The Israeli military has launched a new extensive wave of air attacks on Iran's capital, Tehran, leaving the city covered in thick smoke on Friday morning. The strikes follow the first statement by Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who warned that attacks on Israel and US military assets would continue unless bases hosting US forces in the region are closed. Khamenei was appointed last week after the assassination of his father, heightening tensions in an already volatile situation.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global oil supplies, sending Brent crude prices soaring past $100 per barrel. Iranian authorities have asserted control over the strategic waterway, banning US- and Israel-linked ships and requiring permission for other vessels to pass. This move has intensified economic pressures worldwide, with analysts warning of prolonged market instability if the disruption continues.
Civilian casualties are mounting rapidly, with Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, reporting at least 1,348 deaths, including victims aged from eight months to 88 years. Iran has retaliated with waves of drones and missiles targeting Gulf states that host US military assets, as well as oil tankers and facilities, signaling a broader regional escalation that threatens to draw in multiple actors.
Regional responses have been swift and severe: Bahrain reported intercepting 114 missiles and 190 drones since the conflict began, Saudi Arabia intercepted 10 drones over its eastern region and destroyed 28 more that breached its airspace, and the UAE condemned Iranian strikes that hit Dubai International Airport and several hotels. These developments underscore the widening scope of the conflict, with key US allies in the Gulf directly affected.
Evacuations and closures are underway as safety concerns grow. Australia has ordered all non-essential officials to leave the UAE and Israel and urged citizens to evacuate the Middle East. Qatar's airspace is officially closed, but Qatar Airways has scheduled over 140 special flights for repatriation. Iraq shut its port operations after an Indian crew member was killed in an attack on a US-owned oil tanker in Iraqi waters, highlighting the risks to maritime security.
Political pressure is building in Washington, with over 250 US organizations signing a letter calling on Congress to halt war funding, arguing that the $11.3 billion spent in the first six days diverts crucial resources from domestic needs like food benefits. US President Donald Trump allegedly claimed the war is moving "very rapidly," though he did not directly address the Iranian leader's comments. Senator Lindsey Graham downplayed the possibility of US troops being deployed to Iran but suggested the conflict could persist, reflecting the regime's uncertain strategic direction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel can create conditions for regime change in Iran but emphasized it is up to the Iranian people to take action. He also noted Israel's aim to prevent Iran from moving nuclear and ballistic projects underground. The Israeli military reported striking checkpoints set up by Iran's Basij force in Tehran, part of efforts to undermine the authorities' control, while also instructing civilians in affected areas to seek shelter due to new missile barrages from Iran.
Additional incidents are compounding the crisis: A US KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, with US Central Command stating it was not due to hostile fire, contrary to claims by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. French President Emmanuel Macron said a drone attack wounded six French soldiers in Iraq's Kurdish region. Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon killed nine people, including five children, in the village of Arki, with Lebanese officials reporting at least 687 deaths and 700,000–750,000 displaced since last Monday, illustrating the human toll beyond the immediate conflict zone.
Source: www.aljazeera.com