Israel strikes Iran naval command centre and destroys vessels
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 9
Israel strikes Iran naval command centre and destroys vessels
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 9
The March attack hit the port of Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea, where Israel said fighter jets destroyed several Iranian navy vessels.
Israel called it one of its most significant strikes in combat operations against Iran, targeting a northern waterway rather than the strategically critical Persian Gulf.
The Caspian has gained importance as a Russia-Iran trade route, with US officials saying Moscow ships drone components through it as Iran rebuilds after losing about 60% of its drone arsenal.
How will Russia sending its own advanced drones to Iran reshape the military balance in the Middle East?
Can the new US-backed trade corridor effectively challenge the strategic Russia-Iran axis in the Caspian region?
With a trade route now a battleground, what are the cascading economic effects of this widening conflict?
2026 US-Israeli Airstrikes on Iran: Operation Epic Fury, Naval Escalation, and Regional Fallout
Overview
In March 2026, Israel escalated its conflict with Iran by launching airstrikes on Iranian naval assets in the Caspian Sea, marking the first confirmed Israeli operations in northern Iran. This escalation was enabled by Israel’s destruction of about 85% of Iran’s air defense systems, granting the IDF air superiority across the country. The strikes targeted key infrastructure used for smuggling weapons to Russia, while intelligence revealed Russia was supplying Iran with advanced drones and missiles. These actions reflect a broader strategy to degrade Iran’s military capabilities and disrupt its regional influence, intensifying the ongoing conflict.