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Conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate as Iran persists with its assaults in the Gulf region, while Israel intensifies its aerial bombardments on Tehran and Beirut, launching a series of strikes early Friday morning.
Iran initiated fresh retaliatory measures after a week of heavy bombardment, with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth cautioning that the situation is “on the verge of escalating significantly.”
The Islamic Republic had previously vowed retribution against the United States for sinking one of its warships, responding by deploying hundreds of drones and missiles targeting its Arab neighbors.
In parallel, Israel’s military announced on Friday that it had commenced “a comprehensive wave of strikes” against Tehran, targeting the Iranian capital.
Eyewitnesses described the Israeli airstrikes as exceptionally fierce, with tremors felt throughout local residences. Reports also indicated explosions near the city of Kermanshah, a known location for several missile bases in Iran.
The Israeli military said strikes have already destroyed most of Iran’s air defences and missile launchers.
The war has escalated to affect countries across the Middle East and beyond.
Early on Friday, Iran fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, all countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Fire rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut early on March 6
Smoke rises from an explosion in the direction of Ali Al Salem Air Base in Al Jahra, Kuwait
Smoke rises above buildings in Mahabad City after airstrikes on March 6
Heavily damaged buildings at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 6
In Lebanon, where the war has intensified fighting between Israel and Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, Israel launched a series of airstrikes late on Thursday and into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas.
Motorists jammed roads trying to flee or seek shelter.
The US and Israel have battered Iran with nationwide strikes, targeting their military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme.
Iran’s attacks have targeted Arab neighbours, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel.
Qatar’s Defence Ministry reported it intercepted a drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of US Central Command.
A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles fired early on Friday toward Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, which hosts U.S. forces.
Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, where the Interior Ministry said Iranian strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building. It said there were no casualties.
The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed.
The US military said early on Friday that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, setting it ablaze.
The US military’s Central Command released black-and-white footage of the burning carrier. The Iranian military did not immediately acknowledge the attack.
The drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a converted container ship with a 180 metre runway for drones.
The vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports, reports said at the time of its 2005 inauguration.
A plume of smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of al Khiam on March 6
Fire burns at Hilton Hotel following an Iranian drone strike in Juffair, Bahrain, March 6
Smoke rises from an airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon on March 6
Workers use a bulldozer to clear debris from a street at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 6
Smoke rises from what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says is an Iranian drone carrier that was struck by US forces
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, described the carrier as ‘roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier’.
‘As we speak, it’s on fire,’ Cooper told reporters.
Speaking alongside Cooper, Hegseth gave few details on Thursday when he promised an upcoming surge.
‘It’s more fighter squadrons, it’s more capabilities, it’s more defensive capabilities,’ he said. ‘And it’s more bomber pulses more frequently.’
Speaking at a press conference in Tampa, the US Secretary of War also warned that strikes on Iran will ‘surge dramatically’, saying:
‘We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively. If you think you’ve seen something, just wait.’
He added: ‘Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation. Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad.’
Hegseth also hit out at Sir Keir for not allowing the US to launch attacks from British bases from day one, before warning: ‘The amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically.’
Hegseth said it was ‘unfortunate’ access wasn’t granted ‘from day one’.
‘But we got there. We got there, and that’s now part of the way that we’re operationalising bomber runs… It’s more fighter squadrons, it’s more capabilities, it’s more defensive capabilities, and it’s more bomber pulses more frequently,’ he said.
Hegseth also said Trump would be ‘having a heck of a say in who runs Iran given the ongoing operation’.
Iran’s threats were met with fury from the US leader, who urged members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military and police to lay down their arms or face the same fate as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He said it was ‘too late’ for Iran to talk and told its diplomats across the globe to defect and be ‘on the right side of history’.
Speaking at the White House, in front of David Beckham’s Inter Miami squad, Trump said: ‘I’m once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and the police to lay down their arms.
‘Now is the time to stand up for the Iranian people and help take back your country. You’re gonna have a chance after all these years to take back your country. Accept immunity, we’ll give you immunity.
‘You’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death, and I don’t want to see that.’
Trump also claimed Iran has reached out to ‘make a deal’ to end the US military operation.
He said: ‘They’re calling, they’re saying, “How do we make a deal?” I said, “You’re being a little bit late,” and we want to fight now more than they do.’
He also claimed the Iranian navy ‘is gone’ and the US wiped out ’24 ships in three days’, adding: ‘They have no air force, they have no air defence.
‘The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy, far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before.’