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Last Updated:March 07, 2026, 13:58 IST
The confrontation, which began on February 28, has expanded beyond aerial attacks to include naval activity in the Indian Ocean and drone strikes across the Gulf.
Smoke rises from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. (AFP)
West Asia Conflict: The US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its second week on Saturday, with Washington vowing “the biggest bombing campaign" against Tehran tonight, as the latter launched fresh missile strikes on the military bases of the two countries in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Israel launched a new wave of strikes and explosions reported at one of Tehran’s main commercial airports, where planes were seen burning on the tarmac. The Israeli forces said that they have hit over 400 targets in Iran today, including ballistic missile launchers and UAV storage facilities.
The confrontation, which began on February 28 with a strike in Tehran, has expanded beyond aerial attacks to include naval activity in the Indian Ocean and drone strikes across the Gulf.
Eight days in, the war is widening on every front. Here are the top updates.
Biggest Bombing Campaign
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday (local time) said that Washington would be launching its largest bombing campaign against Tehran targeting missile launchers and production facilities in Iran.
“Tonight would be our biggest bombing campaign and we will do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles. We are substantially degrading them and our campaign has been overwhelming," Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.
He further said the US attack will “do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles, and we are substantially degrading them."
Iranian President’s Apology To Neighbours
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring Gulf countries that were targeted in recent Iranian attacks, saying Tehran would avoid striking regional states unless assaults on Iran originated from their territory.
“Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries," Pezeshkian was quoted by Iran as saying.
He further said that Tehran would never surrender to Israel and the United States. Iran’s enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV.
Israel Hits Iran’s Mehrabad Airport
Explosions were heard in Tehran hours after dramatic footage showed the city’s Mehrabad airport in flames. The Israel Defense Forces said it used more than 80 fighter jets to carry out a “broad-scale wave of strikes" on Iran, which it said targeted military infrastructure, including a military university and missile launch sites.
“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a broad-scale wave of strikes" on government targets in the Iranian capital, according to an Israeli military statement.
Eye-witnesses said the explosions were intense, with large plumes of smoke emerging from the site. Many others reported explosions round the Iranian city of Kermanshah, which is home to several missile bases, according to a report by news agency AP.
Additionally, a video posted by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday showed the damage at a sports center in south Tehran.
Fresh Iranian Strikes On Tel Aviv
Meanwhile, Tehran launched a wave of strikes on Israel. One of Israel’s major hospitals reported finding shrapnel fragments in their emergency department plaza on Saturday, after Israeli authorities reported overnight attacks by Iran and Lebanon.
“Following the barrages toward Tel Aviv tonight, shrapnel fragments were found in the emergency department plaza of the Ichilov Medical Center," the hospital said in a statement.
Staff and patients had sheltered in protected areas, as instructed by Israeli authorities, it added – resulting in no injuries or damage.
Early Saturday morning, Lebanon had fired drones and Iran had launched missiles at Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said earlier.
Operations Hit At Dubai Airport
Explosions were heard in Dubai on Saturday, forcing the suspension of flights at the city’s airport, the second busiest in the world.
The government said it had activated air defenses, even as passengers waiting for flights out of Dubai found themselves ushered down into train tunnels at the sprawling airfield after the alert sounded. A witness also told AFP that an explosion was heard over the airport followed by a cloud of smoke in the air. Several residents told The Associated Press about explosions across the city.
Emirates said that “all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice". Customers who booked to travel between February 28 till March 31 were given options to rebook or request for a refund.
Saudi Arabia Repels 16 Drones
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed 16 drones heading toward one of the largest oil fields in the Middle East, Shaybah, in the early hours of Saturday, according to the kingdom’s defense ministry on X.
The ministry did not elaborate on the origin of those drones.
Shaybah field, located in the remote Empty Quarter desert with few residents, is a massive oil and gas field with crude production of one million barrels per day, according to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned petroleum firm Aramco, the field’s operator.
Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia Against Iran
Pakistan has signalled strong strategic support for Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions with Iran, as the country’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, held high-level security talks with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed what Saudi officials described as Iranian attacks and aggressions against the kingdom and explored measures to counter them within the framework of the existing strategic defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Trump Demands ‘Unconditional Surrender’
Earlier on Friday, in a definitive hardening of the US stance, US 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 bring Iran back from the brink… making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)," Trump posted.
The US President further intensified the rhetoric by urging Iranian Kurdish forces to open a domestic front against the central government, signaling a strategy aimed at total regime collapse.
The latest developments come amid unrest in West Asia after Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28, as negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme faltered.
(With inputs from agencies)
First Published:
March 07, 2026, 13:58 IST
News world US Warns ‘Biggest Bombing Campaign’ Against Iran As West Asia War Enters 2nd Week | Top Updates
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