Middle East war escalates as Iran launches missiles at Israel and US bases, while Israeli strikes intensify across Lebanon amid regional tensions

Iran launched more missiles at Israel and U.S. bases as the war in the Middle East enters its sixth day, with Israel announcing multiple incoming attacks early Thursday and reporting interceptions. Simultaneously, the Israeli military initiated new strikes against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, resulting in at least eight deaths late Wednesday into Thursday according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency. Tehran has warned of widespread destruction to the region's military and economic infrastructure, causing significant volatility in financial markets, particularly driven by oil prices which resumed their ascent early Thursday. The conflict has claimed at least 1,230 lives in Iran, over 70 in Lebanon, around a dozen in Israel, and six U.S. troops.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, stating in an interview with Axios that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is an "unacceptable" potential successor.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” Trump said of Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the supreme leader killed on the first day of the war.
Trump added, “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

The former president also referred to Mojtaba Khamenei as “a lightweight.”

“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump stated, referencing Delcy Rodriguez, who took power in January after a U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.

Bahrain reported that an Iranian missile struck a state-run oil refinery on Thursday night. The fire was extinguished without injuries, and the refinery remained operational. This incident marked another Iranian strike targeting the region's vital oil industry. Air raid sirens had sounded across Bahrain earlier Thursday, with residents urged to seek shelter, and mobile phones alerted people in Dubai of possible missile fire from Iran. Authorities in Bahrain confirmed minor damage to a facility in the oil refining and factory town of Maameer, with no casualties.

The State Department announced that approximately 20,000 Americans have departed the Middle East, with nearly all making their own arrangements for travel. The first charter flight arranged by the department for private citizens departed Wednesday, with more expected Thursday. Americans in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were asked to fill out an online form for information. Officials stated they have responded to over 10,000 requests for information from Americans in the region. Americans seeking assistance were urged to contact an emergency task force at +1-202-501-4444.

A steady stream of Iranians crossed the border into Turkey on Thursday after the frontier had been closed for much of the day. Most of these individuals already had connections to Turkey. Elyar Akbari, a 22-year-old student from Tabriz, Iran, cut short a visit home due to the war, but his family remained behind.

“I don’t believe that Iranians will leave their country,” he said. “Only students or people who already work in Turkey will come for now.”

Kadir Ozel, a Turkish citizen living in Tabriz with his family, crossed to leave his children with their grandmother and uncle in Ankara.

“They were very scared. But I have to go back for work,” he stated.

A woman who identified herself only as Fariba, citing security concerns, crossed to wait out the war with her son in Izmir. She mentioned that her neighbors could not escape due to a lack of funds.

“so they stay home, and they are scared,” she said.

Nearly 25,000 flights have been canceled since the start of the war, representing more than half of the approximately 44,000 flights scheduled to operate in and out of the Middle East between Saturday and Thursday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. FlightAware reported about 2,050 flight cancellations worldwide as of Thursday morning, following over 2,600 cancellations on Wednesday. Dubai International Airport, a major hub, continued to experience the highest number of disruptions.

Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has increased since the war erupted last weekend, according to a leading Israeli rights group, Yesh Din. The group documented 50 instances of settler violence in 37 Palestinian communities from Saturday to Tuesday, including shootings, assaults, and property damage.

“Under the cover of the war, settler violence is escalating with the aim of forcing Palestinians out and taking over their land,” Yesh Din stated.

This includes Israeli settlers who shot and killed two Palestinian brothers in the northern West Bank village of Qaryout on Monday, injuring others. An ambulance was unable to reach them due to Israel closing gates and checkpoints throughout the territory, citing security. While such violence and movement restrictions are not new, groups like the Palestinian Red Crescent and Yesh Din report an increase since the war began.

Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, warned Thursday that the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, will resemble Khan Younis, a city in Gaza that Israel has heavily damaged during the ongoing war. The Israeli military issued an evacuation notice calling for all residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately,” signaling potential heavy bombardment.

“You wanted to bring hell on us, we are bringing hell on you,” Smotrich said while touring towns on Israel’s border with Lebanon.

“Dahiyeh will look like Khan Younis, and our citizens of the north will live in peace and quiet,” he added.

Disagreements are emerging from confidential discussions regarding Iran's next supreme leader. Rumors have long suggested Mojtaba Khamenei could succeed his father, given his close ties to the Revolutionary Guards. Hamid Rasaee, a member of parliament and cleric, wrote Thursday that Khamenei’s son was “an outstanding seminarian” and a trusted adviser.

A reformist-aligned cleric, Rahmatollah Bigdeli, condemned Rasaee’s comments, stating on X that the constitution does not specify a time limit for the interim leadership council.

A former minister aligned with Iran’s reformists, Abbas Akhoundi, warned against a “diversionary and toxic debate” over the succession.

“The stench of the power struggle in wartime is nauseating,” Akhoundi wrote on X on Wednesday.

The death toll in Lebanon has surpassed 100, with at least 102 people killed since the onset of the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. At least 638 others have been wounded. The conflict was sparked by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel early Sunday, leading to Israeli strikes across Lebanon and the evacuation of large parts of southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

As some airspace reopened, Emirates Airlines announced Thursday it was restoring a limited schedule of flights in and out of Dubai, urging customers to confirm their flights before going to the airport. Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport continued a phased reopening, with El Al proactively assigning customers abroad to recovery flights back to Israel, though outbound flights remained suspended.

The war entered its sixth day Thursday, with an Iranian state-owned newspaper reporting bombings at a police station and a gym in Tehran. Residents were seen stocking up on supplies. Mohammad-Sadegh Motamedian, Tehran’s governor, urged citizens to avoid stockpiling to maintain market calm. Metro stations were less crowded, though trains continued to run, and authorities were equipping dozens of subway stations as bomb shelters. A planned tour for journalists of a damaged area of the capital was canceled due to ongoing bombing. Funerals for Iranian security officers were held across the country, with hard-liners gathering to mourn and express support for the theocracy.

Iran’s Health Ministry Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour stated Thursday on X that U.S.-Israeli strikes have damaged critical parts of the country’s health system, killing four health workers and damaging 11 hospitals. The deceased included an orthopedic resident, a radiology technician, a general practitioner, and an emergency medical technician. Emergency services and ambulances were also affected.

The economy in northern Israel is struggling due to repeated evacuations during the Gaza war. Businesses have closed, wineries have shuttered, and tourism has declined, impacting spending in areas like the Galilee. Fatigue is evident in Israeli towns such as Kiryat Shmona, even as the public and government rally behind the war effort. The Israeli military reported two soldiers wounded Wednesday by fire from Hezbollah. In Lebanon, at least 77 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced.

Residents in northern Israel are bracing for continued crossfire, with memories of evacuation orders fresh. Israeli tanks moved north amid renewed fighting with Hezbollah. Oscar Chen of Kiryat Shmona expressed concern for children and the elderly who may struggle to evacuate. Tens of thousands of people in northern Israel have been forced to evacuate over the past 2½ years, hindering regional recovery.

Bahrain urged its citizens to seek the nearest safe location as sirens sounded. Earlier Thursday, Bahrain’s defense ministry reported intercepting 75 Iranian ballistic missiles, destroying 65, with 10 falling within its territory. It also intercepted 124 drones, downing 88, with 36 landing inside the country.

Iran’s strategy involves sowing chaos through attacks across the Persian Gulf, aiming to instill fear and pressure allies of the U.S. and Israel to halt their campaign. This strategy carries the risk of backfiring. Iran has a finite supply of missiles and drones, similar to the limited interceptor missiles available to Gulf Arab states, the U.S., and Israel.

Beirut’s streets are experiencing traffic congestion as residents flee following an Israeli military warning for residents of the southern suburbs to evacuate immediately. Hadi Kaakour, a fleeing resident, expressed uncertainty about finding safety.

“We don’t put anything past them,” he said, referring to Israel.

“They will strike us no matter where we go.”

Some residents voiced anger about Lebanon being drawn into the wider conflict.

“We got sucked into a mess that we have nothing to do with,” said Yousef Nabulsi, who was also fleeing.

“People have been displaced and are now staying on the streets.”

Nearly 84,000 people had already been displaced within Lebanon since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed Monday.

A total of 252 Taiwanese citizens arrived in Taipei from Dubai on Thursday, having been stranded in cities targeted by Iran. Yu Shing-lun, a 19-year-old Taiwanese university student, described initial confusion during air raid drills in Dubai.

“At first, I didn’t know what was happening. Because there were many drills in Dubai, I thought it was just a drill. Then I followed everyone to the air-raid shelter, and I saw many people crying. I was puzzled; why were so many people crying?” he said.

“I checked the news online and realized it was war.”

Tim Liu, a 34-year-old financial analyst, was traveling with his girlfriend in Dubai when the attack occurred.

“It was very tense when the attack happened. We heard explosions. I kept checking the flight status and immediately changed my ticket back to Taiwan. Luckily, everything went smoothly,” he recounted.

Qatar’s defense ministry reported that 14 ballistic missiles and four drones were fired at the country. Air defenses intercepted all drones and 13 missiles, with the 14th falling into the sea off Qatar.

Iranian state television announced a new wave of missile launches on Thursday night.

Oil prices resumed their climb after stabilizing the previous day, with analysts noting that the market's earlier bounce appeared to be a temporary relief rally. Uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East has rattled financial markets, with oil prices heavily influencing trends. U.S. benchmark crude jumped by $2.59 per barrel, or 3.5%, to $77.25, its highest level in over a year. Brent crude gained 2.8% to $82.87 per barrel. The rise in oil prices has already contributed to an increase of nearly 10% in gasoline prices.

The United Kingdom is sending four more Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar to bolster defenses against Iranian missiles and drones. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Britain is "responding to requests" from Middle Eastern allies for additional protection. Critics argue that Britain was unprepared to defend allies in the region and Cyprus after a drone strike on a U.K. base there over the weekend. Starmer added that Britain had already deployed additional fighter jets and ground-based air defenses in January and February, and British planes have been intercepting Iranian drones and missiles since Saturday.

The Iran war has cast a shadow over the ITB tourism fair in Berlin, with representatives from countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel unable to attend due to closed airspace. Tourism operators and travel agencies are focused on repatriating stranded travelers rather than selling future trips to the Middle East. Ramzi Maaytah, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, expressed optimism for a swift recovery in travel once the war concludes.

“We are optimistic that things will be settled soon, the skies will be clear and tourism will be resumed,” Maaytah said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned an Iranian drone attack in Azerbaijan, calling for an immediate end to attacks that "target third countries in the region and increase the risk of the war spreading." Turkey reaffirmed its support for its ally, Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the drone attacks with his Azerbaijani counterpart. A day earlier, NATO forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran that was heading toward Turkish airspace.

U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported observing and hearing clashes, including ground combat, as Israeli forces moved across the border. Tilak Pokharel, spokesperson for UNIFIL, stated that ground combat was observed west of Kfar Kila overnight, with "firing of shots." In Khiyam, peacekeepers witnessed "air attacks and flares and heard explosions."

Members of the Iranian community rallied in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday, displaying posters of Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, along with Israeli and American flags. One poster read, “Make Iran Great Again … Thank you Mr. President,” referencing U.S. President Donald Trump. Abdolreza Heidari, an organizer, told the Associated Press that it is “a war that people wanted.” Mehrbod, a student who expressed fear for his loved ones in Iran, mentioned difficulties in contacting them due to internet connectivity issues.

“Last time I talked to them, they were OK. They have hope that something will change because the regime now is at its weakest point,” he said.

The office of Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General reported that four airport workers were injured in an Iranian drone attack on Nakhchivan, an autonomous exclave bordering Iran. The attack caused "significant damage" to an administrative building at Nakhchivan airport, and a flight from Baku was diverted. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry condemned Iran’s denial of the attack, stating it is “in no way be considered acceptable.” The ministry asserted that Iran fired four drones toward Nakhchivan, including one at a school, and demanded an apology.

Kenta Kutsuna, a professional Japanese rugby player with the Bahrain Rugby Football Club, has experienced sleepless nights due to frequent missile alerts and air sirens. From his apartment balcony, he has witnessed attacks on a U.S. military base, a warplane hitting a skyscraper, a drone hitting a residential building, and barrages of missile interceptors.

“All I could do was to pray,” he said in a video interview.

When sirens sound, he gathers with teammates in a windowless living room, staying indoors with curtains drawn, venturing out only for groceries. Japan is arranging chartered flights for its citizens, but Kutsuna plans to remain in Bahrain with his teammates.

The Israeli military issued an evacuation notice for the southern suburbs of Beirut, urging residents to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately,” indicating plans for heavy bombardment. This follows previous warnings for residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate. Since the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has struck sites in Beirut’s suburbs and issued blanket warnings for southern Lebanon. Hezbollah launched missiles and drones into Israel Monday for the first time in over a year, prompting Israeli retaliation. Seventy-seven people have been killed and over 83,000 people displaced in Lebanon by the renewed conflict.

France, Italy, and Greece have agreed to coordinate the deployment of military assets to Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the initiative with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Macron highlighted the strain on the Suez Canal and Red Sea, emphasizing France's initiative to build a coalition to secure maritime routes.

The war in the Middle East has blocked access to major Gulf ports, impacting food supplies for over 50 million people in a region heavily reliant on agricultural imports. Container vessels heading to ports in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait are stranded. This disruption affects agricultural supplies to over 50 million people in the Gulf, a region that imports over 90% of its food.

A Sri Lankan minister stated Thursday that another Iranian ship has entered its waters, a day after a U.S. submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship off the coast, resulting in at least 87 deaths and 32 injuries. Government spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed the presence of the second Iranian ship but provided no further details. He stated the government was intervening to minimize loss of life and safeguard regional peace.

The U.N. refugee agency, citing Syrian authorities, reported that at least 38,000 people, mostly Syrians, have crossed from Lebanon into Syria following new fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. On Wednesday, UNHCR and Lebanese officials stated that 84,000 people were internally displaced within Lebanon, and 100,000 were displaced within Iran in the first two days after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, with no immediate signs of large numbers attempting to leave Iran.

An oil tanker flying the Bahamas flag was hit by an explosion Thursday while docked near Khor al-Zubair port in southern Iraq. An unidentified boat approached the tanker shortly before the explosion. Iraq’s state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that an attempt to launch missiles from Basra province, intended for a neighboring country, was thwarted, and security forces seized a mobile launch platform with two ready-to-fire missiles.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry reported that one ballistic missile and six drones hit the country’s territory. The ministry stated it repelled six missiles and 131 drones on Thursday, and hundreds since the war began. Earlier this week, shrapnel from intercepted cruise missiles killed three residents, and falling shrapnel in past days wounded 94.

The death toll in Iran from the ongoing war with the United States and Israel has reached at least 1,230 people, according to Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.

Iran’s general staff of the armed forces denied Thursday that it had launched a drone toward Azerbaijan. This denial comes despite Iran's repeated denials of targeting oil infrastructure and civilian sites, even as its drones and missiles have hit such locations.

Iran launched its large Khorramshahr-4 missiles in an attack targeting Israel on Thursday, the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced. The Guard stated the missiles had a 1-ton warhead and could carry multiple warheads, with Israel reporting Iran used cluster munitions. The Guard also claimed responsibility for attacks in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.