US President Donald Trump stated that only Iran’s unconditional surrender would end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as Israel announced that its forces were “crushing” the Iranian government system, reports RTE.
Now in its seventh day, the war has drawn in countries beyond the region, disrupted global energy and transportation industries, and caused turmoil even in typically peaceful Gulf areas, reports RTE.
The war has spread to Lebanon, where the prime minister warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as casualties mounted and tens of thousands fled from Israeli airstrikes, reports RTE.
With the world facing a “situation that could spiral beyond anyone’s control,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged nations to begin “serious diplomatic negotiations,” reports RTE.
However, Trump, who has provided varying justifications for initiating the conflict, has rejected new talks, reports RTE.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, reports RTE.
Despite these statements, the White House later maintained that the objectives of the US in the war had not changed, reports RTE.
Trump also vowed to assist in rebuilding Iran’s economy if Tehran were to install a leader “acceptable” to him as a replacement for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed last weekend, reports RTE.
The US crude oil price, already spiking due to the blockage of the critical Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, surged by 11% following Trump’s remarks, reports RTE.
Iran has been hammered by Israeli airstrikes, with AFP journalists describing some of the heaviest bombardments yet on Tehran, reports RTE.
Israel and the US have stated they are intensifying their offensive against Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that strikes were “about to surge dramatically,” reports RTE.
Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, stated that Israeli forces were “crushing the Iranian terrorist regime,” reports RTE.
According to Iran’s health ministry, the US and Israeli strikes have killed 926 people, a figure that AFP could not independently verify, reports RTE.
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and Gulf states since the conflict erupted, with AFP reporters in Tel Aviv hearing several explosions, reports RTE.
In Israel, at least ten individuals have been reported dead, according to emergency responders, reports RTE.
The US military confirmed the deaths of six of its personnel, reports RTE.
The conflict has spread to Lebanon after Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel in response to Khamenei’s death, reports RTE.
Israeli forces have heavily bombarded Lebanon, including fresh airstrikes on southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold home to hundreds of thousands of residents, reports RTE.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned of a “looming humanitarian disaster,” while the Norwegian Refugee Council reported that 300,000 people in Lebanon had been forced to flee, reports RTE.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported the death toll in the country has risen to 217, reports RTE.
Two UN peacekeepers from Ghana were critically injured when their base in southern Lebanon was struck, reports RTE.
Iraq, long a battleground between the US and Iran, has also become embroiled in the war, reports RTE.
Several airports in Iraq were hit by attacks, including a Baghdad airport complex that hosts a military base and a US diplomatic facility, according to Iraqi authorities, reports RTE.
The US embassy in Baghdad cautioned that Iranian-backed forces might target hotels in Iraqi Kurdistan frequented by foreigners, reports RTE.
Shortly thereafter, an explosion was heard in the city of Erbil, and smoke was seen rising from a hotel there, as reported by an AFP journalist, reports RTE.
Azerbaijan has also found itself entangled in the war, reporting that it had foiled a series of Iranian attacks on its territory, reports RTE.
Also today, the UN refugee agency classified the situation as a major humanitarian emergency, reports RTE.
The war has extended to the wealthier Gulf nations, once considered safe havens and tourist destinations in the Middle East, reports RTE.
Qatar intercepted a drone attack aimed at a US airbase on its soil, while Saudi Arabia reported shooting down a cruise missile near the Al-Kharj region, reports RTE.
Since the war began, 13 people, including seven civilians, have been killed in Gulf countries, including an 11-year-old girl, Elena Abdullah Hussein, in Kuwait, reports RTE.
The conflict has even spread as far as the Sri Lankan coast, where a US submarine sank an Iranian frigate with a torpedo, reports RTE.
Countries have raced to repatriate tourists stranded in the Gulf amid the ongoing conflict, as air traffic remains severely disrupted, with missiles and drones dominating the skies, reports RTE.
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