Dubai, March 5: The Israel-Iran conflict exploded into its fourth day with relentless airstrikes, drone assaults, and a full shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, crippling global energy flows and stranding ships—including dozens with Indian crews.
Israel hammered Iranian missile factories and launchers in Tehran and Isfahan, while Iran fired back across the Gulf. Explosions lit up Tehran and Lebanon, where Israel targeted Hezbollah hideouts. Even the US embassy in Riyadh took a hit from drones, sparking a small fire; the one in Kuwait shut down too.
Hundreds dead—mostly in Iran, where an internet blackout hides the full toll. President Trump, who predicted a weeks-long war, isn’t ruling out US ground troops. His goals: demolish Iran’s missiles and navy, block nukes, and cut support for proxies like Hezbollah.
Overnight blasts shook Iran’s capital, with Israeli jets roaring overhead. State TV reported hits on a broadcast site (no casualties). The UN’s nuclear watchdog confirmed damage at Natanz but no radiation risk—echoing last year’s strikes that gutted Iran’s program. PM Netanyahu claims underground bomb labs are back; Iran insists its nukes are peaceful and paused.
A terrified Tehran resident messaged AP before dawn: A massive blast rocked his building, smoke billowed, shops shuttered in Tajrish, ATMs empty amid economic meltdown and official mourning for slain Supreme Leader Khamenei.
Iran’s Red Crescent tallies 787 dead there; Israel reports 11 from missiles, Lebanon 52 from Israeli replies. US lost 6 troops; 3 in UAE, 1 each in Kuwait/Bahrain. Iran hit Amazon data centers, Qatar/Saudi energy sites, and ships in Hormuz—now declared closed. “Any ship passing gets torched,” warned a Revolutionary Guard general. Oil/gas prices skyrocketed; stocks tanked.
Qatar vows revenge on attacks; Hezbollah missiles prompted Israeli troops into southern Lebanon (UN saw them enter/exit).
“Too late for talks,” Trump posted on Truth Social, boasting Iran’s leadership is “gone” and teasing a “big wave” of strikes. SecState Marco Rubio called it pre-emptive self-defense. Trump floated Reza Pahlavi as a post-war leader option.
37 Indian ships with 1,109 crew stuck in the Persian Gulf/Oman due to Hormuz closure—some hauling oil/LNG to India. Shipping Ministry’s quick-response team is monitoring, with helplines active. Three Indians killed, one hurt on foreign vessels; firms urged caution.
