Everything we know on day 6 of the Middle East war

By CNN Newsource

Published March 4, 2026 9:15 PM

By Jessie Yeung, Billy Stockwell, CNN

(CNN) — As it enters its sixth day, the latest Middle East conflict continues to widen – with the US sinking an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka and NATO forces intercepting an Iranian missile heading for Turkey, a claim Iran denies.

Here’s what to know.

What are the main headlines?

Fresh strikes: Explosions rocked the Iranian capital Tehran again this morning, according to state media. Overnight, Israel launched its 11th wave of attacks against Iran since the conflict began, as well as striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut. Iran also launched three waves of missiles towards Israel overnight, according to the Israeli military.
Senate vote: Republicans rejected a resolution Wednesday that would have reined in US President Donald Trump’s war powers. The Senate voted 47 to 53 to put down the measure. The House is expected to take a vote on the same issue on Thursday.
Warship torpedoed: Iran’s foreign minister has decried the deadly US torpedo attack on an Iranian warship as an “atrocity,” which he warned the US will come to regret. More than 80 people were killed, and a number remaining missing, after the IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
US objectives: The White House press secretary said the US goals are to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile program, “annihilate” its naval presence, dismantle its terrorist proxies and prevent it from pursuing a nuclear weapon. Regime change was not a primary objective, she said. Top US officials warned on Wednesday the US will start striking deeper into Iran and the operation is still in its early days.
Evacuations underway: The first US evacuation flight left the Middle East on Wednesday, after the Trump administration faced backlash for not having an evacuation plan ready. More than 17,500 Americans have returned to the US from the Middle East since February 28, the State Department said late Wednesday.

What’s happening in Iran and Lebanon?

Death tolls: More than 1,100 civilians have been killed in Iran since Saturday, according to a US-based human rights group. And at least 77 people have been killed by Israeli bombardment in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry – including three paramedics.
Lebanon attacks: As well as new strikes in Tehran, Israel’s overnight attack hit several command centers in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, belonging to Hezbollah, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Miserable conditions: Many residents in southern Lebanon have embarked on grueling journeys after Israel ordered them to evacuate; some displaced families have been forced to sleep on the streets at night. Many Tehran residents have fled to the countryside, while those who remain shelter at home, living in fear of constant bombardment.
Next supreme leader: Iran’s top clerics are still working to choose a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by the US-Israel strikes on Saturday. Israel has warned that any new leader would be “an unequivocal target for elimination.”
School bombing: The White House didn’t rule out that the US military had carried out a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran during the initial joint US-Israeli strikes, which killed at least 168 children, according to Iranian state media.

What’s happening in the rest of region?

Iran strikes back: Alongside the fresh barrage of missiles fired toward Israel overnight, Iran continues to fire at neighboring Gulf states, which are armed with American weapons and air defenses, although the US says the pace of Iran’s aerial assaults have slowed. Iran launched a drone attack on an Amazon data center in Bahrain, a state-affiliated news agency reported. Iranian drones have also targeted two Amazon facilities in the United Arab Emirates.
Death tolls: While the largest death tolls are in Iran and Lebanon, more than two dozen people have been killed elsewhere – by Iranian strikes in Israel and Gulf nations, as well as by US-Israeli airstrikes in Iraq.
US soldiers identified: On Wednesday night, the Pentagon publicly identified the two remaining service members killed in a drone attack in Kuwait on Sunday. The other four soldiers killed were previously identified on Tuesday.
Carney speaks out: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he “can never categorically rule out participation” in the US-Israeli war with Iran after previously saying Canada would not take part.
Turkish interception: Iran’s military leaders claim they did not fire any missiles toward Turkey, state media reported, after NATO air defenses intercepted what Turkey said was a missile launched from Iran on Wednesday. This is believed to be the first time NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile traveling towards a member country since this conflict began.
Kurdish-Iranian cooperation: The president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region and the Iranian foreign minister pledged “cooperation” in a phone call on Wednesday. CNN previously reported that the CIA is aiming to foment rebellion in Iran by arming Iranian Kurds.
Diplomatic departures: The US authorized non-emergency staff and their families to depart several Middle Eastern countries on Wednesday, and Qatar authorities are evacuating residents living near the US Embassy, after Iranian strikes this week targeted US facilities across the region.
Travel disruptions: Israel began reopening its main international airport for incoming flights, with the first of two return flights landing on Thursday. Some flights have departed major Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai and Jeddah, but many travelers are still scrambling to find ways out of the region.
Markets: Asian stocks bounced back Thursday after steep falls the previous day. European stock indexes were slightly higher in early trade, and US futures also signaled a higher open.

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