Israel and the United States have launched fresh waves of intensive attacks across Iran on the second day of their military campaign, plunging the Middle East into a new regional conflict. The renewed violence 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 retaliates after the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike. Trump called for 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, close to the police headquarters, state television, 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 UN ambassador reported hundreds of civilian casualties.
Iranian retaliation has targeted Israel, civilian infrastructure, and US military bases across Gulf states. Blasts were heard in Dubai and Doha, with damage to Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel and airport. Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait remained shut, causing severe global aviation disruption.
British Defence Secretary John Healey described the situation as “serious and deteriorating” and accused Iran of “lashing out”. Meanwhile, a purported Iranian naval broadcast banned transit through the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a sharp rise in oil prices. Iranian authorities reported over 100 children killed at a school in Minab.
