Israel Plans At Least Three Weeks of War as Airstrikes Pound Iran
Image: Reuters

Israel Plans At Least Three Weeks of War as Airstrikes Pound Iran

16 March, 2026.Iran.2 sources

Key Takeaways

  • Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran, escalating attacks on Iran.
  • Dubai airport suspended flights; Emirates limited flights.
  • Campaign described as lasting multiple weeks against Iran.

Military Escalation

Israeli military operations against Iran have intensified with Israel announcing a new wave of strikes targeting Tehran.

Israel launched a new wave of attacks on Tehran as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its 17th day on Monday

Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides with Iran reporting 1,444 people killed and 18,551 injured as of Sunday.

Image from Al Jazeera
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

Iranian authorities have responded by claiming to defend against 'hostile targets in the skies' over Tehran.

Israel has continued its military campaign without public confirmation of specific duration targets.

Iranian Stance

Iranian officials have strongly rejected ceasefire negotiations with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explicitly stating that Iran 'never asked for ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation.'

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has emphasized that most of its weapons cache remains intact.

Image from Reuters
ReutersReuters

Spokesperson Brigadier-General Ali Mohammad Naini revealed that missiles used in the ongoing war are from a 'decade ago' and that Iran has not yet fired missiles produced since the 12-day war with Israel.

President Trump has joined the conflict claiming the US is 'hitting Iran's drone factories' while accusing Iran of being a 'master of media manipulation' through AI-generated disinformation.

Regional Spread

The conflict has spread beyond Iran's borders with drone-related incidents reported across multiple Gulf states.

Israel launched a new wave of attacks on Tehran as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its 17th day on Monday

Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

Dubai experienced a fire after a drone-related incident near its airport, leading to temporary flight suspensions.

The UAE's Fujairah reported a fire at an industrial zone following a drone strike, while Abu Dhabi saw a missile hit a car killing a Palestinian resident.

Saudi Arabia intercepted 37 drones in its eastern region, and Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar also reported drone interceptions.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have affirmed their commitment to defending their territories through coordinated efforts.

Domestic Actions

Iran has taken domestic actions against perceived dissent, arresting 18 people accused of working for Iran International.

Iran has accused the satellite news channel of having ties to Israel.

Image from Reuters
ReutersReuters

The US military has expanded its involvement in the conflict with President Trump announcing that 'the US was hitting Iran's drone factories' while aboard Air Force One.

The escalating conflict has raised concerns about potential broader regional destabilization.

Multiple states have become increasingly involved in the hostilities that began with Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.

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