Trump Declares Iran Has 'Lost Everything', Rules Out Ground Assault
US President Donald Trump has emphatically stated that Iran has "lost everything" following sustained US-Israeli military strikes, dismissing the notion of a ground invasion as a "waste of time". In an interview with NBC News, Trump poured cold water on diplomatic overtures from Tehran, asserting that the pace and intensity of American operations will continue unabated.
Military Strikes Intensify as Diplomatic Hopes Fade
Speaking from the White House, Trump boasted that US forces are "totally demolishing the enemy far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before". He revealed that his objective is to "go in and clean out everything" to pave the way for a new leadership in Iran. The president criticised Iran's efforts to seek a diplomatic resolution, stating the US is not interested in making a deal at this juncture.
This stance was echoed by Pete Hegseth, who indicated that the "firepower over Iran" is set to expand dramatically, with US forces striking Iranian drone and missile systems "every single hour". The escalation follows the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks, with Trump expressing a desire for Iran to have a "good leader" while rejecting the late leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as "unacceptable".
UK Evacuation Flight Lands Amid Regional Turmoil
As tensions mount, the first UK government-chartered repatriation flight for British nationals stranded in the Middle East has landed at London's Stansted airport. The flight, which departed from Muscat, Oman, nearly 24 hours behind schedule due to technical issues, arrived at 00:53 GMT on Friday. This evacuation effort comes in response to escalating regional instability, with numerous commercial flights grounded or restricted across the Middle East.
Hezbollah Issues Evacuation Warning as IDF Strikes Beirut
Hezbollah has warned Israeli residents within 5km of the Lebanon border to evacuate immediately, citing Israeli military aggression against Lebanese sovereignty. This warning, delivered via Telegram in Hebrew, coincided with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launching a "wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah" in Beirut's southern suburbs. The IDF also announced a "broad-scale wave of strikes against Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran".
Political and International Developments
In Washington, the House of Representatives narrowly rejected a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing President Trump's military actions against Iran, with a vote of 212-219. House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted the US is "not at war" with Iran, describing operations as "limited". Meanwhile, Japan confirmed a second Japanese national has been detained in Iran, with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi calling for their early release.
In related developments, the US Treasury Department issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to import Russian oil, citing the need to alleviate market pressures caused by the conflict. Additionally, US Representative Zach Nunn postponed a "Salute to the Troops" event following the deaths of six American service members in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.
As the conflict continues to reshape regional dynamics, Etihad Airways announced plans to resume flights to key destinations including London and New York between 6 and 19 March, signalling cautious attempts to restore normalcy amid the turmoil.
