Iran–Israel War LIVE: Tehran reports fresh strikes as tensions spread across Middle East
News LIVE Updates: Israel is reportedly preparing to continue its military campaign against Iran for another one to two weeks, targeting thousands of additional regime and military installations. The move follows several days of large-scale airstrikes. According to a report by The Times of Israel, the Israeli Air Force had dropped over 5,000 bombs on Iranian sites since the start of the conflict as of Wednesday.
On Thursday, powerful explosions were reported in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The blasts were said to have occurred near Bandar-e Bahonar, within the First Naval Zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an area located close to the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor.
Iran also reported a new wave of attacks beginning around midnight. Residents in eastern Tehran heard loud blasts, with shockwaves felt in parts of the capital, though authorities did not immediately confirm the targets.
Additional overnight strikes were reported in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez, and Bukan. Iranian officials said more than 150 cities across the country have come under attack since the fighting began last weekend.
Meanwhile, the IRGC announced it had launched a 19th round of retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US facilities in the region, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran also fired a new batch of missiles toward Israel on Thursday, triggering air-raid sirens in multiple locations, including Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Israeli military stated that the launches came after a pause of more than seven hours. “The Israeli Air Force has detected missiles fired from Iran toward Israeli territory,” the military said, adding that its air-defence systems were actively working to intercept them.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB also confirmed the missile attacks.
Trump says Iran is “out of control”
US President Donald Trump described Iran as “out of control,” saying the strikes were meant to stop Tehran from attacking Israel first. He claimed the US was now in a strong strategic position and warned that those attempting to rise to power in Iran often “end up being dead.”
The United States also said it had destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels, including one of Iran’s most advanced submarines, during the ongoing campaign.
Iran reports heavy casualties
Iranian state media said over 1,000 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes launched last weekend. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, several members of his family, and multiple senior officials were also reported killed after diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran collapsed.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country had attempted to resolve the crisis through diplomacy but was forced to respond after what he described as “American-Zionist military aggression.” Speaking with leaders from Gulf states, he said Iran respected their sovereignty and believed regional security should come through cooperation.
Process underway to choose Khamenei’s successor
A senior member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts said the process of selecting a new supreme leader to succeed Khamenei was nearing completion.
“We are close to a decision, but the country is currently in a war situation,” Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said in remarks broadcast on state television.
Public mourning ceremonies for Khamenei were scheduled to begin at Imam Khomeini Musallah in Tehran, where citizens were expected to pay their final respects.
Iran launches dozens of missiles
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had fired around 40 missiles at US and Israeli targets on the fifth day of the war. In a statement, the IRGC said the attack was part of the 17th wave of “Operation Honest Promise 4.”
Fighting spreads to Lebanon
The conflict has also spilled into Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold in south Beirut early Thursday after residents were warned to evacuate.
Two other Israeli strikes on vehicles along the airport highway reportedly killed three people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Officials said at least 72 people have been killed and more than 83,000 displaced since the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began.
Israel claims “historic gains”
Israel said it and the United States had achieved “historic gains” in the campaign against Iran. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were necessary because Iran was rebuilding its nuclear weapons programme using new underground facilities.
Meanwhile, Turkey said NATO air-defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran that was heading toward Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria.
“We’re doing well”: Trump
Trump praised the military campaign, saying Iranian leaders were being eliminated and promising to continue operations. “We’re doing well on the war front, to put it mildly,” he said while speaking to technology executives.
However, Spain denied a White House claim that it had allowed US forces to use Spanish bases for operations against Iran. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid’s position had “not changed at all.”
The White House added that Trump was reviewing potential US involvement in Iran after the military campaign ends.
Regional tensions and shipping disruption
The conflict has raised tensions across the Middle East. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of trying to draw neighbouring countries into the war during a call with Tehran’s foreign minister.
Global shipping routes have also been disrupted. Danish shipping giant Maersk suspended new bookings in the Gulf after assessing security risks. Several shipping firms have also halted routes through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit corridor.
The Omani navy said it rescued 24 crew members from a container ship hit by missiles in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran later claimed it had taken “complete control” of the strategic waterway, a day after Trump said the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the area.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka reported that its navy had recovered 87 bodies after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off its coast. Search operations for additional missing crew members were still underway.
