Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran as regional conflict escalates
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said fighter jets, guided by military intelligence, were carrying out additional strikes on strategic targets in Tehran. The military added that the broader offensive against Iran remains ongoing.
Iranian news agencies reported explosions in Tehran and in the western city of Karaj. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, strikes hit Niloufar Square and surrounding areas in northern Tehran, resulting in extensive damage to buildings. Initial reports indicate that at least 20 people were killed in the attack.
Civilian casualties mount
Iran’s Ministry of Education stated that 170 students and teachers have been killed since the start of U.S.-Israeli attacks. Iranian state television previously reported that 153 students and teachers died in a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, in Hormozgan province, on February 28.
The Iranian Red Crescent said 201 people have been killed and 747 injured nationwide since the bombardment began.
Iran responds with regional strikes
Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks overnight targeting several countries in the region.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported that debris from an intercepted missile struck a ship undergoing maintenance near Salman Port in the capital, Manama, sparking a fire. One Asian worker was killed and two others were seriously injured. Local sources also claimed that an area near a U.S. base in Manama was targeted.
In the United Arab Emirates, witnesses in Dubai reported hearing explosions and seeing air defense systems activated. Authorities have not confirmed casualties.
Kuwait’s military said it intercepted “hostile aerial targets” detected in the country’s central regions early in the morning, adding that no casualties were reported. Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Osama Boudi, announced a temporary ban on food exports to stabilize the domestic market amid escalating tensions.
Unverified social media footage circulating online appeared to show a U.S. F-15 fighter jet crashing in Kuwait, possibly due to friendly fire. The pilot was reportedly rescued safely. Officials have not confirmed the incident.
In Iraq, media reports claimed that two drones targeted the U.S. Victoria Logistics Base near Baghdad International Airport. One drone was intercepted, while the other reportedly caused material damage without casualties. The Shiite militia group Hashd al-Shaabi said four of its members were killed and 11 wounded in what it described as a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Anbar province.
According to figures compiled from official sources, Iran has launched 1,311 missiles and drones at targets in Arab countries over the past two days.
Senior Iranian officials reported killed
Iranian media announced that several additional high-ranking military officials were killed in the attacks. Among them were Major General Mohammad Shirazi, Chief of Staff to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several senior commanders from Iran’s armed forces and intelligence services.
Previously, Iranian authorities confirmed the deaths of Chief of General Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Armed Forces logistics chief Aziz Nasirzadeh during strikes on a Defense Council meeting.
Iran appeals to the United Nations
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and members of the UN Security Council, condemning what he described as an assassination attempt against Supreme Leader Khamenei.
Araghchi argued that the attack violated international law and the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons. He stated that the United States and Israel bear international responsibility and that individual criminal liability extends to leaders involved in planning or approving the attacks.
Iran reserved its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and urged the Security Council to take immediate action.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani denied reports that Tehran had sought renewed negotiations with Washington through Oman. “We will not negotiate with the United States,” Larijani wrote on social media, criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s regional policy.
Gulf Cooperation Council condemns attacks
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and Jordan, calling on the UN Security Council to take decisive action to prevent further violations.
In a statement following an emergency virtual meeting, GCC foreign ministers stressed the need to restore regional security and stability. The council reaffirmed solidarity among member states and emphasized that attacks on one member would be considered attacks on all.
The statement warned that escalating tensions threaten global energy markets, maritime trade, and regional stability, urging an immediate halt to hostilities and renewed diplomatic efforts.
Drone attack reported at British base in Cyprus
Authorities in the Greek Cypriot administration said a drone caused limited damage at the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus. Britain’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the base responded to a suspected unmanned aerial vehicle attack and that force protection measures were at their highest level.
Background
Israel and the United States launched military operations against Iran on February 28, while negotiations between Tehran and Washington were ongoing. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. military installations across the region, including in Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain.
The conflict has sharply escalated regional instability, raising international concerns about the risk of a broader war.
Source:AA
