CAIRO, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Sunday marks the one-month milestone in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Despite reports earlier this week of potential U.S.-Iran talks to end hostilities, no substantive progress has emerged. Continued strikes and military reinforcement in the Middle East are further dampening hope for a swift de-escalation.
The following is a timeline of the conflict starting from Feb. 28:
Feb. 28:
-- The United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior officials including Iran's National Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi.
-- The IRGC launched retaliatory "Operation True Promise-4," firing missiles and drones at U.S. military bases in the Middle East and targets in Israel.
March 2:
-- Lebanon's Hezbollah said it had launched rockets and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ali Khamenei. The Israel Defense Forces said it launched "forceful" airstrikes across Lebanon in response, noting it began operating "against Hezbollah's decision to join the campaign."
March 3:
-- The U.S. Department of State urged Americans to depart immediately from the Middle East "due to serious safety risks." The locations with "serious safety risks" include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
-- Deputy Commander of IRGC's Navy Mohammad Akbarzadeh said the Strait of Hormuz was under Iran's full control.
March 7:
-- Israeli strikes hit four oil depots and a refinery in Tehran and nearby Alborz province, causing massive explosions and plumes of smoke. The following day, toxic "black rain" fell in the area, which was linked to the attacks.
March 8:
-- Iran's Assembly of Experts announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new supreme leader, citing "the decisive vote of the respected representatives" of the assembly.
March 12:
-- In his first public remarks, Mojtaba Khamenei called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and urged neighboring countries to shut down U.S. bases.
March 13:
-- U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military carried out bombing raids against military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export hub that handles most of the country's crude shipments.
March 15:
-- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the end of the war would depend on guarantees that attacks would not be repeated and on the payment of compensation for damage caused during the conflict. He also said the Strait of Hormuz remained open to all countries, "except for American vessels and their allies."
March 17:
-- Trump said the United States had been informed by most of its NATO allies that they did not "want to get involved" with its military operation against Iran. He claimed the United States would "no longer need, or desire" any help from NATO allies or any other countries in the world.
March 18:
-- Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed the death of its secretary, Ali Larijani. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also confirmed that Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in a recent attack.
March 21:
-- The United States and Israel carried out an attack on the Natanz uranium-enrichment facility in Iran. As a counterattack, Iranian missile strikes hit the cities of Arad and Dimona in southern Israel.
-- Trump threatened to hit Iran's power plants if the country doesn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
March 22:
-- Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that if the United States follows through with its threats, Iran would take retaliatory measures, including completely closing the Strait of Hormuz and striking power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases.
March 23:
-- Trump said he had instructed the U.S. military to postpone military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days following what he described as "very good and productive" talks with Iran. Tehran, however, denied any such contact soon after Trump's remarks.
March 24:
-- Israel's Channel 12 reported the United States had sent Tehran a 15-point peace plan, via Pakistan, in an attempt to end the war with Iran.
March 25:
-- The U.S. Central Command said that the U.S. military had struck over 10,000 Iranian military targets.
-- Iran's Deputy Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization Pouria Kolivand said U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran had resulted in at least 1,750 deaths and 22,800 injuries in the country.
March 26:
-- Trump said he would pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days.
-- Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said U.S.-Iran indirect negotiations were being mediated via Pakistan. Iranian media reported that Tehran had formally responded to Washington's 15-point ceasefire proposal.
March 28:
--Yemen's Houthi armed forces said they had launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting "sensitive Israeli military sites" in southern Israel. Local observers said the attacks appeared to signal the Houthis' formal entry into the widening regional conflict. ■
