Conflict in West Asia has intensified as Iran and joint Israeli-US forces launched new waves of missile and drone attacks. Iranian-backed militias targeted US assets across Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain, following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials. Israel and the US struck dozens of targets in Tehran, hitting Iranian military and intelligence sites. Speaking at the White House, US President Donald Trump said that their objectives are destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, annihilating their navy and ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. Later in a interview to private media channel US President Donald Trump said the big wave is yet to come in conflict with Iran. In separate interview, Mr. Trump didn’t rule out sending US troops to Iran if they were necessary.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said that hardest hits are yet to come from the US military and the next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now. He said that the world will be a safer place after completion of this operation.
During a Pentagon press briefing, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said more than 1,250 targets have been struck in the first 48 hours. The US military said B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with two thousand pound bombs. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Beit Shemesh city, and met civilians hit by missile from Tehran. After meeting the locals, Mr Netanyahu said, this is the 3rd day of Operation Roaring Lion to thwart existential threats to Israel, and great threats to America and the entire world.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, the recent losses of its supreme leader and other top officials have not shaken Iran, but rather made it stronger adding the enemy will no longer be safe anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza as acting defence minister after his predecessor was killed in Israeli-US strikes.
On the other hand, United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Ministry of Defence said that its air defenses successfully intercepted 9 ballistic missiles, 6 cruise missiles, 148 drones yesterday. UAE said that since the beginning of the Iranian attack, 174 ballistic missiles launched toward the country have been detected, of which 161 were destroyed, while 13 fell into the sea. A total of 689 Iranian drones were also detected, with 645 intercepted, while 44 landed within the country’s territory. Moreover, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that over 160 young girls were killed in the US-Israeli bombing of a primary school.
