Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, said U.S. forces will “flee the region,” Fars News Agency reported. U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian infrastructure, including trade crossings, petrochemical plants, and the Bushehr nuclear facility.

Two U.S. aircraft went down, one crew member rescued and one missing. Iran’s oil exports from Kharg Island reportedly increased. Injuries and infrastructure damage were reported in Israel and the UAE.

Italy and Saudi Arabia discussed defensive measures amid the ongoing conflict. Pentagon data showed 365 U.S. service members wounded and 13 killed. Iranian authorities executed two members of the exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, bringing the total executions to six since the war began.

A pro-Israel center in Nijkerk, Netherlands, was hit by an overnight explosion Friday, causing minor damage and no injuries. Police said a person in black placed the device. Christians for Israel called the attack part of a “worrying pattern” of incidents in the Netherlands and Belgium targeting Jewish and pro-Israeli sites since late February. Similar attacks included synagogue bombings in Liège and Rotterdam, arson in London and Antwerp, and a Jewish school in Amsterdam. Authorities are investigating, with no arrests made. Security officials are increasing protection for vulnerable sites amid ongoing concerns over antisemitic violence linked to regional Middle East tensions.

Iran warned Israel that any attack on its diplomatic centers would make Israeli embassies in the region legitimate targets, stressing a rapid response. Tehran continues diplomatic engagement with Arab countries over regional security. The Revolutionary Guard denied involvement in attacks on the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, attributing them to Israel. Türkiye confirmed the passage of a second ship through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing negotiations for additional vessels. Russian officials criticized U.S. and Israeli actions, citing increased regional instability and energy disruptions. Iranian officials reiterated that strikes would target aggressors while maintaining dialogue with neighboring states.

Tehran says it will determine outcome of any incursion.

A Ria Novosti report cited an Iranian diplomatic source warning that Tehran would determine the outcome of any U.S. ground operation.

The statement follows remarks by President Donald Trump about potential strikes and comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that no military options are ruled out.

Iran has increased military readiness and reinforced key sites, while diplomatic tensions continue at the UN over a Strait of Hormuz resolution. Israeli strikes in Iran and Lebanon and Hezbollah’s retaliatory attacks highlight the widening regional conflict, now in its sixth week.

There will be no swift end to the war. On Friday, Israel's broadcasting authority reported that Israeli officials estimate the war against Iran will continue for at least two more weeks, with the objectives set by the United States and Israel requiring President Donald Trump's approval before they can be executed — a process that demands additional time to complete.

The announcement came on the same evening that Israel declared it would launch a broad strike against Tehran. Shortly after, Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the sound of fighter jets was heard over the Iranian capital and that Tehran's air defense systems had been activated to intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. The agency also reported that the sound of several large explosions was heard over the city.

 The weight of a war now five weeks old pressed down on three capitals simultaneously on Friday. In Washington, the Pentagon unveiled the largest defense budget request in American history. In Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched its 93rd wave of missiles and drones toward Israel. And in Baghdad, authorities extended the closure of Iraqi airspace for another week — three decisions, taken within hours of one another, that together chart the deepening trajectory of a conflict that has remade the Middle East since it began on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

On Friday, an A-10 Warthog attack plane crashed near the Strait of Hormuz and fell into the waters of the Gulf, becoming the latest in a string of American aircraft losses that has deepened concern about the sustainability of Washington's air campaign against Iran.

The pilot status is still uncertain as search operations continue. The loss of the A-10 came at almost the same moment that a separate and graver crisis was unfolding over Iranian skies.

U.S. officials are conducting a high-risk rescue mission to recover a missing airman after an F-15E was shot down over Iran. One crew member has been rescued, while the second remains unaccounted for. Former envoy Brett McGurk warned Iran could seek to capture the serviceman for leverage. Iranian media has urged citizens to report the pilot, offering incentives. Two U.S. rescue helicopters came under fire during recovery operations, with injuries reported but no fatalities. President Donald Trump declined to specify potential U.S. actions if the airman is harmed. The incident comes amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, with no immediate ceasefire in sight.

Türkiye, Russia, and Egypt intensify efforts to contain rising tensions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israel’s regional policies must be halted, according to a Turkish Presidency statement.

He reiterated Türkiye’s opposition to attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes.

In Moscow, Russian and Egyptian foreign ministers called for de-escalation and emphasized diplomatic coordination to prevent wider conflict.

Egypt said it is working with regional partners, including Türkiye and Pakistan, to advance peaceful solutions, while Russia warned of risks to maritime security and urged a return to negotiations.

Targeted Israeli and U.S. strikes have killed senior Iranian leaders, including Ali Larijani, but the country’s hard-line government remains in place, according to reporting by The Washington Post. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of further strikes on infrastructure if no deal is reached. Officials and analysts say Iran has continued retaliatory attacks on regional and U.S. targets, demonstrating sustained command and control. Tehran’s demands, including control over the Strait of Hormuz, have hardened, while prospects for a near-term negotiated settlement remain limited.