Trump says we're 'blowing up the whole country' if Iran doesn't make deal in 48 hours

Two C-130 aircraft were lost during the operation, an official said.

ByDavid Brennan, Emily Shapiro, Meredith Deliso, Jon Haworth, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: April 6, 2026, 1:24 AM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 31, 2026, 4:01 AM EDT

CENTCOM commander visits Israel

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel from March 29-30, CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Adm. Cooper met with Israel Defense Forces chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to discuss "progress made during ongoing operations to eliminate Iran's ability to project power in meaningful ways outside its borders," while emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Israeli defense partnership, Hawkins said.

Adm. Cooper also visited with U.S. servicemembers during his trip to Israel, recognizing more than 40 service members for "exceptional performance" during the opening weeks of Operation Epic Fury, the statement said.

A screengrab from a video released March 30, 2026, shows what the U.S. Central Command says is an Iranian aircraft at an unknown location right before being struck.
Centcom Via X/CENTCOM via X via Reuters

-ABC News' Alex Ederson

Mar 31, 2026, 3:28 AM EDT

Missile attack reported in central Israel

Israeli authorities reported a missile attack in central Israel on Tuesday.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a post to X that military emergency responders had been dispatched "to scenes where reports of impacts have been received in the center of the country."

Israel's national emergency service, the Magen David Adom, said its teams were "on scene in central Israel following a missile attack. Minor injuries reported."

Smoke rises after debris from an incoming projectile that was intercepted fell on Tel Aviv's seaside promenade, on March 31, 2026.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
Mar 31, 2026, 2:41 AM EDT

Fire on attacked Kuwaiti tanker extinguished, Dubai authorities say

Authorities in Dubai said emergency responders extinguished a fire involving a Kuwaiti oil tanker in the emirate's waters, which burned for several hours following a drone attack.

The incident began after a drone struck the vessel, identified as Anchorage "E." Maritime firefighting teams were deployed to bring the fire under control, the Dubai Media Office said in posts to social media.

Damage to the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi crude oil tanker, following a reported strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, March 31, 2026.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation/via Reuters

Officials said no injuries were reported and all 24 crew members aboard the tanker were accounted for.

-ABC News' Jason Volack and Joe Simonetti

Mar 30, 2026, 7:29 PM EDT

Tanker struck by 'unknown projectile' off Dubai coast: UKMTO

A tanker was struck by an "unknown projectile" off the coast of Dubai on Monday, sparking a fire, according to a maritime security alert.

The incident occurred about 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre.

A Kuwaiti crude oil tanker was damaged in the strike, according to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The tanker was fully loaded at the time, the company said. 

All crew members are safe, and no environmental impact has been reported, according to the UKMTO.

The incident is under investigation, according to the UKMTO, which advised vessels to "transit with caution."

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