Here’s What Happened in the Conflict on Sunday

Sunday brought another intense round of violence in the rapidly expanding Middle East conflict, with missile strikes, cross-border attacks, and growing humanitarian concerns across several countries. The fighting now stretches from Iran and Israel to Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf, highlighting how the war has transformed into a broader regional crisis.
One of the most significant developments on Sunday was a new wave of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran and its allies. Air-defense systems in several Gulf countries—including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates—were activated after missiles and drones were detected entering their airspace. Explosions reported in multiple locations were largely the result of air-defense systems intercepting the incoming projectiles. The attacks illustrated how the conflict is no longer limited to Israel and Iran but is increasingly affecting neighboring states as well.
Israel responded with fresh airstrikes across Iranian territory on Sunday. According to military statements, the strikes targeted military infrastructure and strategic facilities believed to be connected to Iran’s missile and drone programs. In recent days, Israeli forces have also targeted oil depots and energy facilities, signaling an effort to weaken Iran’s economic and logistical capabilities during the war.
Iran, meanwhile, continued to retaliate with missile attacks directed at Israel. One of the strikes killed at least one person in Israel and raised the overall death toll in the conflict there. The repeated missile barrages have forced millions of Israelis to seek shelter as air-raid sirens sound across major cities.
The conflict also intensified along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Fighters from Hezbollah launched attacks into northern Israel, prompting heavy Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon. The fighting has triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes. Reports indicate that nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon have fled areas affected by the violence as Israeli strikes continue to hit locations linked to Hezbollah operations.
Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Iraq as well. Iran-aligned militias have launched drone and rocket attacks on American military bases and diplomatic sites, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by U.S. forces. The renewed fighting has turned Iraq into another potential battleground in the wider conflict, raising concerns about the country’s fragile political stability and security situation.
The international dimension of the war also became clearer on Sunday after Iranian officials acknowledged support from Russia in their confrontation with the United States and Israel. Iranian leaders said cooperation between Moscow and Tehran includes assistance “in many different directions,” though details of the support remain unclear. Western officials have downplayed the impact of this assistance but acknowledge that the growing alignment between Iran and Russia adds a new layer of geopolitical complexity to the conflict.
Beyond the battlefield, the economic consequences of the war are becoming increasingly visible. Oil prices have surged as fears grow that the conflict could disrupt energy supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Economists warn that prolonged disruption could trigger global inflation and even push some economies toward recession.
Travel and aviation have also been heavily affected. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights across the Middle East as security risks and closed airspace disrupt global air travel. Major airports in the region have experienced significant delays and cancellations as airlines attempt to reroute flights away from conflict zones.
The war itself began with large-scale airstrikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, targeting key military and leadership sites. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel, U.S. bases, and allied countries throughout the region, rapidly escalating the confrontation into a multi-front war.
As Sunday came to a close, there were few signs that the violence would slow. Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire remain limited, and both sides appear determined to continue their military campaigns. With more countries drawn into the conflict and humanitarian conditions deteriorating, the Middle East now faces one of its most dangerous and unpredictable crises in decades.