United States and Israel intensify aerial campaign as regional conflict expands to Azerbaijan and the Indian Ocean

US and Israel launch 11th wave of strikes as Iran retaliates in Qatar, UAE, and Azerbaijan. The death toll reaches 1,200 as the Strait of Hormuz is closed.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 7:05 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from India Today News Desk

Escalation of aerial strikes and deeper targets

The joint military operation led by the United States and Israel has launched its eleventh wave of air strikes, resulting in fresh explosions across Tehran. The administration of President Donald Trump has issued a formal warning to the Iranian leadership, indicating an intent to strike targets located deeper within the country. These developments coincide with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah command centers in Beirut, Lebanon, which have reportedly resulted in eight deaths. The intensifying campaign aims to neutralize the strategic infrastructure of both the Iranian regime and its regional proxies.

Geographic expansion to the Caucasus and Gulf

The six day old war has significantly broadened its geographic scope, with Azerbaijan becoming the first country in the Caucasus region to be directly targeted. A drone strike in Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, hit an airport building and injured two individuals. Simultaneously, Iran has continued its retaliatory barrage across the Persian Gulf. Defense systems in Qatar intercepted a large scale missile attack over Doha, while the United Arab Emirates reported repelling drone strikes in Abu Dhabi. Despite the successful interceptions, falling shrapnel in the UAE injured six people.

Naval warfare and the Strait of Hormuz

The conflict has extended into critical maritime corridors, beginning with a United States submarine torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, an engagement that resulted in 87 fatalities. In a retaliatory move, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck an American oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. Crucially, Tehran has asserted full control over the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the vital chokepoint to international oil and gas exports. This maritime blockade presents a significant threat to global energy stability and supply chains.