West Asia War Day 11: Hegseth Vows “Most Intense” Strikes As US And Israel Target Tehran

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON — As the conflict in West Asia enters its second week, the scale of aerial warfare has reached an unprecedented peak. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the day’s operations as the “most intense” of Operation Epic Fury, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the coalition is successfully “breaking the bones” of the Iranian regime.

Despite the escalating violence, both President Donald Trump and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar signaled on Tuesday that they are seeking a “short-term excursion” rather than an “endless war,” suggesting that a coordinated exit strategy with the U.S. is being discussed.

1. The “Epic Fury” Surge: Strikes Inside Tehran

The U.S. and Israel have ramped up bombardments following Iran’s refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

• Tehran Under Fire: Heavy aerial bombardments struck eastern Tehran on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people in residential areas. Rescue teams are reportedly struggling to reach survivors trapped in the rubble.
• Lebanon Front: Israel continued to pound Hezbollah infrastructure south of Beirut and the city of Tyre, with the Lebanese death toll now reaching 486, according to CNN.
• US Stance: Hegseth noted that while strikes are intensifying, Iran’s retaliatory capacity appears to be waning, with Tehran firing the “lowest number of missiles” since the war began on February 28.

2. Gulf Nations Under Constant Barrage

Iran has expanded its “Strait of Suffering” doctrine by targeting neighboring Gulf states that host U.S. interests.

• UAE & Saudi Arabia: Nine drones targeted the UAE on Tuesday; two people were killed despite the interception of 26 drones. Riyadh also reported a drone falling in a residential area, causing material damage.
• Bahrain Tragedy: A missile strike on a residential building in Manama killed a 29-year-old woman and wounded eight others.
• Kuwait & Qatar: Both nations reported multiple interceptions of Iranian-origin drones throughout the day.

3. The Oil Chokepoint: “Peace or Suffering”

The global economy remains on edge as the Strait of Hormuz remains a primary military flashpoint.

• Trump’s Warning: The U.S. President has threatened to hit Iran “20 times harder” if they permanently block oil passage.
• Tehran’s Retort: Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani dismissed Trump’s comments as “empty threats,” warning the U.S. to “be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
• G7 Intervention: Energy ministers from the G7 nations (led by the French presidency) met on Tuesday to discuss a coordinated release of strategic oil stocks to artificially lower prices, which are currently hammering global markets and causing airlines like Air India to hike surcharges.