Prakash Sngh
This is the most significant morning news item of the 5th of March 2026. The US Senate approved on Wednesday to let President Donald Trump continue his war against Iran.
In the same moment, Iran fired a fresh round of missiles at Israel.
The war, now on its fifth day, has no signs of letting up.
Here’s everything you should be aware of in this brisk story. We will discuss the Senate vote on Iran’s missile barrage, the increasing death toll, and what it means for India and the rest of the world.
The Senate Vote: What Happened and What It Means
The Vote Result: 47 Against, 53 For Trump
The US Senate was able to vote on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. The final vote was 47 in favor of a halt to the war and 53 in opposition.
This means that the resolution to restrict Trump’s war powers fell short.
The bill was referred to as an enactment of war powers. It was drafted by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. If it had been passed, Trump would have needed Congress to authorize any further strikes against Iran.
However, it was not passed.
Nearly every Republican senator supported letting Trump continue to wage war. Only one Republican senator, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted for the Democrats.
On the other hand, one Democrat Senator, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted for Republicans. This resulted in an outcome that was a party line.
Read More : US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship: What Is Happening in the Middle East Crisis Right Now
Why Republicans Backed Trump
Republican senators have said they trust Trump as their commander-in-chief. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa said Trump has the authority to conduct these strikes.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was more direct. He advised lawmakers to let Trump complete the job.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said Iran’s nuclear threat was too serious to ignore.
He said that if Iran were to acquire the capability to develop nuclear weapons they would make use of it. Many other Republicans agreed with this view.
Democrats Were Angry But Powerless
Democratic senators were incredibly dissatisfied.
Senator Tim Kaine said the Trump administration was unable to demonstrate Iran was a danger to the US, even in briefings that were classified.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said that he was more concerned than ever before that the US could send troops on the ground to Iran.
Democrats were aware that the resolution was likely to fail. However, Senator Kaine declared it crucial to force every legislator to sign a statement. He wanted the public to be aware of where their senators stood.
| Senator / Party | State | Vote | Comment |
| Tim Kaine (D) | Virginia | YES – Stop War | The resolution’s lead sponsor is the resolution’s lead sponsor. |
| Rand Paul (R) | Kentucky | YES – Stop War | The only Republican to support Democrats |
| John Fetterman (D) | Pennsylvania | NO – Support War | The only Democrat to support Republicans |
| Lindsey Graham (R) | South Carolina | NO – Support War | Said, “Let him finish the task’ |
| Joni Ernst (R) | Iowa | NO – Support War | He added that Trump is able to strike |
| Richard Blumenthal (D) | Connecticut | YES – Stop War | Be concerned about ground troops |
Iran Fires New Missiles at Israel: What Happened on Day Five
A Fresh Wave of Missiles
This is the latest story that everybody is talking about. While the Senate was deciding on Washington, Iran fired another wave of missiles towards Israel on Wednesday.
Air raid sirens rang across the nation. People ran to bomb shelters in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other cities.
Israel’s air defense system was able to stop the missiles.
Most were shot down. However, some of the debris from missiles intercepted fell upon residential areas. Shrapnel landed on areas of Beit Shemesh, a city close to Jerusalem.
Israel’s emergency services said there were no serious injuries from the blast on Wednesday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the strikes. They claimed they were continuing the strikes that they refer to as Operation True Promise IV.
The Scale of Iran’s Counterattack
Since the war began on February 28th, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles as well as more than 22,000 drones.
US Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed these numbers. The missiles have struck targets across a broad region, not only Israel.
Iran has attacked the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia. It targeted areas close to the US consulate in Dubai. Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain and the UAE were targeted and are currently not operational.
The US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was targeted several times. Then, Jordan and Turkey witnessed missiles and drones invade their airspaces.
| Country Hit | Target Struck | Casualties / Damage |
| Israel | Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem area | 9 people killed in Beit Shemesh on 1 Mar Multiple injured |
| Kuwait | US military base US Embassy compound | 4 US Army reservists killed in drone strike |
| Bahrain | US 5th Fleet Headquarters, Bahrain airport | Airport damaged, multiple strikes |
| UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi) | US consulate area, Amazon data centers | 1 Pakistani national killed by debris |
| Saudi Arabia | US Embassy, Ras Tanura oil refinery | The embassy was hit, and the refinery was temporarily closed |
| Lebanon | Northern Israel targeted by Hezbollah | 50+ people killed in Israeli counter-strikes |
| Jordan | 49 missiles and drones were intercepted | No injuries, property damage |
| Turkey | NATO has intercepted 1 ballistic missile | No casualties have been reported. |
What Is Operation Epic Fury and Why Did It Start
For those who are new to the story, here’s the background. The story is currently trending all over the world. The US and Israel have launched a joint military operation on February 28th, 2026.
The US calls it Operation Epic Fury. Israel is calling it Operation Roaring Lion.
The first strike killed the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as a number of important Iranian officials. The stated aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and to destroy its military capabilities.
President Trump has stated that he took action in the belief that Iran had plans to strike the US first. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump had to choose between striking first or just waiting for Iran to strike the American people living in the region. Trump decided to strike first.
The Shifting Reasons for the War
One reason this war is controversial is that the Trump administration has provided different reasons for beginning the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio first said Israel was planning to strike Iran in the future, and which is why the US joined in. Then the White House said the real reason was Iran’s nuclear program. Then Trump declared that Iran was planning an imminent attack against Israel.
Senator Tim Kaine pointed this out on the Senate floor. Kaine said that the administration was unable to be able to agree on the reason they started the war. This has led to anger among Democrats and a few independent observers.
Hegseth Says the War Could Last Eight Weeks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a press briefing on Wednesday. He stated that the conflict could last up to eight weeks. This is more than the previous estimates of four to five weeks.
Hegseth said that the US, as well as Israel are a few days away from gaining complete control over the airspace of Iran. He also stated that Iran is still able to launch missiles, its power is declining fast.
He also said that the US can continue to battle with ease and added that they are just beginning.
When asked about the possibility of ground troops, Hegseth was not able to rule out the possibility. This has worried a lot of senators as well, both Democrat as well as Republican.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said that he doesn’t think the American people would like to see troops in the field. However, he said the option was not denied.
What Is the Death Toll So Far
The human cost of this war is increasing each day. The health ministry of Iran says that more than 1,045 people have died in Iran since February 28.
The US military has confirmed that six American service members have been killed.
Four of them were Army Reservists killed during an air attack in Kuwait.
In Israel, nine people died in Beit Shemesh on the 1st of March as an Iranian missile struck the bomb shelter beneath the synagogue.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Hezbollah have killed more than 50 people and wounded more than 335.
In the Gulf region At least three victims were murdered in Kuwait. One Pakistani worker was killed in the UAE. Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery came under drone attack, but was successfully defended.
What Happens Next in the US Congress
The Senate vote isn’t an end to the discussion. The US House of Representatives is expected to consider the same resolution on war powers on Thursday, 5 March.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has already said that he has the votes to thwart the resolution. He has compared backing the resolution to a stance against the opposition.
A group of Democrats that is led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer has put forth a different plan. This proposal would grant Trump thirty days to carry on the war, without needing approval from Congress.
It’s a less invasive option; however, it hasn’t been able to gain widespread support until now.
Trump hasn’t put an exact date on the conflict. He has stated that it could be over in a few weeks; however, he has left the possibility open for an extended campaign. He hasn’t completely denied the possibility of an attempt to change the regime in Iran.
How This Affects India: Key Points
For those who read the morning news from India this issue is important very much. Here’s the reason why.
Many thousands of Indians reside and work in Gulf countries being struck by Iranian missiles: UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.
The Indian government has issued a call to all Indian citizens living in these regions to remain safe and follow official advice.
India imports a significant portion of its crude oil from the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, a important oil shipping lane has been subject to major disruptions.
The global price of oil has already increased sharply. This could increase the cost of fuel in India.
Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain are not operational because of drone attacks. These centers offer digital services utilized by a variety of Indian companies.
Any further expansion could have a negative impact on Indian IT companies that have clients located in the Gulf region.
| Impact Area | Detail | Risk Level for India |
| Oil Prices | Strait of Hormuz nearly closed The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and global oil prices are on the rise | High |
| Indian Workers in Gulf | Millions of Indians in the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain | High |
| IT and Cloud Services | AWS data centers located in the UAE as well as Bahrain are offline | Medium |
| Trade Routes | Red Sea and Indian Ocean disruptions continue | Medium |
| Stock Markets | Asian markets are soaring due to war-related fears | Medium |
Conclusion: A War That Is Only Getting Bigger
In today’s news, there is one thing that is evident. This war will not be over anytime soon. The US Senate has given Trump the approval to fight on. Iran continues to fire missiles towards Israel and also across the Gulf.
The death toll continues to rise. The price of oil is increasing. The world is watching with apprehension.
This is currently among the most significant news that has been trending in recent years. A major conflict within the Middle East, started without any formal declaration by the US Congress and is now on its fifth day and there is no plan for an exit in sight.
The length of time it takes to end or lasts for months will be determined by the decisions that are made at Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran in the days to come.
Keep an eye out for updates as the story unfolds. Follow us for daily morning news and updates on the Iran-US conflict.
