The United States and Israel have launched fresh waves of intensive attacks across Iran on the second day of their military campaign to overthrow the country’s government, plunging the Middle East into a new regional conflict with no certain timeline or outcome. The renewed violence on Sunday comes amid heated rhetoric from Washington and Tehran that suggests further escalation in the coming hours and days.
US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that the US would hit Iran “with a force that has never been seen before” if Tehran retaliated after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday. In a social media post, Trump called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history” and said the goal of the military campaign was regime change, urging “the Iranian people to take back their country”.
In Tehran, a huge blast sent a plume of smoke into the sky on Sunday morning, appearing close to the police headquarters, state television, the revolutionary court and a defence ministry building. The Israel Defense Forces said they were striking “in the heart of Tehran” to destroy remaining air defences. Iran’s ambassador to the UN told an emergency Security Council meeting that hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured in the strikes, which he said deliberately targeted civilian neighbourhoods.
Iranian retaliation has targeted Israel as well as civilian infrastructure and US military bases across the Arab Gulf states. Loud blasts were heard in Dubai and Doha, with puffs of white smoke from missile interceptions seen over Dubai. The city’s Burj Al Arab hotel and its airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub, were damaged in Iranian attacks, causing severe disruption to global aviation. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, with explosions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as air defences intercepted incoming fire.
Ships reported a radio broadcast purporting to be from the Iranian navy banning transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global oil supplies, raising expectations of a sharp jump in oil prices. Authorities in Oman reported damage to at least one oil tanker. In Iran, more than 100 children were reportedly killed at a school in the southern city of Minab. British Defence Secretary John Healey described the situation as “really serious and deteriorating”, accusing Iran of “lashing out”.
