Conflict Enters Day 6: Iran Attacks Israeli Defense Ministry Building, U.S. Says No Plans to Deploy Ground Troops

The military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran entered their sixth day on the 5th. For the first time, Iran and Hezbollah coordinated an attack on central Israel, with Iran using the "Hadid 110" high-speed drone for the first time in the conflict.

The U.S. military claimed to have struck over 2,000 Iranian targets. The U.S. Secretary of Defense stated that the conflict could last up to eight weeks and claimed that a submarine-launched torpedo sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. White House Press Secretary Levitt stated that sending U.S. ground troops to Iran is not currently part of the operational plan, but the president does not rule out any military options.

Currently, the conflict has resulted in at least 1,045 deaths in Iran, and Israel's economy faces potential losses exceeding $2.9 billion per week.

The farewell ceremony for Khamenei has been postponed

Several candidates for the Supreme Leader have been identified

Iran announced that the farewell ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, originally scheduled to begin on the evening of the 4th, has been postponed due to the "unprecedented number of people expected to pay their respects."

According to informed sources, the election for the Supreme Leader in Iran may be postponed until next week. The highest level of security measures has been implemented to ensure the smooth election of the Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts. The election may take place in person after Khamenei's funeral.

It is reported that Iran has identified several candidates for the Supreme Leader, from which the Supreme Leader will soon be elected. Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, stated that Iran will "select the Supreme Leader at the earliest opportunity." Khatami did not disclose further details.

Iran attacks the Israeli Ministry of Defense building

And uses high-speed drones for the first time

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced on the evening of the 4th that the 18th round of "Real Commitment 4" operations has begun. Earlier, the Iranian military issued announcement No. 11, stating that in the past few hours, Iran had destroyed six enemy invading drones in Isfahan, Kurdistan, and Tehran, most of which were "Hermes" drones.

Subsequently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released the results of the 17th round of "Real Commitment 4" early on the 5th. Iran claimed that in this round of operations, the hypersonic missiles and attack drones launched by Iran broke through the U.S. "THAAD" system and attacked the Israeli Ministry of Defense building and Ben Gurion International Airport.

In addition, an informed source from the Iranian intelligence ministry stated on the 4th that the New York Times report about Iranian intelligence personnel being willing to negotiate with the CIA to end the war is completely false and is a psychological warfare operation during the war.

First use of the "Hadid 110" high-speed drone

On the 4th local time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran used the "Hadid 110" high-speed drone for the first time in this round of conflict.

According to previous information from the Iranian military, the "Hadid 110" is a new type of high-speed suicide attack drone, launched with a rocket booster, with a maximum speed of 500 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest suicide attack drone currently in Iran.

Iran claims full control of the Strait of Hormuz

According to Iranian sources on March 3, the deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, stated that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully under the control of the Iranian Navy, with more than ten oil tankers hit by shells in the strait.

Iran and Hezbollah coordinate attacks on central Israel

On the afternoon of March 4, Hezbollah launched five rockets towards Israel, triggering air defense alarms in central Israel. Subsequently, due to incoming Iranian ballistic missiles, air defense alarms sounded again in multiple areas of central Israel.

This is reportedly the first coordinated attack by Iran and Hezbollah since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.

In response, an Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stated that there is currently no intelligence indicating that the simultaneous attacks by Iran and Hezbollah were coordinated actions.

Iran emphasizes that all U.S. bases are "legitimate targets for attack"

The Iranian representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva formally sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on the 4th, strongly condemning the military aggression by the U.S. and Israel against Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The letter clearly emphasized that within the framework of exercising inherent self-defense rights, all U.S. bases, facilities, properties, and related interests in the region are considered "legitimate targets for attack" by Iran.

Attacks have resulted in over a thousand deaths in Iran

Iran claims over 500 U.S. soldiers have died

According to reports from Iranian sources, as of local time March 4, the number of casualties in Iran due to U.S. and Israeli attacks has reached 1,045.

The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Larijani, stated on social media on the 4th that over 500 U.S. soldiers have died in recent days, and the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei will bring heavy consequences for the Trump administration. However, it is currently impossible to independently verify Larijani's claim regarding the number of U.S. military deaths.

The U.S. military has struck over 2,000 Iranian targets

No plans to deploy ground troops

On March 4 local time, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated at a press conference that the "Epic Fury" operation launched last weekend has primary objectives including: destroying Iran's ballistic missiles and production systems, striking Iranian naval forces, weakening Iran's proxy forces in the Middle East, and ensuring that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons.

She stated that so far, the U.S. military has struck over 2,000 targets, destroying a large number of missiles, launch systems, and drones, and sinking more than 20 Iranian vessels, including one submarine. She noted that there are currently no Iranian naval activities in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, and the U.S. military expects to achieve "complete control" of Iranian airspace within the next few hours. In this operation, six U.S. soldiers have already been killed.

When asked if ground troops might be sent to Iran, Levitt stated that ground troops are not currently part of the operational plan, but the president does not rule out any military options.

U.S. Secretary of Defense: Conflict may last eight weeks

Complete control of Iranian skies within a week

On March 4 local time, U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated at a press conference that the U.S. and Israel aim to "completely control" Iranian skies within a week.

Hegseth stated that the U.S. military has deployed as many anti-drone systems as possible to the front lines and invested significant resources to enhance defensive capabilities, but this does not mean that all attacks can be intercepted.

Hegseth indicated that the conflict between the U.S. and Iran could last for several weeks, potentially reaching eight weeks or even longer. He stated that the pace of the conflict will be determined by the U.S., "it could be four weeks, six weeks, or even eight weeks," and the U.S. will control the speed and intensity of the operations.

Additionally, a senior Iranian commander who attempted to plan the assassination of U.S. President Trump has been killed.

U.S. submarine sinks Iranian warship, resulting in 87 deaths

U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated at a press conference on the 4th that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. It is understood that there were about 180 people on board at the time.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Wijitha Herath, confirmed on the 4th that the Sri Lankan Navy has recovered 87 bodies near the Iranian warship that was attacked by the U.S. military.

The sunken "Iris Dina" was a Moudge-class frigate belonging to the Iranian Navy's southern fleet. In February of this year, the ship participated in the 2026 International Fleet Review held in India and a multinational maritime joint exercise led by the Indian Navy.

The U.S. military claims to have struck or sunk over 20 Iranian vessels

The U.S. Central Command stated that the U.S. military has struck or sunk over 20 Iranian vessels. Central Command reported that in the latest operation, another "Soleimani-class" warship was added to the list of destroyed vessels.

U.S. precision-guided munitions may face shortages in "a few days"

On March 4 local time, as military operations against Iran continue, the U.S. Department of Defense's stockpile of precision-guided munitions is rapidly depleting, with some critical munitions potentially facing shortages in "a few days." It is reported that if the consumption rate continues, the military may have to start prioritizing interception targets.

Israeli airstrikes hit a military facility in Tehran

This round of conflict has used over 5,000 bombs

The Israel Defense Forces stated on the evening of the 4th that the Israeli Air Force has completed a large-scale attack on a military facility in eastern Tehran, which "houses multiple command centers and personnel from Iran's domestic security forces."

The statement indicated that the attacked command centers include the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the headquarters of the "Quds Force," the headquarters of Iran's domestic security forces, and the cyber warfare headquarters. Among the command centers attacked were those responsible for directing attacks on Israel by "Iranian operatives." The statement also noted that the Israeli military "will continue to further weaken the Iranian regime."

Additionally, the Israeli Air Force targeted the infrastructure of Tehran's Mehrabad Airport in the tenth round of attacks, destroying its defense and reconnaissance systems.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that since the outbreak of this conflict, the Israeli Air Force has dropped over 5,000 bombs in airstrikes against Iran.

The Israel-Iran conflict may cause over $2.9 billion in weekly losses to the Israeli economy

On March 4 local time, reporters from the Central Station learned from the Israeli Ministry of Finance that the Israel-Iran conflict may cause weekly losses exceeding $2.9 billion to the Israeli economy.