What Happened
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched fresh waves of missile and drone strikes against targets in Israel (including Tel Aviv and Kiryat Shmona) and against US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, as fighting on Day 26 of the US-Israel campaign against Iran continued.
- Israel struck Tehran in retaliation, with the scale of explosions described as "unprecedented" in the Iranian capital's recent history; the IRGC's Malek-Ashtar military complex in Tehran had already been destroyed earlier in the conflict.
- The conflict began on 28 February 2026 with joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile facilities, and senior military leadership; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in early strikes.
- US President Donald Trump stated the US is negotiating to end the war, while simultaneously threatening to "unleash hell" if Iran does not accept a deal; Iran says it is reviewing a 15-point US ceasefire plan but categorically denies entering into direct negotiations.
- Over 82,000 civilian structures in Iran have been damaged or destroyed per the Iranian Red Crescent; civilian casualties are estimated in the thousands, with competing figures from different monitoring bodies.
Static Topic Bridges
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
The IRGC (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enghelab-e Eslami) is a branch of Iran's armed forces established in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution, distinct from the regular Iranian Army (Artesh). It was created to protect the revolutionary government and has since evolved into a parallel military-economic-political power structure. The IRGC controls Iran's ballistic missile programme, its proxy militia network (the "Axis of Resistance" — Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Iraqi militias), and significant portions of Iran's economy. The US designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 2019.
- Established: 1979 (following the Islamic Revolution)
- Branches: IRGC Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Quds Force (external operations), Basij (paramilitary)
- Quds Force: specialised external operations arm that manages proxy relationships — previously commanded by General Qasem Soleimani (killed in US drone strike, January 2020)
- IRGC designated as FTO by the US: April 2019
- Controls an estimated 10–15% of Iran's GDP through affiliated commercial enterprises
- Manages Iran's ballistic missile arsenal: estimated 3,000+ missiles of various ranges
Connection to this news: The IRGC is the operational backbone of Iran's military response — its missile strikes on Israeli cities and US regional bases, as well as its control of the Hormuz corridor, all flow through IRGC command structures rather than Iran's regular army.
Iran's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programme
Iran's nuclear programme has been a central axis of global diplomacy since the early 2000s. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — signed by Iran, the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, Germany), and the EU — placed limits on uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. The US withdrew from JCPOA in 2018 under President Trump; Iran progressively walked back its commitments. By 2024–25, Iran had enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade (60–84% purity). The IAEA had repeatedly flagged Iran's non-cooperation with inspections. Iran's ballistic missile programme — outside JCPOA's scope — has produced missiles with ranges exceeding 2,000 km, capable of reaching Israel.
- JCPOA signed: July 14, 2015 (Vienna)
- US withdrawal from JCPOA: May 8, 2018
- Iran's uranium enrichment pre-conflict: up to ~60–84% (weapons-grade requires ~90%)
- Iran's ballistic missile range capability: Shahab-3 (~2,000 km), Khorramshahr (~3,000 km+)
- IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency — Vienna-based UN body; India is a member
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Iran is a signatory; India, Pakistan, Israel are not
- The US-Israel strikes specifically targeted uranium enrichment sites and missile storage facilities
Connection to this news: The US-Israeli military campaign is framed explicitly around dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile programme, making the JCPOA's collapse and Iran's subsequent enrichment activity the foundational cause of the current conflict.
US Military Presence and Alliances in the Gulf
The United States maintains a large forward military presence in the Persian Gulf and surrounding region through bilateral defence agreements with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Key bases include Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar — largest US overseas air base), Ali Al Salem Air Base (Kuwait), and various naval facilities. The US Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain. This regional presence serves as a deterrent and power-projection platform. The conflict has expanded to US bases as Iran's proxy groups and IRGC attack these installations to raise the cost of US involvement.
- US Fifth Fleet: headquartered in Manama, Bahrain — oversees naval operations in Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, East African coast
- Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar: largest US overseas air base, ~10,000+ personnel
- US troop deployment in Middle East during this conflict: 50,000+, including 82nd Airborne and Marine Expeditionary Units; 2 aircraft carriers, 200 combat aircraft
- GCC members: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman
- Iran's Axis of Resistance proxy groups: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Houthis (Yemen), Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Hamas (Gaza)
- Indian nationals in Gulf: approximately 8.9 million (largest diaspora community); India's top remittance-source region
Connection to this news: Iranian IRGC strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain represent an attempt to impose a regional cost on US military presence, triggering concerns about a wider regional war that could further disrupt shipping and put Indian nationals living in Gulf countries at risk.
Key Facts & Data
- US-Israel military campaign against Iran began: 28 February 2026
- Day of conflict covered in this article: Day 26 (March 25–26, 2026)
- Iranian Red Crescent estimate of damaged/destroyed civilian structures: 82,000+
- US troop deployment in the region: 50,000+ (2 aircraft carriers, 200 combat aircraft)
- IRGC established: 1979; designated FTO by USA: April 2019
- JCPOA signed: July 2015; US withdrew: May 2018
- Qasem Soleimani (Quds Force commander) killed: January 3, 2020 (US drone strike, Baghdad)
- Iran's uranium enrichment level pre-conflict: ~60–84%
- Indian nationals in Gulf region: approximately 8.9 million
- US Fifth Fleet HQ: Bahrain