Iran has vowed to avenge the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by Israeli strikes during the joint US-Israel military operation last week. After confirming Khamenei's death on Sunday, Iran carried out retaliatory strikes across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, escalating West Asia tensions further.
As the conflict brings the region closer and closer to a full out war, something Iran warned the US and Israel of, US President Donald Trump has stated that the bombing of Iran is expected to continue for at least another "four to five weeks".
It has been reported that, a bomb-carrying drone boat struck a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Monday (March 2, 2026), killing one mariner on board, Oman said.
The state-run Oman News Agency reported the attack in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Muscat, the sultanate's capital. It identified the vessel as the MKD VYOM. It said the dead crew member was from India.
Oil tanker MKD Fium was attacked by a drone boat off the coast of Oman’s Muscat Governorate — Anadolu
— RT (@RT_com) March 2, 2026
At least one crew member was killed in the incident pic.twitter.com/3CSd5hnRBR
Iran has been threatening vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, and is believed to have launched multiple attacks as the war in the Mideast continues after Israel and the United States started a major airstrike campaign targeting the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Iran has stated that it will continue to defend itself. Security chief Ali Larijani blamed Trump and the US President's "delusional ambition" for bringing the Middle East to the brink of war.
In Kuwait City, as fire and smoke rose from inside the U.S. Embassy compound, the country's defense ministry said "several" American warplanes had also crashed in the country. The Ministry did not elaborate on what caused the crashes or how many aircraft were involved, but said the pilots were taken to a hospital and were in stable condition. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said their missile attacks have targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.
Breaking: One Indian died after an attack on a tanker off the coast of Oman, Oman's maritime agency confirms pic.twitter.com/9Tkc6iFexX
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 2, 2026
At least 555 people have been killed in Iran so far by the US-Israeli campaign, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said, and more than 130 cities across the country having come under attack. Eleven people have been killed in Israel, according to authorities there.
Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury were shot down over Kuwait in what American military officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident, with all six aircrew safely recovered.
The incident occurred at 11:03 p.m. ET on March 1, according to a statement issued by CENTCO.
"At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident," the release said.
The aircraft were operating during active combat conditions.
During active combat involving attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the U.S. Air Force jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences.
The U.S. military confirmed that all crew members survived the incident.
All six aircrew were safely recovered and are in stable condition, according to the release.
It added that "Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation."
The cause of the incident remains under review.
The cause is under investigation. More details will be released when available.
No further operational details were immediately disclosed, including the precise location of the shootdown over Kuwaiti territory or whether the aircraft were returning from or engaging in strikes at the time.
