Escalation in Iran War: US-Israel Strikes Hit Air Defenses and Defense Sites as Proxies Fire Back
ISW-CTP’s latest update chronicles a fast-escalating conflict: the US-Israel campaign claims thousands of targets hit since Feb. 28, with the IDF reporting 170 targets struck in the last 24 hours and claims of destroying over 80% of Iran’s air defenses, including strikes on defense-industrial sites that likely degrade missiles and drones. The United States says about 150 Iranian vessels have been destroyed; NATO air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile over Turkey. Iran and its proxies conducted counterstrikes across the Gulf region and into Iraq and Lebanon, including drone and missile attacks linked to the Houthis, Iraqi militias, and Hezbollah, alongside cross-border incidents near Kuwait and Haifa. The IAEA confirmed on March 29 that strikes on the Arak heavy-water reactor rendered the facility inoperable. Reports also note the deployment of PMF fighters to western Iran and continued strikes on key Iranian bases and industrial sites, signaling a multi-domain escalation and widespread regional disruption.
