The ongoing combined US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and its Axis of Resistance proxies focuses on degrading Iran’s ballistic missile and retaliatory capabilities to avoid depleting interceptor stockpiles.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have highlighted the goal of significantly weakening Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Key Takeaways

• The US-Israeli strikes prioritize destroying Iranian ballistic missile launchers (around 300 eliminated since the conflict began on February 28), contributing to a sharp decline in missile attacks on Israel and the UAE.
• Israeli forces targeted high-level Iranian decision-making institutions in Tehran on March 3, including the Assembly of Experts building, aiming to disrupt governance and undermine regime legitimacy under Velayat-e Faqih.
• Iranian leadership has delegated powers to provincial governors to sustain government operations amid losses of senior officials and central institutions.
• Strikes continue on sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including weaponization research facilities.
• Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes on US positions and facilities in Gulf countries, prompting closures of at least two US embassies.
• US and Israeli forces struck Iranian-backed Iraqi militias on March 2-3 to limit their ability to attack US forces and Israel.

Toplines

The campaign has destroyed approximately 300 Iranian ballistic missile launchers since February 28, leading to fewer missile barrages against Israel (six on March 3, matching March 2 but far below the 20+ on February 28). A ballistic missile with a cluster munition warhead struck near Tel Aviv on March 3, injuring 12 people. Overall Iranian missile attacks on Israel since the war’s start have killed at least 11 and injured over 1,000. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted over 100 drones. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on March 3 that the central government has devolved decision-making authority to provincial governors for efficiency during the conflict.

Iran launched drone strikes on US facilities in Gulf states, including the US Consulate in Dubai (causing a fire but no casualties) on March 3, following strikes on the US Embassy in Riyadh (one reportedly hitting a CIA station) and in Kuwait on March 2. These incidents led to embassy closures. Earlier, Iran struck Camp Arifjan in Kuwait on March 1, killing six US service members.

US and Israeli Air Campaign

US forces have struck over 1,700 Iranian targets since February 28, with CENTCOM confirming B-52 bomber operations in Iran on March 3. The IAF conducted 1,600 sorties into Iran, dropping over 4,000 munitions—equivalent to the total in the June 2025 12-day war.

Strikes hit nuclear-related sites, including the “Minzadehei” compound in Tehran Province for weaponization research and Natanz Nuclear Facility (damage to underground Fuel Enrichment Plant entrance confirmed by IAEA satellite imagery, no radiological release). Combined forces achieved air superiority over Tehran by March 2 and destroyed Iranian radars (e.g., at Imam Khomeini International Airport and Kish Island) and airbases (runway craters at Tabriz’s 2nd Tactical Airbase, damage at Shiraz’s 7th Tactical Airbase).

Additional targets included underground facilities at Parchin Military Complex (linked to past nuclear explosives testing), missile bases in Haji Abad, Kermanshah, and near Tehran, and component production sites (e.g., chemical plants for solid-fuel materials).

Internal Security

Strikes targeted IRGC and border guard sites in northwestern Iran (Urmia, Marivan, Oshnavieh). The regime imposed checkpoints around Tehran, maintained a nationwide internet blackout, and sent intimidation messages to journalists to control information flow.

Iranian Retaliation

Iran directed more drones toward Gulf Arab states (due to proximity and easier targeting) than Israel. UAE reported intercepting most of 186 ballistic missiles and 812 drones; similar defensive actions occurred in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Axis of Resistance Response

US/Israeli strikes hit Iraqi militia sites, including Kataib Hezbollah depots and PMF 30th Brigade headquarters. Iraqi militias vowed continued attacks on US forces, claiming over 27 operations on March 3 using drones and missiles (mostly against bases in Iraq and the region). Houthis condemned Israeli actions in Lebanon but launched no attacks.

Lebanon

Hezbollah carried out nine attacks on March 3 (anti-tank missiles, rockets, drones targeting IDF positions and bases in northern Israel and Golan Heights). Most were intercepted. Israel killed senior IRGC Quds Force commander Daoud Ali Zada in Lebanon. IDF struck ~60 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces advanced to prevent direct fire on northern towns, mirroring Fall 2024 operations; a larger ground incursion remains possible. Lebanese Armed Forces withdrew from over 50 southern border positions for safety. Lebanon’s Cabinet declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal on March 2 and demanded disarmament.

Other Activity

President Trump directed the International Development Finance Corporation to offer insurance and guarantees to shipping lines, potentially including US escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has dropped 80% amid Iranian attacks on vessels since February 28.

A related map tracks Iranian and Axis retaliatory strikes from March 2 (4:00 PM ET) to March 3 (4:00 PM ET).

Rewritten based on the original reporting by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute, published March 3, 2026.