(PTI photo)
The constant sound of explosions has become the default soundtrack in the Middle East as Donald Trump’s mission-driven US military, along with its “wonderful partner” Israel, continues its offensive against Iran. The raging, Tehran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has delivered a strong response to the military campaign that began as Operation Epic Fury for the United States and Operation Lion’s Roar for Israel.The furious military operations in the Middle East region has entered 7th day.The American military, in a full-scale flex of force, has struck multiple defence facilities and key locations across Iran, including the capital Tehran. In response, Tehran has launched strong retaliatory strikes, launching multiple missile attacks across the region targeting US military bases and other locations in the Middle East, marking the start of the 19th wave of Operation True Promise 4 on Thursday morning.
Donald Trump on combat operations in Iran: “The United States military, in collaboration with wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule…We’re destroying more of Iran’s missile and drone capacity every single hour.”Trump has repeatedly called for the fall of the Tehran regime and suggested that the United States should help choose Iran’s next leader. Among those considered in the race to become the next Ayatollah after Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been described as an “unacceptable” choice for Trump-led United States.The intense military attacks that began last weekend, even after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader — show no signs of easing. Instead, the skies across the Middle East continue to echo with the roar of escalating strikes.
Here are the top developments
‘Ready for a long war’: Iran
The military of Iran reflected on its preparedness amid the rapidly escalating situation, saying: “We are ready for a long war. Our new inventions are on the way. We haven’t used anything on a large scale yet. Let the enemy expect painful blows in every wave of attack.”
US strike hits Iranian ‘drone carrier’
The US military said it struck an Iranian vessel described as a “drone carrier,” which it said “is now on fire.”“US forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy,” the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X, as the joint US-Israel military attack on Iran entered its seventh day.CENTCOM described the drone carrier as “roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier.”The post did not say where the attack took place.A video released by CENTCOM showed the alleged Iranian vessel surrounded by thick smoke after being hit by US strikes.
Satellite images show scale of destruction
New satellite images show the extent of the damage across Iran after days of intense military strikes.The imagery provides a clearer picture of the heavy military action carried out across several parts of the country.However, the strikes were not limited to military sites.
Schools damaged during bombing campaign
Two schools in Iran appeared to have been damaged on Thursday during the bombing campaign carried out by the United States and Israel.Photos of two boys’ schools, an elementary school and a middle school, located southwest of the capital Tehran show shattered windows and damaged or collapsed classroom walls.The images were published by the Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim News Agency. Exterior photos were later verified by The New York Times.Satellite image analysis also showed several strike marks and burn scars around a school in southern Iran, suggesting it may have been hit more than once. Iranian authorities say that attack killed 168 people on Saturday.The damage to the two schools was reported about a week after dozens of people were killed, many of them children, when a girls’ school was struck in the southern Iranian town of Minab.The two schools damaged on Thursday are located in Parand, a city southwest of Tehran. Shortly after the strikes, an image of a large grey smoke plume appeared online. The New York Times later verified the image and confirmed that the smoke came from the area where the two schools are located.
Trump says US should help choose Iran’s next leader
Donald Trump said the United States should be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran.Speaking to Reuters in a telephone interview, Trump said it would be “wonderful” if Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq crossed into Iran to attack security forces.
Trump said the next leader of Iran was unlikely to be the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a military strike at the start of the war.“We’re going to have to choose that person along with Iran. We’re going to have to choose that person,” Trump said.Speaking six days after the US and Israel launched their attacks, Trump also supported Kurdish fighters taking action.“I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that, I’d be all for it,” the president said.The conflict has killed more than 1,000 people, including at least six US service members, and has caused widespread damage and instability across the Middle East.
Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran
Israel said it launched a new wave of air strikes on Tehran early Friday.
The Israeli military said it carried out a large-scale “wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran.”Iranian state television reported several explosions in different parts of the capital.
Hezbollah warns Israelis near Lebanon border
The Lebanon-based group Hezbollah said its fighters had returned to support Iran after the killing of a senior leader from the Shia group in earlier strikes.
Hezbollah issued a warning in Hebrew telling Israeli residents in northern Israel to evacuate settlements within 5 km of the border with Lebanon.In its statement, the group said the Israeli military’s actions against Lebanese sovereignty, civilians, and infrastructure “will not go unanswered”.
Qatar intercepts drone targeting US airbase
The defence ministry of Qatar said its air defence systems intercepted a drone targeting the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha.Authorities had earlier raised the security alert level and asked residents to stay indoors and away from windows or exposed areas.
US House backs Trump’s military campaign
The United States House of Representatives rejected an attempt on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump’s air war on Iran and require congressional approval for military action.Lawmakers voted 219 to 212, mostly along party lines. The House currently has a narrow Republican majority.Two Republicans supported the resolution, while four Democrats voted against it.Opponents accused Democrats of bringing the vote simply because they oppose Trump.“We all know that we wouldn’t be here today if the president’s name wasn’t Donald Trump,” said Rick Crawford, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.Supporters of the resolution said it was an effort to restore Congress’s constitutional authority to approve war.The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, a war that has now killed more than 1,000 people and increased instability across the Middle East.
