US-Iran War: 2026-04-05

A projectile struck near the perimeter of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant around 08:30 on April 5, damaging one of the plant's auxiliary buildings, according to Iranian state media. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent letters to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council warning that attacks near the plant risk triggering a catastrophic radiological disaster. Russia has evacuated 198 staff members from the Bushehr site. No damage to the reactor itself has been reported, and the extent of the auxiliary building damage remains unclear.

Lebanon's Islamic Resistance announced it targeted an Israeli military warship approximately 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast at 00:05 on April 5, using a naval cruise missile following hours of surveillance. The Resistance stated the warship was preparing to carry out strikes when it was hit. The statement invoked the famous 2006 moment when Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan announced the destruction of the Israeli Sa'ar 5 warship, saying "look at it burning." Israel has not yet commented on the claim.

Iran's IRGC announced Wave 96 of Operation True Promise 4, targeting energy infrastructure linked to the US and Israel across the region. According to the IRGC statement, targets included a refinery supplying aircraft fuel to Haifa, Exxon Mobil and Chevron gas facilities in the UAE, a petrochemical facility in Bahrain that produces petroleum derivatives for the US military, and facilities in Kuwait. IRGC warned that a second phase of the operation would follow with greater force, and that any further attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure would provoke a multiplied response.

US sources including ABC, NBC, and The New York Times acknowledged the loss of multiple aircraft over a 48-hour period: one F-15E Strike Eagle, one A-10 Warthog, four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters, two UH-60 Black Hawks, two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and four MQ-9 Reaper drones. Reports from warmonitors also indicate US forces deliberately destroyed their own C-130 and an MH-6 Little Bird that had been damaged by small arms fire before departing a forward base inside Iran.

An Iranian ballistic missile heavily damaged the Aero-Sentinel drone production facility in Petah Tikva, disrupting part of its manufacturing operations. The company stated it is determined to restore production quickly. The strike is part of Iran ongoing Wave 96 retaliatory operations targeting Israeli military and defense industrial sites.

Lebanon Islamic Resistance announced that its fighters targeted an Israeli military warship approximately 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast at 00:05 on April 5, using a naval cruise missile after hours of surveillance. The statement said the warship was preparing to carry out strikes when it was hit, invoking the famous "Look at it burn" moment from the 2006 Lebanon war. The IDF has not issued a statement on the claimed hit.

Russia has evacuated 198 personnel from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran following increased attacks in the area, OSINTdefender reports. The evacuation raises concerns about nuclear safety, though no direct damage to the reactor itself has been reported. The plant is operated by Rosatom and has been a subject of international nuclear watchdog attention since the conflict began.

Multiple waves of Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the Negev desert in Israel, with at least one impact confirmed at the Ramat Hovav Industrial Zone south of Beer Sheva, causing damage to an industrial area. Air raid sirens also sounded in Beer Sheva, Arad, and Dimona. Meanwhile, an Iranian drone struck Bahrain's BAPCO oil storage facility, and a Bahraini interceptor missile failed to intercept a second Iranian projectile, instead striking the same storage facility — causing an additional fire, according to the Middle East Spectator channel.

Israeli forces struck the Jnah area of Beirut near the Hariri Governmental Hospital, with local media reporting the area includes a shopping center, a hospital and residential buildings. Al Jazeera quoted a medical source reporting at least 20 people injured in the initial count. Unlike previous Israeli strikes on Beirut Southern Suburb, this strike came without prior warning or evacuation orders. The IDF has not issued a statement on the strike.

President Trump issued a new ultimatum on social media, vowing to target Iranian power plants and bridges on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, stating the Iranian leadership would be "living in Hell." His post ended with "Praise be to Allah." Earlier, Trump said he believed a deal with Iran could be reached by Monday or Tuesday, warning that otherwise "we will blow everything up and take the oil." The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to traffic as Iran maintains its blockade of the vital oil shipping route.

Iran launched coordinated drone and missile attacks targeting energy infrastructure in three Gulf states on Sunday, in what IRGC called the first phase of Wave 96 under Operation True Promise 4. Kuwait reported strikes on power plants and a petrochemical complex that also damaged a desalination station; Bahrain said a drone attack caused a fire at a state oil storage facility and a petrochemical plant; the UAE said fires at its Ruwais petrochemical plant were caused by intercepted debris. The attacks followed Israeli strikes on the Mahshahr petrochemical zone in Iran on Saturday.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps published images of aircraft wreckage it says was left behind by US forces during the rescue operation, claiming IRGC forces prevented the US from recovering the pilot. The IRGC said it prevented the rescue attempt and displayed what it described as remains of destroyed US aircraft. The US has not confirmed the Iranian version of events. This comes as the war enters its 38th day with over 2,076 people killed in Iran since the conflict began.

An Iranian ballistic missile struck the Negev industrial zone on Sunday afternoon, igniting a fire and raising fears of hazardous chemical leakage, according to Israel's Environmental Protection Ministry. Israeli emergency services responded to the scene. The strike came as Iran continued launching missiles toward Israeli territory.

US commandos rescued the second crew member of a downed F-15E fighter jet overnight, ending a dramatic two-day search after the aircraft crashed in southwestern Iran on Friday. President Trump confirmed the rescue, saying the airman is "safe and sound" but with serious injuries. The first crew member was rescued hours after the crash. The rescue came as Iranian forces closed in on the location, forcing US forces to destroy their own C-130 Hercules and MH-6 Little Bird helicopters before departing the forward base.

Iran dismissed Trump's 48-hour Hormuz deadline as a "helpless and nervous" ultimatum. Meanwhile, US-Israeli strikes on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone in Khuzestan killed 5 people and wounded 170. Iran also reports more than 30 universities have been targeted since the war began, including the Laser and Plasma Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. Kuwait reported new Iranian drone attacks damaging power and desalination facilities and sparking a fire at an oil complex. The Hormuz deadline expires tomorrow, April 6.