrikes hit Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces sites in Diyala and Al-Qaim. Iranian drones also struck a camp of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Koya, injuring at least one person.

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★LEBANON

13. Hezbollah Claims Thirteen Attacks Against Israeli Forces Across Northern Front

Hezbollah said it conducted 13 operations against Israeli forces on March 3, including guided-missile strikes on at least five Israeli tanks, rocket and drone attacks on multiple bases in northern Israel and the Golan Heights, a strike targeting Israel’s Haifa naval base, and an attack on Israeli forces gathered near Yuval along the Lebanon border, while the group also claimed it downed an Israeli drone over Nabatiyeh.

14. Israeli Airstrikes Target Building in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

The Israeli Army conducted airstrikes on Wednesday morning on a building in the Hadath area of Beirut’s southern suburbs, following prior strikes on Haret Hreik, Hazmieh, Baalbek, and southern towns including Tyre, Kounine, and Sarifa. 

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★THE GULF

15. Qatar Arrests Ten In IRGC-Linked Espionage, Sabotage Networks

Qatari authorities said they dismantled two networks linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and arrested 10 suspects accused of espionage and sabotage, with seven gathering intelligence on military and critical sites and three preparing attacks after drone training, while officials said two Iranian ballistic missiles were fired toward Qatar, one intercepted and one striking Al Udeid Air Base without casualties.

16. Gulf Air Defenses Intercept Over 1,800 Iranian Missiles, Drones

Gulf air defenses intercepted more than 465 missiles and 1,414 drones launched by Iran during four days of attacks targeting cities, infrastructure, and diplomatic facilities across the Gulf, including drone strikes on U.S. embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait, missile interceptions over Doha, and additional drone and missile threats reported in Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait, according to regional defense authorities and Gulf Cooperation Council officials.

17. Saudi Arabia Intercepts Nine Drones, Two Cruise Missiles Overhead

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said air defenses intercepted and destroyed nine drones after they entered Saudi airspace and later shot down two cruise missiles over Al-Kharj Governorate southeast of Riyadh, according to spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki, while the Saudi Cabinet said the Kingdom would take all necessary measures to defend its territory and condemned Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, GCC states, and Jordan.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.