US and Iran Agree to 2-Week Ceasefire - Chronology of Iran War

--On February 28, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on multiple Iranian locations, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in power for nearly 37 years, along with several high-ranking Iranian military, political, and intelligence officials. At least 175 people died in an airstrike on a girls' primary school in southern Iran. Foreign media, including The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the investigation, suggested the incident may have been a US friendly fire accident. Iran immediately retaliated, using missiles and drones to strike all of Israel and US bases in the Persian Gulf region, including Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. --On March 1, an Iranian drone attacked the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait, killing 6 US soldiers, the first American casualties of the war. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader, drawing Lebanon into the conflict. Israeli ground forces subsequently invaded southern Lebanon. Trump, in a brief phone interview with The New York Times, when asked how long the US and Israel intended to attack Iran, replied, "4 to 5 weeks." --On March 4, media outlets including CNN reported that Iran attacked US bases and facilities across the Arabian Peninsula, targeting communications, radar, and intelligence equipment. The US later confirmed that an AN/TPY-2 phased array radar and support equipment belonging to a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system deployed in Jordan was destroyed early in the war; a US-made AN/FPS-132 PAVE PAWS long-range early warning radar system in Qatar was also damaged during Iranian attacks. --On March 8, following the deaths of several high-ranking officials in US-Israeli airstrikes, Iran announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the deceased Khamenei, would succeed him as Supreme Leader. Mojtaba, 56, was appointed by a committee of senior Shia clerics, demonstrating regime continuity and a hardline stance. --On March 11, Iran intensified attacks on the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas, which carry a significant portion of the world's oil and natural gas transport. This move drove up oil prices and prompted the Trump administration to urgently seek to calm global markets. --On March 12, Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first written statement as Supreme Leader, ordering the military to continue blockading the Strait of Hormuz. A US Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling tanker crashed in Iraq, killing all 6 US crew members, bringing the total US death toll in the war to over 13. --On March 13, US forces bombed Iran's main oil export hub, Kharg Island. Trump stated that the targets were military infrastructure on the island and not its oil facilities; Kharg Island handles about 90% of Iran's oil exports. --On March 17, the Israeli military killed Ali Larijani, Chairman of Iran's National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia, dealing another heavy blow to Iran's leadership since February 28th. --On March 18, Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field, which accounts for about 70% to 75% of Iran's natural gas production; Iran attacked Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, a major global liquefied natural gas export facility. --On March 23, Trump stated that the United States and Iran were discussing an end to the war. This was the first sign of diplomatic negotiations since the outbreak of hostilities. --On March 27, Iran attacked Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, injuring 12 US soldiers and destroying at least one crucial US E-3 early warning aircraft. --On March 28, the Houthi movement, an Iran-backed armed group in Yemen, joined the war by firing a ballistic missile at Israel, which was intercepted. --On April 3, Iran shot down a US F-15E dual-seat fighter jet; the pilot was safely rescued the same day, but the weapons control officer was stranded inside Iran. US forces launched a high-risk rescue operation deep inside Iran and successfully extracted the individual. --On April 7, Trump announced that a two-week ceasefire agreement had been reached with Iran. Negotiations were scheduled to begin in Pakistan on the 10th, with the hope of reaching an agreement to end the war. (Compiled by: Chen Yi-wei) 1150408