Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. According to the latest reports from Xinhua News Agency, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated on the 4th that over 500 U.S. military personnel have died in the "war" launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. This claim by Larijani has not yet been independently verified.
The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on the evening of the 4th, announcing that the Israeli Air Force has completed a large-scale strike on a military facility east of Tehran, Iran's capital. The facility reportedly "housed multiple command centers and personnel from Iran's domestic security forces."
In a related development, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated during a press conference on the 4th that deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran is currently "not part of the plan," but she would not rule out any military options from U.S. President Trump.
In a separate update, shipping giant Maersk announced that, effective immediately, it is temporarily suspending new bookings for cargo moving to and from Israel, the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia until further notice. Freight services to and from Jordan and Lebanon are still being accepted.
In financial markets, Japanese and South Korean stock markets opened sharply higher today. South Korea's KOSPI index rapidly expanded its gains to 11%, with SK Hynix shares surging 15% and Samsung Electronics shares jumping 13%. Subsequently, the Korea Exchange triggered a circuit breaker on the Kosdaq index, halting program trading for five minutes. Japan's Nikkei 225 index saw its gains quickly widen to 3%, while the Topix index rose 3.6%. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed over 1%. Overnight, the three major U.S. stock indices closed higher, with the Nasdaq up 1.29%, the S&P 500 up 0.78%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.49%. Most major technology stocks advanced.
**Iran: Over 500 U.S. Troops Killed** On March 5, Xinhua News Agency reported that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, posted on a social media platform on the 4th, stating that over 500 U.S. military personnel have died in the "war" launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. This claim by Larijani has not yet been independently verified.
Larijani stated that U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have jointly dragged the American people into an "unjust war" with Iran. He said Trump must consider whether, after the deaths of over 500 U.S. troops in recent days, it is now "America First" or "Israel First."
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported on the 4th that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that during the 17th wave of the "True Promise-4" operation, Iranian forces used hypersonic missiles and drones to breach the U.S. "THAAD" missile defense system, striking the Israeli Ministry of Defense building and Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The announcement stated that Iran is carrying out severe retaliation against Israel, and attacks in the coming days will be more intense and widespread.
Earlier that day, Iran's Fars News Agency, citing the IRGC, reported that the IRGC Aerospace Force had launched the 17th wave of the "True Promise-4" operation "hours ago," firing over 40 missiles at various U.S. and Israeli targets.
On the 4th, local time, according to CCTV News, the IRGC used the "Hajad 110" high-speed drone for the first time in the current conflict. According to previous Iranian military reports, the "Hajad 110" is a new type of high-speed suicide attack drone, launched by rocket booster, with a top speed of 500 km/h, making it Iran's fastest suicide attack drone.
In another report, CCTV News stated that Iranian authorities previously indicated that, as of local time on March 4, the death toll in Iran from the U.S. and Israeli attacks had reached 1,045.
Israel's Channel 12 television reported on the evening of the 4th, citing a senior U.S. official, that "Iranian Kurdish opposition forces" stationed in Iraq had launched a "ground offensive" against Iran from the north of the country. The Jerusalem Post website reported that day that Israeli and U.S. officials had confirmed to them that thousands of Kurdish fighters had begun "ground operations" into Iranian territory from border areas in Iraq. Furthermore, The Times of Israel website reported that the "Iranian Kurdish opposition forces" in Iraq are believed to number several thousand soldiers, and their involvement "could pose a challenge to Iran and might further draw Iraq into the conflict."
**White House: No Current Plan to Send Ground Troops to Iran** According to CCTV News, on March 4 local time, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated at a press conference that the primary objectives of the "Epic Fury" operation launched last weekend include: destroying Iran's ballistic missiles and their production systems, striking Iranian naval capabilities, weakening Iran's proxy forces in the Middle East, and ensuring Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons.
She stated that, as of now, U.S. forces have struck over 2,000 targets, destroying a significant number of missiles, launchers, and drones, and sinking more than 20 Iranian vessels, including a submarine. She claimed that there are currently no Iranian warships active in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman, and U.S. forces are expected to achieve "complete control" of Iranian airspace within the coming hours. Six U.S. military personnel have been killed in this operation.
When asked about the possibility of deploying ground troops to Iran, Levitt said that ground forces are not currently part of the operational plan, but the President would not rule out any military options. When asked if invoking the Defense Production Act to increase ammunition stockpiles was being considered, Levitt stated she had not heard that the President was currently considering such a measure, but Trump had repeatedly publicly urged U.S. defense contractors to accelerate weapons production to enhance U.S. industrial capacity.
The United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on February 28. Currently, the U.S.-Israeli military actions primarily consist of airstrikes. However, whether ground troops will be sent to Iran has not been explicitly ruled out by U.S. President Trump or Defense Secretary Haghes, drawing significant attention.
The Israel Defense Forces stated on the evening of the 4th that the Israeli Air Force has completed a large-scale strike on a military facility east of Tehran. The statement said the facility "housed multiple command centers and personnel from Iran's domestic security forces." The targeted command centers reportedly included the IRGC headquarters, the Quds Force headquarters, the Iranian domestic security forces headquarters, and cyber warfare headquarters. Among the command centers attacked were those responsible for directing "Iranian operatives" involved in attacks against Israel. The statement added that the Israeli military "will continue to further weaken the Iranian regime."