Iran Update Morning Special Report, March 6, 2026

Data Cutoff: 08:00 AM ET

The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) are publishing two updates daily to provide analysis on the war with Iran. The morning update will focus on US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran and the Axis of Resistance’s response to the strikes. The evening update will be more comprehensive, covering events over the past 24-hour period and refining items discussed in the morning update.

Key Takeaways:

• The combined force has targeted the Iranian internal security infrastructure on March 6 to degrade the regime’s ability to maintain domestic control. The combined force targeted several law enforcement command and paramilitary facilities, including police stations in Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, and two Basij Resistance bases in Tehran Province on March 6.
• The combined force has targeted key Iranian military infrastructure across multiple provinces, including missile sites, command and control institutions, and naval facilities. The combined force struck a ballistic missile site in Zanjan Province and the Imam Ali Missile Base near Khorramabad in Lorestan Province.
• Hezbollah claimed that the group conducted 18 attacks targeting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions and forces in northern Israel and southern Lebanon since ISW-CTP’s last data cutoff at 4:00 PM ET. Hezbollah claimed on March 5 that its fighters engaged and shelled Israeli ground forces in Markaba, Khiam, and Wadi al Asafir, Marjaayoun District.

Toplines

The IDF issued an evacuation warning on March 6 for the Shokouhiyeh Industrial Zone in Qom Province.[i] The industrial zone hosts companies linked to Iran’s armed forces production networks, including Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company, which the United States sanctioned in 2021 for supporting the IRGC and producing engines used in Iranian drones. [ii]

The combined forces struck Esteghlal Industrial Zone in Tehran Province on March 6.[iii] The industrial zone hosts companies linked to Iran’s defense industrial base, including Azmoon Pajohan Hesgar LLC.[iv] The United States sanctioned Azmoon Pajohan Hesgar in 2024 for links to the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) under counter-proliferation sanctions.[v]

The combined force targeted the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), which is an Iranian drone manufacturing facility in Shahin Shahr, Esfahan Province, on March 2.[vi] Satellite imagery from March 2 shows multiple damaged buildings at the facility.[vii] HESA operates under the Iranian Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ministry and produces Ababil- and Shahed-series drones.[viii] The United States sanctioned HESA in 2008 for supporting Iran’s military aircraft and drone programs.[ix]

The combined force targeted the Iranian internal security infrastructure on March 6 to degrade the regime’s ability to maintain domestic control. The combined force targeted several law enforcement command and paramilitary facilities, including police stations in Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, and two Basij Resistance bases in Tehran Province on March 6.[x] The combined force also struck IRGC positions in Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan provinces.[xi] These facilities support the regime’s internal security apparatus, including the IRGC, Basij, and Law Enforcement Command, which the regime relies on to suppress unrest and maintain internal stability.

The combined force has targeted key Iranian military infrastructure across multiple provinces, including missile sites, command and control institutions, and naval facilities. The combined force struck a ballistic missile site in Zanjan Province and the Imam Ali Missile Base near Khorramabad in Lorestan Province.[xii] The combined force also targeted the Heydar Karar missile base in Absard, Tehran Province, on March 6.[xiii]

The combined force targeted senior Iranian political leadership and regime decision-making infrastructure in Tehran on March 6.[xiv] The IDF reported on March 6 that it targeted facilities associated with the Iranian supreme leader’s compound and other government sites, including an underground bunker beneath the supreme leader’s compound in the Pastour neighborhood, central Tehran.[xv] The combined force killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the same area on February 28.[xvi]  

Axis of Resistance Retaliation

Hezbollah claimed that the group conducted 18 attacks targeting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions and forces in northern Israel and southern Lebanon since ISW-CTP’s last data cutoff at 4:00 PM ET. Hezbollah claimed on March 5 that its fighters engaged and shelled Israeli ground forces in Markaba, Khiam, and Wadi al Asafir, Marjaayoun District.[xvii] Hezbollah claimed that the group’s attack inflicted Israeli casualties and caused unspecified Israeli units to withdraw.[xviii] The IDF reported that seven 84th Infantry Brigade (162nd Division) soldiers were injured in southern Lebanon, though it is unclear if this occurred during these engagements with Hezbollah.[xix] The 84th (Givati) Infantry Brigade previously conducted counterterrorism (CT) operations along the Israel-Lebanon border and in Gaza.[xx] Hezbollah also claimed that it launched rockets and artillery targeting additional Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, including Kfar Kila, and Tal al Hamamis, Marjaayoun District.[xxi] The Tal al Hamamis outpost is one of Israel’s five permanent positions in southern Lebanon that it has occupied since February 2025.[xxii] Hezbollah said on March 5 and 6 that it launched multiple rocket and drone attacks targeting northern Israeli towns and military installations, including the Haifa Naval Base, Yoav barracks, and Zarit barracks, all in northern Israel.[xxiii] Hezbollah previously targeted these Israeli military sites during the October 7 War.[xxiv] Hezbollah has also repeatedly targeted the Haifa Naval Base since March 3.[xxv]