Joint military operations by the United States and Israel intensified on Thursday, with fresh explosions reported across the Iranian capital.
The ongoing conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by Washington and Operation Roaring Lion by Jerusalem, has now expanded to impact 15 countries across the Middle East and beyond.
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that the coalition is winning “decisively” as they move to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.
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Regional stability and travel disrupted
The regional conflict has caused unprecedented disruption to global travel and shipping. The Strait of Hormuz has been nearly emptied of cargo vessels following Iranian threats to target commercial shipping. In the United Arab Emirates, authorities reported that drone debris injured six civilians in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, over a million air passengers have faced cancellations, with Dubai International Airport experiencing significant chaos due to the nearby hostilities.
The human cost of the regional conflict continues to rise. Iranian state media reports that over 940 people have died from coalition strikes, while 11 deaths have occurred in Israel. The Pentagon confirmed the identities of six American service members killed since the start of the operation. In Lebanon, the health ministry reported that 77 people have been killed as Israel targets Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.
United States officials confirmed that a Navy submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. This marks the first time an American submarine has used a torpedo to sink an enemy vessel since World War II. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the act as an “atrocity at sea” and warned that the United States would bitterly regret the escalation.
Thousands of American citizens remain stranded in the Middle East despite the commencement of State Department charter flights. President Donald Trump indicated that the military campaign has significantly degraded Iran’s missile arsenal, rating the success of the operation as a “15 out of 10”.
Image credit: Majid Asgaripour/REUTERS
