ICT Situation Report (SITREP): 15 MARCH 2ICT Situation Report (SITREP): 17 MARCH 2026

⇒ Wave of Targeted Killings Hits Iran’s Leadership as U.S. and Israel Intensify Operations

The United States and Israel continue military operations against Iranian military assets. The IDF reported the targeted killing of senior figures in Iran’s security establishment. Among the most prominent was Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij. In addition, the IDF targeted and killed Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the de facto leader of the Iranian regime. According to the IDF Spokesperson, these eliminations are part of a broader series of strikes marking a significant blow to the Iranian leadership’s ability to manage the campaign.

⇒ Hezbollah Threatens Lebanese Government as IDF Expands Ground Operations

Hezbollah continues to launch rockets and drones toward Israeli territory while reporting ongoing clashes with IDF forces in southern Lebanon.

At the same time, Mahmoud Qamati, a member of Hezbollah’s Political Council, issued sharp threats toward the Lebanese government, claiming the organization can topple it but is currently choosing stability, while warning that patience is limited. He described the government as illegitimate and serving Israel, stating that a confrontation after the war is inevitable, and hinted that “traitors” could face severe consequences.

In response, the IDF is expanding its ground maneuver in Lebanon and carrying out extensive strikes against Hezbollah targets, particularly in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district and southern Lebanon. The strikes focus on operational infrastructure, underground weapons depots, and field targets, alongside precision strikes against operatives.

⇒ Iran Threatens Energy Infrastructure Amid Ongoing Strikes and Internal Security Operations

Iran is escalating its threats, stating that any strike on its oil facilities—especially Kharg Island—will be met with the destruction of the attacking country’s energy infrastructure. At the same time, it is warning against the U.S. military presence in the region, particularly aircraft carriers, emphasizing that logistical infrastructure and support systems for U.S. forces will also be considered legitimate targets. The Iranian message signals an expansion of the conflict into the economic sphere, with threats against regional infrastructure, alongside a warning that the next response will be more severe and decisive.

Iran continues to carry out attacks against targets in Israel, as well as against the United States and its allies in the region.

On the domestic front, Iran reported a wide wave of arrests tied to espionage and sabotage, with around 500 detainees, including 250 key operatives accused of providing intelligence and coordinating with foreign networks. Additional cells were uncovered in Khuzestan and Mazandaran, alongside weapons smuggling networks. At the same time, 55 more suspects were arrested in Hormozgan, allegedly linked to Israel and the United States—reflecting, according to Iran, a broad foreign effort to destabilize the country.

⇒ Islamic Resistance in Iraq Claims Over 24 Attacks on U.S. Targets, Issues Regional Warnings

Over the past 24 hours, several statements were issued by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” claiming responsibility for more than 24 attacks against targets they describe as U.S. military interests or those of its allies in the region. Among the claims was a missile strike targeting Camp Victory near Baghdad International Airport, which the group alleges resulted in casualties among U.S. military personnel.

Additional statements referenced drone operations against sites in northern Iraq and Bahrain, and included warnings to Iraqi security forces and civilians to avoid areas where U.S. military facilities are located.

Overview of Operations “Roaring Lion” and “Epic Fury”

10 On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated pre-emptive operation against Iran under the titles “Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion,” respectively. According to Israeli officials, the objective of the campaign is to eliminate existential threats posed by Iran, with a focus on missile and drone capabilities and nuclear-related infrastructure. The first wave of strikes targeted Tehran, focusing on central government sites, before expanding to additional cities across Iran. The attacks reportedly targeted senior Iranian political and security officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, creating a temporary leadership vacuum until the appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader. The transition appears to have stabilized the regime faster than many observers expected. Support quickly emerged from regime officials and religious scholars, while Iran-aligned proxy groups pledged allegiance and regional allies sent messages of support. Iranian reports also described public rallies in more than 150 cities across the country. Together, these developments suggest Iran is attempting to demonstrate continuity and regime resilience following the killing of Ali Khamenei.

Operations “Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion” focus on degrading Iran’s offensive military capabilities and nuclear facilities, disrupting its logistical networks, targeting key governmental and intelligence institutions, and weakening domestic security forces. Over the past week, the United States and Israel have continued conducting strikes across Iran, increasingly targeting the regime’s internal security infrastructure, including bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij. These operations appear to be part of a broader campaign aimed at reducing Iran’s military capabilities and limiting the regime’s ability to control potential internal unrest.

Iran is responding with waves of missile and drone attacks across the region, targeting Israel and states hosting U.S. forces or allies such as the Kurds, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Cyprus, Iraq, and Azerbaijan. Iranian strikes have focused on strategic economic infrastructure, particularly energy facilities and maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as military and diplomatic installations and symbolic civilian targets intended to increase political pressure on regional governments.

Energy infrastructure and maritime trade routes have become central targets in the escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Iranian strikes and allied militia attacks have increasingly focused on oil refineries, fuel depots, pipelines, and export terminals across the region, reflecting an effort to impose economic pressure and disrupt global energy markets. At the same time, Israeli and U.S. operations have reportedly targeted Iranian fuel depots, energy infrastructure, and logistical networks that support military operations.

The conflict has increasingly drawn in additional regional and international actors. Reports indicate that Qatar carried out strikes inside Iran. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom also announced military deployments to the Middle East region amid attacks on Cyprus, signaling growing international involvement. And Pakistan signaled to Iran that it has a defense alliance with Saudi Arabia, which Iran has been attacking in the past week.

At the same time, Iran’s regional proxy network, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” has intensified its operations. Tehran appears to be shifting from largely symbolic proxy actions toward sustained operational pressure across multiple theaters in the region. Hezbollah has increased rocket and drone attacks toward central and northern Israel. At times coordinated with missile attacks originating from Iran. Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon, along with limited ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at strengthening the defense of northern Israeli communities. Israel has also focused on targeting Hezbollah’s financial network. The IDF struck a facility belonging to Hezbollah’s financial institution, Al-Qard Al-Hasan, as part of a broader effort to disrupt the group’s economic infrastructure and sources of funding. Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have also intensified attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq and Jordan, while reportedly targeting Kurdish infrastructure in northern Iraq. In response, the United States and Israel have carried out strikes against these militias, causing damage to several of their bases and operational facilities. Meanwhile, the Houthis in Yemen have threatened maritime routes such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising concerns about disruptions to global trade and energy supplies.

In parallel with the physical battlefield, the conflict has expanded into the cyber domain, where Pro-Iranian hacker groups and Iranian cyber units expanded cyber operations against Israel, Gulf states, and U.S. interests, targeting government platforms, energy companies, and critical infrastructure. These operations mirror developments in the physical battlefield, highlighting the integration of cyber warfare into the broader conflict.