Escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran

On March 5, 2026, Iranian forces launched a series of missile strikes toward Israel, triggering air raid sirens across various regions, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Israeli military activated its air defense systems to intercept the missiles, and no casualties were reported following the incident. This followed reports of Israeli military strikes on March 4 targeting military infrastructure in Tehran and other Iranian cities. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the U.S. military aimed to gain control over Iranian airspace. Other unverified reports claimed that Israeli forces deployed over 5,000 bombs against Iran and that the U.S. destroyed more than 20 vessels in naval operations. While the Israeli military noted a decreasing trend in Iranian missile launches prior to the March 5 activity, they had briefly signaled a relaxation of domestic restrictions before the latest alerts. Residents were instructed to take shelter during the attacks, and the military eventually lifted the emergency warnings.