New Delhi:The war between the US, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East started more than a month ago, but it doesn't look like it will end anytime soon. Tehran has turned down President Donald Trump's 15-point plan and promised to attack all US bases in the area. Iran has also closed the important Strait of Hormuz, which has caused major problems for the world economy and sent crude oil prices through the roof.
Trump has told Iran that it has until April 6 to open the Strait of Hormuz, or else it will face serious consequences. The 79-year-old American leader reminded Iran of the deadline on Saturday and said that only 48 hours are left before all hell breaks loose in the Islamic Republic.
"Do you remember when I told Iran they had ten days to make a deal or open the Hormuz Strait? Time is running out—48 hours until all hell breaks loose on them. "Glory be to GOD!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
As the April 6 deadline for Iran approaches, let's look back at all the important events that have shaped the war in the Middle East so far:"Operation Epic Fury" starts:The "Operation Epic Fury" began on February 28. The US and Israel attacked the Iranian government multiple times, focusing on its top leaders, nuclear sites, and military infrastructure. The first attacks even killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Reports say that the US and Israel attacked each other more than 900 times on the first day of the war.
Iran's response:Iran began to respond to US and Israeli attacks on March 1 by attacking their bases in the area. Iran targeted almost all of the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Middle Eastern country said it would attack all US bases in the area.
The US loses three F-15s:The US also lost three F-15 fighter jets in Kuwait on March 1 when they were shot down by friendly fire. "All six crew members safely ejected, were safely picked up, and are now in stable condition. We are thankful for the help of the Kuwaiti defense forces in this ongoing operation and for their acknowledgment of this event. The US Central Command said in a statement, "An investigation is underway into what caused the incident."
Disruption starts in Hormuz:There were problems in the Strait of Hormuz starting on March 2, which caused oil prices around the world to go up.
The front in Lebanon:On March 3, Hezbollah joined the fight from Lebanon and attacked the Israeli military. The Israeli military is fighting back against Hezbollah, and so far, their attacks have killed more than 1,100 people.
Iran says it will close Hormuz:On March 6, Iran threatened for the first time to close the Strait of Hormuz. After that, the US military sent more troops to the Gulf.
Attacks in Iraq:On March 8, militias backed by Iran attacked US bases in Iraq.
Mojtaba Khamenei is now the Supreme Leader:Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, became the Supreme Leader of Iran on March 8. Mojtaba has promised to keep attacking the US and Israel to get back at them for his father's death, even though he hasn't been seen in public yet.
F-35 "damaged":Iran "targeted" and "damaged" an F-35 stealth fifth-generation plane from the US military on March 19. The US government confirmed that the jet was damaged while "flying a combat mission over Iran," which forced it to make an emergency landing. Later, they started looking into what happened.
Ultimatum and attack on Diego Garcia:Iran even attacked a US-UK military base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on March 21, but the attack was stopped. On the same day, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to open the Hormuz, after which the US he warned will "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
However, Trump had extended the deadline by 10 days later to April 6.
Focus shifts to talks:But Trump had pushed the deadline back 10 days to April 6.
Speculations about a ground invasion start:There were rumors of a ground invasion by the end of March. The Washington Post also said that the US is planning a ground invasion and that it has already made a plan for it that is waiting for Trump's approval.
Trump's claim that Iran "asked for a ceasefire":Trump even said on April 1 that Iran had asked for a ceasefire, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry called this "false and baseless." That night, he also said that the US would hit Iran so hard that it would "bring them back to the stone age."
Targeted Bridge:The US also hit the B1 bridge between Tehran and Karaj on April 2. Trump said in a video that he shared, "The New Regime leadership knows what needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly!" The US hasn't even begun to destroy what is left in Iran. "Next, bridges, then electric power plants!"
F-15E shot down in Iran:A US F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iranian airspace. An A-10 Warthog jet also crashed in the Persian Gulf on the same day, but the pilot was saved.
Attacked: Bushehr nuclear plantThe US and Israel attacked Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility on April 4, killing one person. But there were no reports of a radiation leak. In the meantime, one of the crew members of the crashed F-15E was saved.
Another F-15 crew saved:The US saved the other F-15E Strike Eagle, which went down on April 3. Iran said that during the rescue operation, several US planes were shot down, including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport plane. Five people died.