Iran Launches Missiles at Israel as Middle East War Enters Sixth Day

Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles at Israel early Thursday, intensifying the rapidly expanding Middle East conflict as hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States entered a sixth consecutive day.

Israeli authorities confirmed the incoming missile barrage shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun new air strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, targeting positions linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group operating in Lebanon.

The renewed attacks followed an escalation on Wednesday when the United States and Israel intensified bombardments of Iranian security forces and key government installations, striking multiple locations across Tehran and other strategic cities.

The intensity of the air strikes forced Iranian state television to postpone a planned national mourning ceremony for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict. The move highlighted the scale of disruption caused by the ongoing military operations.

The war began Saturday after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear programme, while officials in both countries suggested that weakening or removing Iran’s ruling establishment could become a broader objective.

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Speaking on Wednesday, Donald Trump, the US President, praised American forces, saying the military was “doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly.” Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in the United States Senate voted down a resolution seeking to halt the war effort.

As tensions escalated, Iran expanded its retaliation by launching attacks toward Bahrain, Kuwait, and Israel. Turkey also reported that NATO-linked defence systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile before it entered Turkish airspace.

The war has already caused significant casualties across the region. Iranian authorities say more than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran, while over 70 deaths have been recorded in Lebanon and around a dozen fatalities in Israel. The conflict has also claimed the lives of six American troops, according to US officials.

The escalating hostilities have disrupted global energy supplies and international travel, with oil and gas shipments affected and hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded across the Middle East.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed another major development earlier in the conflict, revealing that an American submarine sank an Iranian naval warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities later reported that 32 sailors were rescued while 87 bodies were recovered from the waters.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to target Iran’s security infrastructure, striking facilities linked to the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps known for suppressing domestic protests.

Israeli military officials also confirmed strikes on buildings connected to Iran’s internal security command, operations analysts say could weaken Tehran’s ability to control unrest at home.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, however, insisted that Iranian forces operate under decentralised command structures, suggesting that attacks on senior leadership or command centres may not significantly weaken Iran’s military response.

Images broadcast on Iranian state television showed extensive damage to buildings in Tehran, while additional strikes were reported in the religious city of Qom, where a structure linked to a clerical council responsible for selecting the country’s next Supreme Leader was reportedly targeted.

At the Pentagon, Hegseth declined to specify how long the US military campaign might last.

“You can say four weeks, but it could be six. It could be eight. It could be three,” he said, adding that American forces would continue to maintain pressure on Iranian targets.

Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, said American operations had already damaged Iran’s air defence systems and destroyed ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

Israeli officials said the number of missile launches from Iran has declined in recent days, allowing some restrictions inside Israel to be relaxed. The country’s Homefront Command said workplaces could reopen if shelters were nearby, although schools remain closed nationwide.

Despite the partial easing of restrictions, explosions were reported again across Israel early Thursday as air defence systems moved to intercept the latest Iranian missile launches.

The conflict has also spread to the maritime domain. A Maltese-flagged container ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by two missiles, triggering a fire before its 24 crew members were rescued.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy routes, with about one-fifth of global oil shipments passing through it. Shipping tracker MarineTraffic reported that tanker traffic through the strait has fallen by nearly 90 percent compared with prewar levels.

The disruption has sent global oil prices soaring and rattled international financial markets, raising concerns about the potential impact on the world economy.

Inside Iran, political leaders are scrambling to choose a successor to Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. The selection of a new supreme leader marks only the second leadership transition since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Possible candidates range from hard-line clerics advocating continued confrontation with the West to more moderate figures who favour diplomatic engagement. Among those frequently mentioned is Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son.

As the crisis deepens, Iranian authorities have also warned of severe consequences for anyone seen as cooperating with foreign enemies.

Meanwhile, Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, said any future Iranian leader who continues to threaten Israel or its allies “will be a target for elimination.”

Iran Launches Missiles at Israel as Middle East War Enters Sixth Day

US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean as Conflict Escalates

The United States Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has confirmed that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, marking a major escalation in the ongoing military confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Speaking at a press briefing, Hegseth said the Iranian naval vessel was destroyed by a torpedo on Tuesday, describing the incident as a decisive operation by American forces. He added that the ship “died a quiet death.” Though he initially did not identify the vessel, officials in Sri Lanka later said the ship involved was the IRIS Dena, an Iranian naval frigate.

Sri Lankan authorities said the warship sank about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the country’s southern coastline, prompting an emergency rescue operation by the Sri Lanka Navy after a distress signal was received early Wednesday.

Rescue teams recovered 80 bodies from the sea while 32 survivors were pulled from the water, according to a Sri Lankan defence official. Authorities believe as many as 180 people may have been aboard the vessel, based on the ship’s documentation.

The survivors, many of whom sustained serious injuries, were transported to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle, according to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Iran strongly condemned the sinking of the warship, describing the incident as an “atrocity at sea.” Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused the United States of attacking a vessel that he said was travelling peacefully in international waters.

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“Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” Araghchi said in a statement posted on social media. He warned that the United States would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”

Earlier during the rescue operation, a Sri Lankan navy spokesman, Budhika Sampath, said responders initially did not see the vessel itself but discovered oil slicks and life rafts floating on the water. At that time, he had also rejected early reports suggesting that the ship had been attacked by a submarine.

Although the location of the sinking was outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, the spokesman explained that it fell within the country’s international search-and-rescue region, which obligated Sri Lanka to respond under global maritime protocols.

The IRIS Dena, launched in 2015, is a destroyer attached to Iran’s Southern Fleet, which operates mainly around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The vessel had recently taken part in the International Fleet Review 2026, a multinational naval exercise hosted by India.

Hegseth described the attack as historically significant, claiming it was “the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.” While American submarines have not used torpedoes to sink an enemy vessel since World War II, other countries have deployed torpedoes in naval warfare in more recent decades.

Video footage released by the United States Department of Defense appeared to show a ship being struck by a powerful explosion, with the stern rising sharply before the vessel detonated.

The incident occurred amid rapidly escalating military tensions in the Middle East. The United States and Israel have continued to launch air strikes on Iran for a fifth consecutive day, with the Israeli military reporting attacks on security facilities across Tehran.

Israel has also expanded operations in Lebanon, conducting air strikes and deploying ground forces after the militant group Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israeli territory.

Iran has reportedly responded with retaliatory attacks across the region, with fresh strikes reported in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Meanwhile, Turkey said its NATO-linked air defence systems intercepted an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish territory.

Amid the growing tensions, Sri Lanka has maintained a neutral position in the conflict, urging all parties to exercise restraint and pursue immediate de-escalation.

The country’s government said it would issue a formal message of condolence for all victims of the conflict, including Iranian officials killed during recent attacks, following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, earlier in the crisis.

US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean as Conflict Escalates

Hegseth Warns US ‘Can’t Stop Everything’ Iran Fires Despite Claiming Air Superiority

WASHINGTON (AP) — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged Wednesday that some Iranian drone and missile attacks may still penetrate American defenses, even as he insisted that US forces are rapidly gaining control of Iranian airspace.

Speaking at the Pentagon alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth said the United States had spared “no expense or capability” to bolster air defense systems across the Middle East to protect American troops and allied forces.

“This does not mean we can stop everything,” Hegseth said. “But we ensured that the maximum possible defense and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offense.”

His remarks came days after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets, widening a conflict that has sent shockwaves across the region and heightened fears of a prolonged war.

Gen. Caine stressed that US service members continue to face significant danger. “US service members remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” he said.

The warning follows the deaths of six US soldiers in Kuwait after an Iranian drone struck an operations center located within a civilian port facility. According to military officials, the building — described by a relative of one of the victims as a shipping-container-style structure — reportedly lacked hardened defensive protections. The incident underscored the evolving nature of drone warfare and the difficulty of intercepting every low-flying or remotely piloted threat.

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Defense officials say layered systems — including Patriot missile batteries, naval-based interceptors, radar networks and counter-drone technologies — have been reinforced in key locations. However, Hegseth acknowledged that even advanced systems cannot guarantee a 100% interception rate, particularly during sustained attacks.

Despite the risks, Hegseth asserted that the US military’s technological edge and operational tempo are shifting the balance decisively. He said additional jet fighters, long-range bombers and logistical support units continue to arrive in the region, reinforcing America’s military posture.

Pentagon officials indicated that early phases of the campaign relied heavily on precision-guided munitions and stealth capabilities to neutralize Iranian air defense systems. As air superiority expands, US forces may increasingly deploy conventional precision and gravity bombs for sustained operations.

Hegseth also emphasized that the United States has sufficient munitions stockpiles and equipment to sustain a prolonged campaign if necessary. While US President Donald Trump has suggested the conflict could last four to five weeks, Hegseth signaled it may stretch longer, potentially up to eight weeks or more, depending on how events unfold.

“You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three,” Hegseth said. “Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off balance, and we’re going to keep them off balance.”

Trump has said he is prepared “to go far longer” if required to achieve strategic objectives.

Military analysts note that wars of attrition depend not only on firepower but also on logistics, morale and political will. Sustained Iranian missile capabilities, proxy operations and cyber activities could continue to pose asymmetric challenges even if Tehran’s conventional air defenses are degraded.

Tehran has vowed to intensify its response, warning that regional military and economic infrastructure could be targeted if hostilities continue. Iranian officials have framed the conflict as a defense of sovereignty and signaled no immediate willingness to de-escalate.

The widening confrontation has raised concerns about potential spillover into neighboring states, disruptions to global energy markets and broader geopolitical instability.

For now, US defense leaders are balancing confidence in air dominance with public acknowledgment of ongoing risks — recognizing that even overwhelming military superiority does not eliminate the danger to troops deployed in active combat zones.

Hegseth Warns US ‘Can’t Stop Everything’ Iran Fires Despite Claiming Air Superiority