Iran, Mar 05 : Iran launched a fresh wave of missile attacks on Israeli and American bases on Thursday, further intensifying the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The strikes came hours after the United States and Israel expanded their military operations against Iranian targets, including the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean by a US Navy submarine.
Air raid sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Israel reported multiple incoming missiles. Iranian state television claimed that additional attacks had also targeted American military installations in the region. In response, the Israeli military carried out targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern suburbs in neighbouring Lebanon.
The war began over the weekend when the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran’s military leadership, missile infrastructure and nuclear facilities. The conflict escalated rapidly after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the initial phase of the strikes, forcing authorities in Tehran to postpone a planned national mourning ceremony.
US President Donald Trump praised the American military’s operations, while lawmakers in the US Senate rejected a resolution that sought to halt the military campaign. Meanwhile, Iran expanded its retaliation by launching missiles toward Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel. Turkish authorities said NATO defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile heading toward Turkish airspace.
The conflict has caused widespread instability across the region. Qatar temporarily evacuated residents near the US Embassy in Doha as a precaution, while Saudi Arabia reported destroying a drone near its border with Jordan. Fighter jets were also heard flying over Dubai amid heightened security alerts.
Maritime security has also been affected. An explosion near the coast of Kuwait early Thursday raised fears of attacks on commercial shipping. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a tanker may have come under attack, though the cause was not immediately confirmed. Previous incidents since the conflict began have taken place in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil shipping route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.
Oil markets have reacted sharply, with Brent crude prices rising about 15 percent since the start of the conflict, reaching their highest levels since July 2024.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship earlier this week in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities said dozens of crew members were rescued while several bodies were recovered following the attack.
Israel said its forces also targeted facilities linked to Iran’s internal security command and the Basij paramilitary force, which has been involved in suppressing protests within the country.
The war has already caused significant casualties. Iranian authorities reported more than 1,000 deaths in the country, while Lebanon has recorded over 70 fatalities and Israel around a dozen. Six American soldiers have also been killed during the conflict.
Israeli officials said the military campaign against Iran had originally been planned for mid-2026 but was brought forward due to changing geopolitical circumstances and growing tensions with Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership has begun the process of selecting a new supreme leader following Khamenei’s death. Several potential candidates are under consideration, ranging from hardline figures to reformists advocating diplomatic engagement.
As fighting continues across multiple fronts, military officials from the US and Israel have indicated that the conflict could last several weeks or even longer, with operations continuing until their strategic objectives are achieved.