March 7, 2026 β’ Israel
AMERICAN ISRAELI WAR ON IRAN: Israel Confirms Direct Hits on 30 Oil Depots in Iran, Tehran Fights Back with Cluster Munitions as US Denies Capture Claims - Full Infograph Inside
On the eighth day of the conflict, the Israeli army confirmed a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian oil depots and military infrastructure. Tehran has introduced cluster munitions into the battle, challenging Israeli air defenses, while Washington officially denies Iranian claims of capturing American soldiers.
π SMikhail
π₯
~30
Oil Depots Struck
The Israeli army stated it targeted approximately 30 oil depots in Tehran and other areas.
π
300+
Rocket Launchers Hit
Israel claims to have struck over 300 rocket launch platforms, though the total remaining in Iran's arsenal is unknown.
π‘οΈ
4
Air Defense Layers
Air defense networks operate across four layers: Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group (before its redeployment).
π¬
2
New Bilateral Dialogues
Reports of two significant statements: one from Netanyahu on the scope of the war, and one from CENTCOM denying Iranian capture claims.
βοΈ
165
Casualties in School Strike
President Trump denied US responsibility for a strike on an Iranian school, stating 165 female students were killed and blaming Iran.
π
2026
3rd Carrier Deployed
The US is sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, signaling a prolonged and expanded operation.
- The Israeli army confirmed it carried out airstrikes targeting approximately 30 oil depots in Tehran and other areas.
- The strikes aim to destroy infrastructure and destabilize Iran, focusing on energy facilities.
- Videos from Tehran showed flames rising into the sky, confirming the hits.
- Israel struck the command headquarters of the Air Defense operations room belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
- Attacks also targeted weapons depots, missile launch platforms, and remaining security headquarters affiliated with the Basij.
- Iran has introduced highly dangerous cluster munitions into the conflict, now seen almost daily.
- These missiles have lower explosive power but wider damage, releasing hundreds of small projectiles.
- Iron Dome cannot intercept these small projectiles; only advanced systems like Arrow or THAAD can engage the missile before it disperses.
- This marks a tactical shift by Iran fromε―ι salvos to precision weaponry.
- The Israeli military confirmed strikes are fully coordinated with the United States.
- Netanyahu stated the battle will continue, asserting that Iran is weaker than before with severe damage to its air defenses and launch capabilities.
- He emphasized that Iran is a threat not only to Israel but to the entire region, including Arab countries, Europe, and the US.
- Iranian officials (Larijani) announced the capture of a number of American soldiers.
- The announcement was timed as Trump received the bodies of six American soldiers.
- CENTCOM officially denied the claim, calling it a "new example of Iranian lies and misinformation."
- Denied US responsibility for a strike on an Iranian school that killed 165 female students, blaming Iran.
- Expressed a desire for an Iranian leadership that does not drag Iran into war again.
- Claimed the US has achieved significant successes, destroying a large stockpile of Iranian missiles, leading to a decrease in launches.
- Stated that if ground forces are sent to Iran, the regime will have already collapsed, and forces would be there to manage the transition.
- Indicated the military operation in Iran will take "some time," deviating from previous estimates of four weeks.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group has departed the Eastern Mediterranean for the Red Sea to support operations against the Houthis.
- A third US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, indicating the operation is expanding and will take months.
- Iran continues to fire rockets daily, though the pace and tactics have changed, now using cluster munitions and varying strike timings/locations.
- Israel is maintaining information censorship, preventing civilian footage to protect morale and operational security.
- Commentators noted China is a major buyer of Iranian fuel and is therefore affected by the strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure.
- This dynamic was compared to previous instances where China was impacted by events in Venezuela.
KEY QUOTES
"The Israeli army confirmed it carried out an airstrike... we saw its results through videos that spread from Tehran, showing flames rising into the sky." β Ahmad Al-Budieri, Correspondent in Jerusalem
"The Iranian announcements of capturing American soldiers are a new example of lies and misinformation." β CENTCOM Spokesperson
"The Iranian regime is not only a threat to Israel, but also a danger to the entire region, including Arab countries, Europe, and the United States." β Benjamin Netanyahu
"If ground forces are sent to Iran, the Iranian regime will have already collapsed." β Donald Trump
Israel
Iran
Gaza
Tehran
Jerusalem
Washington
Netanyahu
Trump
Larijani
CENTCOM
IDF
airstrikes
oil depots
oil infrastructure
cluster munitions
cluster bombs
ballistic missiles
air defense
Iron Dome
Arrow
THAAD
USS Gerald R. Ford
Red Sea
propaganda
misinformation
prisoners of war
school strike
escalation
Middle East
China
energy security
2026