Israeli military strikes east of Tehran intensified Friday, as more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon following escalating Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese government reports. The strikes came as Iran warned that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide would not be safe for its enemies, renewing concerns about potential attacks beyond the Middle East.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an overnight air strike. Iranian media had earlier reported Naini’s death. The IDF similarly stated it had begun attacking Iranian targets east of the capital, Tehran.
The conflict is drawing in international powers. The United States military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, with the USS Boxer and its Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arriving approximately three weeks ahead of schedule, according to three US officials. The White House and Pentagon have not yet commented on the deployments or their specific role.
Former US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the conflict, stating he believes Notice “no leaders left” in Iran with whom to negotiate. He also reportedly considered plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure the country into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report in Axios. Trump claimed US strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island.
The economic fallout from the conflict is widening. Oil prices fluctuated, settling around $107 a barrel after briefly surging earlier in the day. European gas prices jumped 35% Thursday, prompting governments to consider interventions to mitigate the impact on households and industry. The war threatens a fresh food-price surge across developing nations, disrupting fertilizer shipments and driving up energy costs.
Tensions have also risen on multiple fronts. Two suspected Iranian spies were arrested in Scotland after attempting to enter the HM Naval Base Clyde, a key facility for Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet. The UK’s domestic spy agency, MI5, has repeatedly warned of threats from Iran. Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, have reported drone and missile attacks targeting their territories, with Kuwait reporting a fire at its Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery after a drone strike.
Turkey has warned that Israel may commit “recent genocide” in Lebanon, using Iran as a pretext. Ukraine has deployed interceptor units to protect critical infrastructure in five Middle Eastern countries. Spain approved a €5 billion aid package to ease the economic impact of the war, including tax reductions on energy.
During a press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu claimed Iran’s navy was “sunk” and its air force in “tatters,” adding that its ability to produce ballistic missiles had been taken out. Though, a spokesperson for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard insisted that Tehran was still building missiles, stating production continued “even during war conditions.”
The conflict began after weeks of US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leaders and infrastructure. The strikes have killed several top Iranian officials, including the former supreme leader, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and the head of the Basij force. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, suggested that both sides in the conflict may have committed war crimes, citing attacks on energy infrastructure.
Sri Lanka refused a US request to station warplanes at its airports, maintaining its policy of non-alignment. Iran’s foreign minister warned that any US utilize of British bases would be considered “participation in aggression.”
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