A WEEK OF WAR: How the Iran conflict unfolded

January 31:

IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir visits the Pentagon.

February 27:

US and Iranian officials end nuclear talks in Geneva.

The US amasses military forces in the region.

February 28:

Israel and the US conduct opening strikes against Iran, attacking its highest priority targets.

President Donald Trump is pictured monitoring “Operation Epic Fury”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the US has Australia’s full support after the attacks.

Israel says it has dropped more than 1200 munitions on Iran in its joint attack with the US.

An Iranian school is struck, killing at least 100 students.

March 1:

US says threat of nuclear weapons justifies attacks.

Iran is hit with a fresh wave of strikes killing the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as well as other leaders including key defence figures. President Trump says Khamenei was “one of the most evil people in history”.

Iran retaliates, with at least one missile hitting Tel Aviv area, breaking through Israel’s Iron Dome defence system. Dubai airport is struck by Iranian ballistic missiles leading to the suspension of all flights. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan struck in retaliatory attacks.

Iran state media says 57 people have been killed in Tehran.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says “you would not expect (Australia) … to participate” in the war in Iran.

Pope Leo urges all parties to “stop the spiral of violence”.

March 2:

Iranians worldwide celebrate the news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

Iran intensifies retaliatory attacks, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel and targets across the Persian Gulf.

President Trump says operations would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved”.

The US confirms a fourth service member has died after a missile hit a command centre.

The Nightly reveals the Al Minhad Airbase, home to Australia’s Middle Eastern defence headquarters, was struck two days prior by Iranian missiles. No Australian personnel were injured in the attack.

Israel says it killed a Hezbollah intelligence chief in Beirut.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says: “We didn’t start this war but under President Donald Trump we are finishing it”.

US confirms Kuwait mistakenly shot down three American F-15E fighter jets.

A Saudi Arabian oil refinery and a Qatari power plant is attacked by Iranian drones.

Hezbollah enters the conflict, launching rockets and drones from Lebanon into northern Israel. Explosions are also reported in Tel Aviv.

Israel carries out retaliatory strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The UK authorises the use of British bases for US defensive operations.

Oil prices surge amid concerns about disruption to the Strait of Hormuz.

Widespread airspace closures led to flight cancellations and significant travel disruption.

Australia confirms it has 36 days worth of petrol stockpiled amid concerns over the security of supplies.

Iran’s security chief says the country will not negotiate with the US.

Two American P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance planes secretly arrive at Perth’s RAAF Base Pearce after flying from the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.

Lebanon takes the unprecedented step of outlawing Hezbollah’s military activities.

March 3:

US confirms the American death toll has risen to six after recovering the remains of two previously unaccounted-for personnel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says “military assets” have been deployed in the Middle East in response to the thousands of Australians stranded in the conflict zone.

The Pentagon says that the US hit more than 1000 targets in the first 24 hours.

An Iranian Shahed missile, believed to have been fired by Hezbollah, hits the British air force base in Cyprus.

Australian personnel at a United Arab Emirates air base were all accounted for after it was hit by a drone strike.

The interruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — where around a fifth of the world’s oil trade skirts the Iranian coast — continues to jolt global economies.

Israel conducts strikes on Tehran and Beirut.

President Trump says the attack was “our last, best chance to strike” to eliminate the “intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime”.

US embassy in Saudi Arabia is struck by two Iranian drones.

Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed, vowing to fire on any vessel attempting to pass through.

Iran intensifies attacks across the region, launching strikes on Israel, Lebanon, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery, Ras Tanura, shuts down after shrapnel from an intercepted Iranian drone ignites a major fire.

The Iranian Red Crescent society reports that at least 787 people have died in Iran since the strikes began.

President Trump claims the US has an “unlimited supply” of weapons and that “wars can be fought forever”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemns Sydney mosques for mourning dead Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamanei as a martyr.

March 4:

The Nightly reveals two high-tech US surveillance aircraft made an “unexpected” stopover in WA.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announces that six DFAT crisis teams will head to the Middle East to help stranded Australians make their way home.

Marco Rubio says diplomatic staff are evacuating the Middle East after the US consulate in Dubai caught fire following a drone attack.

US submarine torpedoes an Iranian battleship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

Petrol prices skyrocket, hitting $2.40 per litre in Sydney.

A British container ship struck by an “unknown object” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran postpones the state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia is attacked by drones for the second time.

China calls for the “immediate cessation” of strikes against Iran by US and Israeli forces.

The death toll in Iran is reported to have surpassed 1000 people.

In a Operation Epic Fury update US Admiral Brad Cooper says: “We have severely degraded Iran’s air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. In simple terms, were focused on shooting at all the things that can shoot at us.”

Israel confirm they have struck a “covert” Iranian nuclear facility on the outskirts of Tehran.

The first plane load of Australians stranded in the Middle East lands in Sydney.

UK jet fighters shoot down an Iranian attack drone in the skies above Jordan.

France announces it will send an aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, to the Mediterranean and ‌is working to build a coalition for “forward deterrence” nuclear exercises.

President Trump says he “forced Israel’s hand” to take part in the strikes against Iran, not the other way around.

The US says it has hit more than 1700 targets since the war with Iran began.

President Trump orders his administration to provide support to ships in the Strait of Hormuz “at a very reasonable price” to ensure the continuation of energy supply.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son and chosen heir of the late Ayatollah Khamenei, is elected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader.

President Trump says the strikes have “knocked out” all arms of the Iranian military.

March 5:

Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterates that Australia did not participate in the American and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Government refuses to say whether Australian personnel were on board a US submarine which sank an Iranian warship for “operational and security reasons”.

Six DFAT crisis response teams leave Australia as the Government makes contingency plans to help people leave the war zone.

Three flights depart Dubai, bringing home stranded Australians.

Canadian PM Mark Carney says “one can never categorically rule out participation” when asked about Canada joining the conflict.

The White House’s rationale shifts again, with Marco Rubio saying the US knew Israel was going to attack and decided to launch strikes to limit counterattacks against US forces.

President Trump claims Iran was “within two weeks” of having a nuclear weapon.

The RACQ reports “unwarranted” hikes at the bowser to the consumer watchdog.

Saudi Arabia intercepts three cruise missiles believed to be from Iran and NATO intercepts missiles headed for Turkey.

Israel carries out major strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Iran claims to have fired more than 40 missiles and that “10 more Hermes and MQ-9 drones” were destroyed.

The US arms groups of Kurdish militant fighters to begin a ground incursion into Iran.

Azerbaijan becomes the latest country to be dragged into the conflict after an Iranian drone strikes its international airport.

President Trump claims Iran has reached out in hopes of working out a deal to end the war. The Iranian foreign minister denies the claim.

March 6

President Trump says the US wants to be involved in choosing the new Iranian leader.

Israel moving to “next phase” of the war after 2500 strikes

Israel begins strikes on Beirut southern suburbs, telling locals to evacuate so they can attack Hezbollah.

Azerbaijan prepares retaliatory strikes against Iran after two drones struck an airport.

French evacuation plane turns around before reaching the United Arab Emirates because of missile threat.

US Central Command says it has struck around 200 targets in Iran over the past 72 hours. More than 30 ships sunk and Iranian missile attacks reduced by 90 per cent according to senior US commander

Iran evacuates a navy ship in the Indian Ocean over fears of another torpedo attack.

Bahrain’s biggest oil refinery, the Bahrain Petroleum Company refinery near the capital burst into flames after being hit by Iranian ballistic missiles.

Four flights from the Middle East arrive in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, bringing home more Australians.

Israel confirms Benjamin Netanyahu decided to target Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in November 2025, with the fatal strike originally slated for June.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirms Australians were on board the US submarine that torpedoed an Iranian warship.

Source: The Economist, Washington Post, AP, AFP