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Iran War Timeline: Key Strikes to Cease-Fire

Source: nytimes.com

TL;DR

U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sparking a five-week regional war.
A U.S. strike hit a girls' elementary school in southern Iran, killing at least 175 people, mostly children, in a targeting error.
War ended with a two-week cease-fire on day 39 after Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade disrupted global oil flows.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)

The story at a glance

The New York Times article by Ashley Ahn provides a timeline of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which began February 28 and lasted over five weeks until a cease-fire on April 7. Key players include President Trump, who framed the conflict partly as a push for regime change; Israel; and Iran, whose retaliation spread fighting to Lebanon and Gulf states while blockading the Strait of Hormuz. This is reported now as the fragile truce takes hold amid ongoing attacks and economic fallout.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)

Key points

War started February 28: U.S. and Israeli strikes hit Tehran government compound and military sites, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (supreme leader since 1989) plus top military and intelligence figures.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)
Same day: U.S. strike on girls' elementary school in southern Iran (near Minab) killed at least 175, mostly children; U.S. called it a targeting mistake based on faulty intelligence.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)
Iran retaliated February 28 with missiles and drones on Israel and U.S. bases in Qatar, Kuwait, UAE.
March 1: Iranian drone hit Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, killing six U.S. soldiers—first American deaths.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)
Conflict killed thousands (mostly Iran, Lebanon), displaced hundreds of thousands; Iran blockaded Strait of Hormuz, halting ~20% of global oil trade.[[2]](https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-us-will-help-with-traffic-buildup-strait-hormuz-2026-04-08)
April 7 (day 39): Trump announced two-week cease-fire tied to Iran pausing Hormuz blockade; Iran called it a victory.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-trump-us-israel-oil-strait-of-hormuz.html)

Details and context

The war marked Trump's second direct U.S. clash with Iran in under a year. He initially projected four to five weeks for operations but extended amid Iran's resistance via proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and control of the Strait— a 21-mile-wide chokepoint between Iran and Oman.[[2]](https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-us-will-help-with-traffic-buildup-strait-hormuz-2026-04-08)

Iran's Hormuz blockade, starting post-initial strikes, spiked oil prices and fueled global shortages; Tehran imposed "tolls" on some ships ($1 million+ for unfriendly nations) while blocking others, giving leverage in talks.[[3]](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-2026-trump-deadline-latest-news/card/strait-of-hormuz-has-a-tehran-toll-and-this-truce-doesn-t-change-that-PUgURyIpChMDC5NQQ1vu)

Cease-fire details remain fuzzy: U.S. demands full, safe reopening; Iran insists on maintaining influence, possibly fees with Oman, and links it to no further attacks. Post-announcement strikes hit Gulf oil sites and Israel, testing the truce.[[4]](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-agrees-two-week-ceasefire-iran-says-safe-passage-through-hormuz-possible-2026-04-08)

Key quotes

Trump on cease-fire: "We have already met and exceeded all military objectives."[[5]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXc9urshr9Q)

Why it matters

Thousands dead and regional instability threaten broader Middle East security, with risks of proxy wars expanding. Global energy markets face ongoing shortages and price swings as ~20% of oil once flowed through Hormuz; consumers see higher fuel costs, businesses face supply chains strains. Watch Hormuz traffic resumption and two-week truce compliance—violations like recent strikes could restart full war.[[6]](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-08/us-and-iran-agree-to-ceasefire-easing-fears-of-energy-crisis)