TEHRAN: The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day on Wednesday, with both countries exchanging missile strikes.
The hostilities were marked by Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, military sites, and civilian buildings, and subsequent missile retaliation from Iran. The escalation follows Israel’s extensive air campaign, codenamed ‘Rising Lion,’ which began with attacks on Iranian targets last week.
On Wednesday morning, Israel’s military reported that two barrages of Iranian missiles were fired toward Israel, with explosions heard over Tel Aviv. The missile strikes followed earlier Israeli air raids on Iranian targets, which reportedly killed top Iranian commanders and scientists, along with several civilians.
These strikes were part of a broader effort by Israel to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Iran denies, insisting that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful civilian purposes.
The Israeli military also ordered evacuations of certain areas, including parts of Tehran, ahead of their own airstrikes aimed at Iranian military installations. Iranian news outlets reported explosions in Tehran and Karaj, a city located west of the capital, in response to Israel’s strikes.
The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) claimed responsibility for launching hypersonic missiles in retaliation. According to a statement from the IRGC, this was part of the 11th wave of Operation Honest Promise 3, which used Fattah-1 missiles. The IRGC claimed that Iran had “complete control over the skies of the occupied territories,” referring to areas under Israeli control.
Human Rights Activists, a Washington-based group, reported that as of Wednesday, at least 585 people had been killed in Iran, with 1,326 others wounded.
Of those killed, 239 were civilians, and 126 were security personnel. Israel, on the other hand, reported 24 deaths, mostly civilians. Many residents in both countries have fled their homes, with civilians seeking shelter from the ongoing violence.
As the hostilities escalated, US President Donald Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” Trump also hinted at potential US involvement in the conflict, stating, “We now have completely and total control of the skies over Iran.” He refrained from specifying who he was referring to with “we,” sparking questions about the nature of US involvement.
Trump, while maintaining that the US was not directly involved in the conflict, warned Iran that if US troops or assets in the Middle East were targeted, the US would take severe action.
He also made a veiled threat toward Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”
On Tuesday, Trump held a 90-minute meeting with his National Security Council to discuss the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, lawmakers, including Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna from Trump’s own party, introduced a resolution to prohibit US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Greg Casar, voiced their support for the resolution.
Reports indicate that the US may use its advanced “bunker-buster” bombs to target Iran’s deeply buried Fordow nuclear facility, which Israel’s bombs cannot reach. Additionally, the US has deployed more fighter aircraft to the Middle East, including F-16, F-22, and F-35 jets, to assist Israel with missile interception and air defense.
The situation remains tense as both nations continue their military actions, with growing uncertainty over the level of US involvement and the broader geopolitical implications of this escalating conflict.
