US-Iran War — 2026-03-31

US Strikes Isfahan Ammunition Depot Near Nuclear Site as War Enters Second Month

US forces struck an ammunition depot in Isfahan with 2,000-pound bunker buster bombs, sending a fireball visible across the city. The depot sits near one of three nuclear sites hit during the June 2025 campaign, and satellite imagery suggests Iran relocated most of its 60%-enriched uranium stockpile to a facility approximately 20 km from the strike. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine reported that US forces have struck more than 11,000 targets inside Iran since operations began February 28. Defense Secretary Hegseth, visiting CENTCOM, said the coming days would be decisive and did not rule out ground operations.

Analysis
The shift from nuclear facilities to ammunition depots signals a deliberate escalation calibration: destroying war-sustaining capacity rather than nuclear infrastructure, which would trigger NPT withdrawal. The 11,000-target count in 31 days exceeds the pace of initial operations in Iraq 2003. Hegseth's refusal to rule out ground operations aligns with the prior digest's reporting on the Pentagon's preparation of a weeks-long ground plan including Kharg Island seizure.

3 sources

US strikes a city home to an Iranian nuclear site while Tehran hits oil tanker - Washington Post
U.S. strikes city home to Iranian nuclear site, Netanyahu says Israel beyond halfway point in its mission - CBC News
US military targets Iran's Isfahan, near nuclear site - The Hill