The war that began seven days ago with the killing of Iran’s supreme leader has metastasized into a regional conflagration, with missiles and bombs flying across the Middle East in multiple directions. President Donald Trump has responded to Iran’s resilience with escalating threats, demanding unconditional surrender and warning of “absolutely guaranteed death” for those who resist.
On Friday, US B-2 stealth bombers conducted deep-strike operations against Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure, dropping dozens of 2,000-pound penetrating munitions on underground launch sites. A major Iranian naval vessel used to deploy drones was struck and potentially sunk. The defense secretary signaled that American military power was about to surge further, while Israel’s military chief promised fresh surprises in its ongoing campaign.
Iran retaliated with a broad barrage across the Gulf. Missiles and drones were fired at US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Several were intercepted by air defense systems; others struck buildings in Bahrain, including hotels and a residential structure. The Revolutionary Guards also continued to fire at Israeli territory, claiming hits on a military airbase and a radar installation. Hezbollah launched fresh rocket volleys into northern Israel and wounded Israeli soldiers with anti-tank fire near the Lebanese border.
Lebanon continued to experience catastrophic displacement. Israel’s evacuation orders, the largest in the country’s recent history, sent over one million people fleeing from their homes. The Dahiyeh district of Beirut, normally one of the most densely populated urban areas in the country, became a ghost town of rubble and flame. The UN peacekeeping mission reported that its Ghanaian battalion headquarters was struck, with two soldiers critically wounded and the facility destroyed.
The death toll across the region has climbed sharply. More than 1,230 people have died in Iran. Six American troops have been killed. Lebanon has counted over 200 dead. The most harrowing single incident remains the airstrike on an Iranian girls’ school, which killed more than 100 students. US military investigators believe American forces may have been responsible. The international community has condemned the strike. Trump has not commented on it directly.