Scores of people have been killed across the Middle East since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Gulf states that host U.S. military bases and personnel and Lebanon quickly drawn into the conflict.
Day: March 3, 2026
Since last year, weapons have been smuggled into Western Iran to arm thousands of Kurdish volunteers. They are expected to begin a ground operation within days -ITV News pic.twitter.com/reMYCuioR8
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 3, 2026
3/ The combined force continued to target Iranian defense industrial sites. Geolocated imagery published on March 3 shows that the combined force struck the Esfahan Optics Industry in Esfahan. The IDF separately issued an evacuation order for the Hakimiyeh Industrial Zone in northwestern Tehran. It is unclear what the IDF intends to target in this area, although many Iranian defense industrial sites are located in industrial zones.
The combined force continued to attack Iranian naval facilities to limit Iran’s ability to conduct retaliatory attacks against international shipping and US Navy vessels. An Israeli analyst published imagery of fires at the Jask Port, which is home to the Artesh Navy 2nd Naval District.
The US-Israeli combined force continued to degrade Iran’s ballistic missile and drone infrastructure in Iran. US-Israeli strikes targeted an Iranian drone facility in Kermanshah Province on March 3.[19] Satellite imagery confirms strikes on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) drone base in Mahidasht, west of Kermanshah.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 3, 2026
2/ The United States and Israel continued to attack Iranian internal security institutions. The combined force reportedly destroyed the Marivan Law Enforcement Command (LEC) Headquarters in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, on March 3. This reported attack comes after the combined force struck the Kurdistan Province LEC Headquarters in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, on March 2. The LEC is the regime’s premier internal security service and first line of defense against protests. The attacks on internal security institutions in Kurdistan Province are notable given that significant protest activity took place in this province during the 2022-2023 Mahsa Amini protest movement.
Geolocated imagery published on March 3 shows that the combined force destroyed the LEC Intelligence Organization headquarters in Tehran on March 1. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts also published videos of an explosion at an unspecified provincial intelligence headquarters in Ilam City, Ilam Province.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 3, 2026
MORE | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted strikes on key Iranian political institutions in Tehran on March 3. 🧵(1/3) ⬇️
The IDF struck the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the Presidential Office, and the Assembly of Experts building in Tehran. The SNSC is Iran’s highest national security and foreign policy decision-making body. The IDF also reportedly targeted an Assembly of Experts meeting in Qom, where the Assembly of Experts was convening to select the next Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts is an 88-member elected clerical body tasked with appointing, supervising, and — at least in theory — removing the Supreme Leader.Critical Threats (@criticalthreats)NEW | The United States and Israel continued to attack Iranian internal security and political institutions, and targeted Iranian defense industrial sites, Iranian naval facilities, and ballistic missile and drone infrastructure since CTP-ISW’s last data cutoff at 4pm on March 2.
Political Institutions: The IDF struck the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the Presidential Office, and the Assembly of Experts building in Tehran on March 3.
Internal Security: The combined force reportedly destroyed the Marivan Law Enforcement Command (LEC) Headquarters in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, on March 3, and reportedly destroyed the LEC Intelligence Organization headquarters in Tehran on March 1.
Defense Industrial: The combined force struck Esfahan Optics Industry in Esfahan. The IDF separately ordered an evacuation order for the Hakimiyeh Industrial Zone in northwestern Tehran.
Retaliatory Capabilities: The combined force continued to attack Iranian naval facilities to limit Iran’s ability to conduct retaliatory attacks against international shipping and US Navy vessels. The US-Israeli combined force continued to degrade Iran’s ballistic missile and drone infrastructure in Iran.— https://x.com/criticalthreats/status/2028921790123094362
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Mar 3, 2026
MAGA strategist details ‘utterly surreal’ escape from Middle East
thehill.com/blogs/in-the-kno…— The Hill (@thehill) Mar 3, 2026
There is nothing inherently Republican about Trump’s comfort with using American force against foreign foes. In most ways he is carrying out what Democrats say is their foreign policy, writes @wjmcgurn
on.wsj.com/4ck84aJ— Wall Street Journal Opinion (@WSJopinion) Mar 3, 2026
