Tensions across West Asia escalated sharply on March 7 as Donald Trump claimed that US military strikes had destroyed 42 Iranian naval vessels and crippled key elements of Tehran’s military infrastructure, even as the conflict with Iran continued to widen across the region.
Speaking at an event in Florida, the US president said American forces had “knocked out” dozens of Iranian navy ships in just three days, adding that Iran’s air force and communications systems had also been severely damaged in the ongoing campaign.
The remarks came as the war between the US–Israel alliance and Iran entered its second week, triggering mounting casualties, expanding military operations and growing regional instability.
Trump warns of tougher strikes
Earlier in the day, Trump warned that more Iranian officials could become targets as the conflict intensifies. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he declared that Iran would be “hit very hard,” suggesting further escalation in the coming days.
The warning followed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who rejected Trump’s demand for an “unconditional surrender”, calling the ultimatum a “dream they should take to their grave”.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled after Washington halted negotiations with Tehran while simultaneously approving a new $151-million arms sale to Israel.
Conflict spreads across the region
The war has increasingly spilled beyond Iran and Israel, drawing several Gulf states into the crisis.
Dubai International Airport temporarily suspended operations after explosions and missile alerts, while Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting more than 200 drones and missiles in the past 24 hours.
The human toll has also mounted sharply. Iranian authorities say at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began, while more than 200 deaths have been reported in Lebanon. Six US troops have also been confirmed killed in the escalating hostilities.
Iran strikes US base in Bahrain
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it targeted US forces stationed at the Jufair naval base in Bahrain, describing the attack as retaliation for a US strike on a desalination plant on Iran’s Qesh Island, according to Iranian state media.
Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that US forces had begun using British military bases for what it described as “specific defensive operations” aimed at preventing Iranian missile launches across the region.
British warplanes are continuing missions over Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus and surrounding areas to protect allied interests, the ministry said.
India confirms Iranian warship docking
Amid the widening conflict, S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, confirmed that an Iranian naval vessel — the IRIS Lavan — had docked at Kochi on humanitarian grounds.
The move followed the sinking of a sister Iranian warship by a US submarine earlier during the conflict.
Massive Israeli air assault on Tehran
Military escalation continued on Saturday morning as more than 80 Israeli fighter jets struck targets in Tehran, including the Imam Hussein University complex and underground ballistic missile silos.
The strikes marked one of the largest aerial operations since the conflict erupted, underscoring the rapid transformation of the crisis from targeted military action into a wider regional war.
