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The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran has yielded limited results in terms of destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. According to a report by Reuters, based on information from five people familiar with US intelligence, the US has only destroyed about a third of Iran's missile and drone arsenal after a month of military action. The report suggests that another third of Tehran's missiles may have been damaged or buried in underground tunnels and bunkers, leaving a sizeable stockpile still accessible to Iran. This assessment directly contradicts statements made by Donald Trump on Thursday that Tehran had "very few rockets left" and claims from other US officials that the war has eliminated Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. Iranian officials view their ballistic missile program as a crucial deterrent against the US and Israel, given the significant military superiority of these countries. Iran has effectively used ballistic missiles and drones over the last month to attack Israel and critical infrastructure in the Gulf, causing substantial damage to the global economy. The US and Israel have identified degrading Iran's ballistic missile capacity as a primary objective of the war. Washington has deployed thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in recent days, with the administration reportedly considering a ground operation on Kharg island to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israel has targeted ballistic missile caches and launchers in its aerial campaign against Iran, claiming to have "neutralized" 335 or 70% of Tehran's missile launchers. However, Iran has dispersed its launchers across the country to evade detection and airstrikes, making it challenging for Israel and the US to completely eliminate the threat. Despite the decline in the number of launches due to the ongoing bombing campaign, Iranian missiles have still managed to hit Israel and the Gulf, as interceptors also run out. The conflict has resulted in billions of dollars spent and critical interceptor stocks expended by Israel, the US, and Gulf states to block Iranian missile barrages. A US official noted that assessing Iran's missile stockpile accurately is difficult due to much of it being stored underground, suggesting that "I don't know if we'll ever have an accurate number". The vast tunnel network created an extra challenge in destroying Iran's missile stockpile, but the US military has vowed to continue its efforts.

The conflict between Iran and Israel has taken a dangerous turn with the entry of Houthi forces from Yemen, who have launched a salvo of ballistic missiles at sensitive Israeli military sites. The Houthis, close allies of Iran, have vowed to continue their military operations until the 'aggression' comes to an end on all fronts.In response, Israel has reported intercepting one missile originating from Yemen. The escalation has raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict, with Pakistan attempting to host a meeting of Middle Eastern powers to find a regional approach to ending the conflict.The entry of the Houthis poses a direct threat to the Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, a critical choke point for energy supplies and trade. A shutdown of this strait, combined with Iran's near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, would have a devastating impact on the global economy.The conflict has also seen an escalation in the array of weapons being used, with reports of the US dropping cluster munitions and Iran using ballistic missiles carrying cluster warheads. Experts have cited concerns about the indiscriminate nature of these weapons, which have been banned by over 100 countries.The situation remains volatile, with US President Donald Trump suggesting that he had hoped for Saudi Arabia to join other Arab countries in normalizing relations with Israel in return for the attack on Iran. However, the survival of the Islamic Republic's regime after a month of bombing has left Trump with the choice of either extricating the US from the costly war or intensifying the campaign.

Gulf countries are increasingly concerned about the threat posed by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region. These groups, which include Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, have been used by Iran as a pillar of its foreign and security policy for decades.In a joint statement, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks on their soil, both as strikes carried out directly from Iran and “through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region”. The statement also called on the Iraqi government to take measures to halt attacks launched by factions, militias, and armed groups from Iraqi territory.Kuwait recently foiled a plot to kill state leaders and arrested six suspects believed to be associated with Hezbollah. The Houthis also confirmed they had launched a missile strike on Israel, the first time the proxy group have admitted involvement in the war in the Middle East.The threat of these groups is seen as particularly worrying for countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which have a history of Iran-backed militia carrying out violent attacks. Analysts warn that the presence and danger of Iranian proxy groups in the Gulf had not reached levels anything close to those during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, but the threat remains greater the longer the conflict with Iran drags on.Bilal Saab, a senior managing director of the Trends US thinktank, said: “If this war escalates, the worst-case scenario for the Gulf countries is Iran activating their sleeper cells and these Shia militia movements in the region. We could see a whole lot more if things really escalate.”

Iran's regime has organised over 850 public demonstrations in support of the government since the beginning of the war, showcasing its resilience amid a month-long campaign of intensive airstrikes by the US and Israel. The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the increasing number of detentions underline the regime's determination to maintain control.The war began with a surprise Israeli strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and many senior officials. Despite this, the regime has not fragmented, and there are no defections. Experts say the messaging within Iran is that they are winning, and this is constant and consistent.Clionadh Raleigh, president of Acled, an independent conflict monitor, noted that the US-Israeli decapitation strategy could not have been more successful, but the regime has adapted. The Acled research also shows that the number of US and Israeli strikes on Iran has remained steady at between 47 and 102 attacks daily that have caused significant civilian casualties.Tehran's retaliation has been largely ineffective, causing only 70 fatalities during the war, compared with 1,157 killed inside Iran, of whom 341 have been identified as civilians. The researchers noted that 99.2% of protests were pro-regime, indicating a coordinated effort to show nationalist consolidation under external attack.The arrest campaign is the regime's primary domestic tool, with approximately 1,465-plus detained in 27 days. Charges escalated from 'filming damage' to 'espionage' and 'mercenary' as the conflict progressed. Details of such repression are difficult to obtain, but recent incidents include the deaths of 10 people when Revolutionary Guards fired on anti-regime demonstrators and shot at apartment windows in Tehran on 25 March.Estimates of civilian casualties vary, with over 1,900 people killed and at least 20,000 injured in Iran since the start of US and Israeli attacks, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The US-based Human Rights Activists news agency (HRANA) said 3,300 people had been killed since the war began, including 1,464 civilians and at least 217 children.

The US stock market closed on Friday with a significant selloff, sending the Dow into correction territory and marking the fifth consecutive week of declines. The Dow fell 800 points, while the Nasdaq index dropped another 2% and the S&P; 500 closed 1.6% lower.Oil prices continued to rise, with Brent crude surging past $110 a barrel. Despite Donald Trump's announcement of extending a pause on Iranian energy strikes, markets remained on edge. Trump has suggested that oil prices and the stock market will stabilize once the conflict ends, but it's unclear if markets will believe him.Consumer sentiment in the US has also declined, with a 6% drop in March, according to a University of Michigan survey. This decline was observed across all age groups, political parties, and income levels. Inflation expectations rose from 3.4% to 3.8%, the largest one-month increase since last April.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revised its global GDP growth projections downward, citing the Iran conflict as a significant source of uncertainty. The report warned of higher global inflation due to the spike in energy prices and noted that the Middle East conflict would disproportionately affect the UK's economy.

Iran's national football team made a poignant statement before a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday. As their anthem played, the players held up school bags and wore black armbands, a powerful gesture of protest against the killing of schoolgirls in a recent US-Israeli strike.The friendly match, held in the resort town of Belek, comes as Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada hangs in the balance due to the ongoing conflict. The team's actions were a clear reference to the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school, which Tehran claims resulted in the deaths of over 175 people, including children and teachers, on the first day of joint US-Israeli strikes.An Iranian team spokesperson confirmed that "the players are holding the school bags close to their heart in remembrance of the 165 girls the Americans killed in an Iranian school." This dramatic gesture underscores the team's stance on the issue and highlights the human cost of the conflict.The incident has sparked significant controversy, with some members of Iran's women's football team refraining from singing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match earlier this month. State TV in Tehran responded by labeling them "traitors."Iran's football federation had sought to have their national team's World Cup games relocated from the US to Mexico, but this request was rejected by Fifa. The team, which lost Friday's game 2-1 to Nigeria, is set to play Costa Rica in another friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday.

Rania Jaber had always dreamed of having a daughter, and when Narjis was born in 2020, she was overjoyed. Narjis was a bright and caring child, always looking out for her parents and twin brothers. Tragically, on March 2, Israeli bombs struck the family's home in Maifadoun, south Lebanon, killing Narjis and her aunt.Jaber described her daughter as 'wise beyond her years,' recalling how Narjis would comfort her during stressful times. The last thing Narjis said to her mother was, 'Mama, you're my life. Don't cry, I love you so much.' Hours later, Narjis was killed in the airstrike that left her mother and two brothers injured.Narjis's death is one of many child casualties in the conflict. Since the war began, 120 other children in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli strikes, making up nearly 10% of all deaths in the country. The Basma family, who were killed in an airstrike on their home in Nabatieh on March 14, is another example of the devastating impact on families.Experts warn that exposure to violence in children can lead to long-term developmental and behavioral issues. Dr. Rabih El Chammay, head of the national mental health program at the Lebanese ministry of public health, emphasized that 'children wake in fear, parents carry unbearable worry, and the hurt will echo for years, if not generations, after the bombs fall silent.'Jaber plans to seek psychological treatment for her sons once the war ends, deeply concerned about the long-term trauma caused by the bombing. For now, she and her family must cope with the immense grief of losing Narjis, a child described as 'incredibly kind, gentle, and loving.'

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has expanded into Iraqi territory, creating what analysts describe as the most fragile front in the ongoing regional war. Recent strikes by US and Israeli forces have targeted Iran-backed groups operating within Iraq, prompting retaliatory attacks from Iraqi militias against Western interests. The strategic implications of this escalation are profound, with oil flow through the critical Strait of Hormuz completely halted, disrupting global energy markets. This development comes as Iraq's central government already struggles to maintain control over its territory and resources. As hostilities intensify, concerns mount about Iraq's ability to preserve its sovereignty and prevent the country from becoming a battlefield for proxy conflicts between regional and international powers. The fragile state of Iraqi institutions, combined with external military interventions, threatens to destabilize an already volatile region. International observers warn that the prolonged conflict could have lasting consequences for Iraq's political landscape, potentially fragmenting the country further along sectarian lines and weakening the central government's authority beyond recognition. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts seemingly unable to de-escalate tensions as the conflict enters a dangerous new phase with direct military confrontation on Iraqi soil.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that an Israeli air strike killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, on Wednesday night. Katz stated that the assassination targeted other 'senior officers of the naval command'.Katz described Tangsiri as the man 'directly responsible for the terrorist operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz to shipping'. He added that Tangsiri was 'blown up and eliminated'. Tangsiri was a 'well-known commander' who shaped Iran's naval doctrine and developed drones for military maritime use. He was also involved in overseeing Iran's efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz by blocking some vessels.Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28, Israel has announced the assassination of several top Iranian officials. The civilian toll is significant, with at least 1,937 people killed, including 452 women and children, and 24,800 injured, according to Iran's Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian.Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the assassination of Tangsiri 'makes the region safer'. US forces have destroyed about 92 percent of Iran's large naval vessels in ongoing operations.