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A new and intensified phase of the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has seen heavy air strikes targeted at Iranian “regime infrastructure” in Tehran.
This surge in military action comes as the war enters its seventh day, following the initial strike on Saturday that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the offensive is expanding, warning that firepower over the Iranian capital is set to increase significantly as the campaign seeks to dismantle the nation’s military capabilities.
The regional impact of the war has escalated, with conflict spreading to Lebanon and the Gulf.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 123 deaths from Israeli strikes, leading to a mass exodus from Beirut’s southern suburbs.
In the Gulf, Qatar reported thwarting a drone attack on a U.S. base, while Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have intercepted missiles and drones targeting residential areas.
Meanwhile, inside Iran, an extensive internet blackout has isolated the population, though reports from ground observers describe a heavy security presence and fear among residents as strikes shake the city.
Amidst the violence, U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that he will be involved in selecting Iran’s future leadership.
Trump specifically dismissed the possibility of Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, succeeding his father, labelling him a “lightweight” and insisting on a leader who will bring “harmony and peace.”
Despite the mounting civilian death toll and disruption to global energy markets, Iranian officials have remained defiant, rejecting the possibility of ceasefire negotiations with the United States.
