This article was written by Melinda Liu.

-The war on Iran is estimated to have so far cost 3.7 billion dollars in its first 100 hours – that is 90 million dollars a day. This is owed to the use of massive amounts of munitions, stealth bombers, and advanced weapons systems, Washington-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says.

-More details have emerged on the girls’ school in Minab, Iran, hit on Saturday, resulting in a death toll of over 100, via US military investigators speaking to Reuters. They believe that it was “likely” that US forces were involved in the strike, but details such as why the school was struck remain unknown. US officials “did not rule ​out the possibility that new evidence could emerge that absolves the U.S. of responsibility.” Additionally, “the school is adjacent to a compound operated by ​the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),” leading to speculation that the compound may have been the target instead.

Satellite imagery showing the damaged school and other nearby buildings hit in the strike, as of March 4. Source: Reuters.

-US crude in total has risen 35.63% in the past week, the sharpest increase in over 40 years, while Brent jumped 28%, the biggest increase since April of 2020.“West Texas Intermediate futures surged 12.21%, or $9.89, to close at $90.90 per barrel” while “Brent rallied 8.52%, or $7.28, to settle at $92.69 per barrel.” If the Strait of Hormuz continues to block the passage of oil tankers, the price of oil could rise to as much as $150 per barrel.

A screenshot showing the increase of West Texas Intermediate prices in relation to the last six months on March 6 at 10:00 PM ET. Source: Google Finance.

–Russia is providing intelligence to Iran regarding the location of US warships, radar, and communication systems, according to “four sources with knowledge of the matter.” There is no evidence, however, that Russia is assisting directly with drone or missile strikes. 

-The Gulf states continue to intercept and fend off Iranian missiles and drones fired in retaliatory strikes. In Qatar, air defenses successfully intercepted a drone attack on an air base early on March 6, while Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE report missile and drone attacks continuing.

-Before the drone attack that killed six US soldiers, Iranian intelligence is believed to have identified, tracked, and surveilled US forces and military installations. “Smaller quad-copter drones were seen flying around the Shuaiba port in Kuwait” and are suspected of conducting reconnaissance, according to three US officials speaking anonymously. Also, on March 2, US forces recovered “GPS transponders connected to balloons or parachutes near Patriot Missile Defense Systems” – though it is unknown what the transponders were used for.

–Some Iranians gather in Tehran to mourn the death of the late Supreme Leader, as “the government attempts to put on a defiant face.”

-Following reports that Kurdish opposition forces were in contact with US forces, Kurdish analysts, speaking to Al Jazeera, state that many are uncertain over US-Israeli war goals and are therefore hesitant to join the conflict. Iranian Kurdish forces are massively outnumbered and are believed to be able to provide just 10,000 fighters. Additionally, Kurdish cooperation with the US in the past has had disastrous results – in 1991, after President Bush called on the Kurds to rebel against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, “the ensuing rebellion went unsupported, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and years of displacement.”

-Writing on Truth Social, President Trump demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender and stated that that is the only way the offensive that has now entered its seventh day will stop. Israel and the US have threatened further escalation, while Israeli strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah have already displaced 1 million.

–Strikes continue to hit Tehran as explosions send up plumes of smoke early Saturday morning. Israel has announced a new wave of strikes, while the Trump administration “approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel.”