The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it had begun an “additional wave” of strikes on targets in Tehran, describing the attacks as a “massive wave” against the infrastructure of the Iranian regime. Earlier, the IDF said it had struck key command centres of the Iranian armed forces in Tehran and Tabriz.
Lebanese health authorities reported that Israeli raids on the southern town of Qana killed five people and wounded five others. The strikes come amid wider regional tensions involving Iran, the US and Israel.
US President Donald Trump claimed that the US had “completely destroyed” ten inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, warning of further action. US Central Command said it had “eliminated” 16 such vessels. Trump earlier said there were “no reports” of mines but cautioned Iran to remove any mines “immediately” or face unprecedented military consequences.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US and Israel’s war would not end until Iran’s “complete and unconditional surrender”. She confirmed that the US military is drawing up additional options to keep the Strait open and is moving to dismantle Iran’s missile production infrastructure.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering deploying special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress that “people are going to have to go and get it”. Meanwhile, the US reportedly asked Israel to halt strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure after an Israeli bombing of fuel storage facilities blanketed Tehran in toxic smoke and acid rain.
Israel’s defence budget is set to expand by nearly 40 billion shekels ($13bn) to fund the war, according to an unnamed finance ministry official. Separately, Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven members of Iran’s women’s football team.
