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.
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Israel gives another Beirut neighborhood 1 hour to evacuate as death toll surpasses 1,200
The Israel Defense Forces issued a second warning to Beirut residents living in another neighborhood in southern Beirut. This comes hours after ordering another neighborhood to evacuate before strikes began.
The IDF said it is targeting Hezbollah there.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern suburbs, March 31, 2026.
Raghed Waked/Reuters
At least 1,268 people have been killed and 3,750 have been injured in Lebanon since Israeli strikes began on March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Mar 31, 2026, 9:18 AM EDT
Hegseth confirms US destroyed an ammo depot in Isfahan
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed a video posted by President Donald Trump on Monday was an ammunition depot in Isfahan that was left destroyed by U.S. bombers.
"You don't get to see many of those videos, because, as a reminder, Iran has still shut off the internet to 99.9% of its population," Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday.
Smoke and fire rise following an explosion in Isfahan, Iran, March 31, 2026.
Reuters
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided operational updates, noting the U.S. has begun B-52 bomber missions over Iranian territory, and noting for the first time the U.S. has targeted "nuclear weapons research and development labs."
Smoke billowing as explosions rock Iran's Isfahan, March 31, 2026.
AFP via Getty Images
"Given the increase in air superiority, we've successfully started to conduct the first overland B-52 missions, which allow us, as we've said before, to continue to get on top of the enemy,” Caine said.
Mar 31, 2026, 8:51 AM EDT
Hegseth doesn't rule out US boots on the ground in Iran
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not rule out the possibility of putting American troops on the ground in Iran when asked at a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday.
"We're not going to foreclose any option," Hegseth said.
"You can't fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do, to include boots on the ground. The end. Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are," Hegseth said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, March 31, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Hegseth said this could be one option of many, with others including successful negotiations.
"So if we needed to, we could execute those options on behalf of the president of the United States and this department, or maybe we don't have to use them at all," Hegseth said.
Mar 31, 2026, 8:51 AM EDT
Other countries 'ought to be prepared to step up' on Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. continues to reduce Iran's capabilities and limit its options in the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating its warning that Iran needs to open up the Strait of Hormuz or the U.S. has options, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday.
"I think the president was clear this morning in his [social media post], there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well. It's not just the United States Navy," Hegseth said.
Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.
Reuters
"Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well," Hegseth said.
Hegseth said the U.S. uses the waterway less than most other countries.
"President Trump's been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world to address this threat of Iran. It's not just our problem set going forward, even though we have done the lion's share of preparation to ensure that that strait will be will be open," Hegseth said.
