Battered Iran lashes out with missiles on day 4 of war with U.S., Israel

On March 3, 2026, marking the fourth day of the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, Tehran launched a new barrage of retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting central Israel, including its capital Tel Aviv, and U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, notably striking the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and resulting in the confirmed deaths of six U.S. troops and 18 wounded in Kuwait. These actions came as a direct response to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran's "decapitated Islamic Republic's regime," which President Trump described as the "last best chance" to address the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missiles and nuclear program. The widespread retaliatory strikes by Iran prompted Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to issue urgent warnings for residents across central Israel to seek shelter, with red alert sirens blaring in Tel Aviv. While there were unconfirmed reports of at least one impact, initial reports from emergency services indicated no immediate confirmed casualties from the Iranian fire. Concurrently, U.S. and Israeli military assessments on Monday indicated that approximately half of Iran's estimated 500 ballistic missile launchers had been destroyed since the "Midnight Hammer" attacks in June. They project that 70-80% of Iran's launchers could be neutralized by the end of the week, acknowledging that remaining underground facilities might prove more challenging to target. U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf also bore the brunt of Iran's retaliation. Qatar's Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 90 ballistic missiles, 24 drones, three cruise missiles, and two fighter jets by Monday. Kuwait's Ministry of Defense detected an even larger onslaught of 178 ballistic missiles and 384 drones, with 27 Kuwaiti army members sustaining injuries. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was hit by two drones, causing minor damage, leading to its closure and an advisory for U.S. citizens to shelter in place. Similarly, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait was closed indefinitely following earlier Iranian attacks. President Trump, commenting on the escalating conflict, stated that the war could last longer than his initial prediction of four to five weeks, emphasizing that the U.S. has the capability to go "far longer" and would do "whatever it takes." He did not rule out deploying American ground troops. The State Department expanded its evacuation of non-essential personnel and family members to six nations: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, reflecting heightened regional tensions. Trump also informed Congress of the military strikes via a War Powers Resolution notification, asserting the actions were to protect U.S. forces, the homeland, ensure maritime commerce, and act in collective self-defense of allies like Israel.