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  • Iran says US to pay ‘heavy price’ for killing supreme leader

    Iran says US to pay ‘heavy price’ for killing supreme leader

    Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, threatening severe consequences for the alleged killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, declared on Wednesday that America would face a “heavy price” for its actions, which he characterized as an escalation of hostilities.

    In a statement published on social media platform X, Larijani accused US President Donald Trump of plunging American citizens into what he described as an “unjust” military confrontation with Iran. The Iranian official posed a provocative question regarding the strategic calculus behind the operation: “Now he must calculate: with over 500 American soldiers killed in just the past few days, does America still come first — or Israel?”

    The incident triggering this escalation occurred on Saturday when joint American-Israeli strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of Khamenei, several family members, and multiple high-ranking Iranian military commanders. In response to these attacks, Iran launched comprehensive retaliatory measures involving coordinated missile and drone assaults targeting Israeli territory and American military installations throughout the Middle Eastern region.

    This development marks a significant deterioration in Iran-US relations, with potential implications for regional stability and global security frameworks. The exchange of military actions represents one of the most direct confrontations between the two nations in recent history, raising concerns about further escalation and the potential for broader regional conflict.

  • Exclusive: Iranian girls killed by ‘double-tap’ strikes on Minab school

    Exclusive: Iranian girls killed by ‘double-tap’ strikes on Minab school

    A horrific attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, has resulted in the deaths of 165 individuals, predominantly girls aged 7-12, according to local officials. Multiple firsthand accounts from first responders and grieving parents describe a ‘double-tap’ strike pattern, with a second missile deliberately targeting survivors and rescue personnel.

    Eyewitness accounts from Red Crescent medics reveal a devastating sequence of events. Following an initial explosion, school administrators moved students to a prayer hall for safety and contacted parents for evacuation. The second strike then targeted this exact shelter area, resulting in catastrophic casualties. Approximately 170 students were present during the Saturday morning attack, which coincided with broader US-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets.

    The attack’s aftermath revealed scenes of utter destruction. A Red Crescent medic described encountering ‘bodies without heads, without hands, without legs,’ with dozens of severed limbs scattered throughout the school grounds. The devastation was so severe that 69 victims remain unidentified, requiring DNA testing for proper identification. Some parents could only recognize their children through personal effects such as gold bracelets or school bags.

    Rohollah, father of a slain student, recounted receiving a call from the school after the first strike. His daughter had survived the initial explosion only to be killed in the second attack while sheltering in the prayer hall. ‘We could only identify her from her school bag, which she was still holding. She was completely burned,’ he told Middle East Eye.

    The term ‘double-tap strike’ describes a military tactic considered a war crime under international law, previously documented in conflicts involving US and Israeli forces. Social media videos from Tehran and other locations suggest similar attack patterns occurring throughout Iran during recent hostilities.

    While some misinformation circulated suggesting Iranian forces bombed the school, this has been conclusively debunked. Satellite imagery confirms separate strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities approximately 200 meters from the school, but analysis indicates these could not have caused the catastrophic damage sustained by the educational facility.

    The international community has responded with outrage. A UN panel of experts has labeled the school attack ‘deeply disturbing’ and demanded investigation. Iran’s UN ambassador has formally characterized the incident as ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘criminal’ in communications to human rights officials. Both US and Israeli authorities have acknowledged they are investigating the incident but have not responded to specific allegations regarding the double-tap strike pattern.

  • US shifting from precision munitions to 2,000-pound bombs in Iran war, Hegseth says

    US shifting from precision munitions to 2,000-pound bombs in Iran war, Hegseth says

    The United States is transitioning to extensive deployment of conventional gravity bombs following assessments indicating significant degradation of Iranian air defense capabilities, according to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s Wednesday announcement.

    This strategic shift comes as Washington confronts dwindling precision weapon inventories while maintaining aerial superiority over Iranian airspace. The new operational approach will utilize 500-pound, 1,000-pound, and 2,000-pound GPS and laser-guided bombs from what Hegseth described as a ‘nearly unlimited stockpile.’

    The decision marks a substantial tactical departure from previous reliance on sophisticated standoff munitions including cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles. While these advanced systems minimized pilot exposure to enemy defenses, their production demands greater time and financial resources compared to conventional gravity bombs.

    This development follows Middle East Eye’s exclusive reporting that Iran secured Chinese surface-to-air defense systems after the June 2025 US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite US claims of complete air dominance, recent incidents suggest lingering Iranian capabilities—including Wednesday’s engagement where an Israeli F-35 reportedly shot down a Russian-made Yak-130 trainer aircraft operated by Iranian forces.

    Military analysts note the bomb strategy serves dual purposes: preserving precision missile inventories while leveraging cheaper alternatives made viable by suppressed air defenses. However, regional allies face growing concerns regarding interceptor shortages as Gulf states exhaust expensive air defense systems protecting urban centers against Iranian retaliation.

    The Pentagon faces global interceptor shortages, leaving Gulf partners awaiting replenishment while Iran simultaneously conserves its advanced ballistic missiles through increased deployment of lower-cost Shahed drones.

  • Israeli security forces believe Iran government ‘not close to collapse’

    Israeli security forces believe Iran government ‘not close to collapse’

    Israeli security officials have concluded that Iran’s ruling establishment remains functionally intact and shows no immediate signs of collapse despite sustaining substantial losses from coordinated US-Israeli military strikes, according to a report by Walla news. A military source within Israeli security forces indicated that Iranian authorities have adapted strategies based on lessons learned during the June 2025 conflict with Israel. While acknowledging Tehran’s military capabilities operate at a ‘moderate to weak’ level with evident operational confusion and significant challenges, the source emphasized that Iran maintains sufficient operational continuity and possesses ready replacements for any eliminated figures. The assessment notes Iran has encountered substantial difficulties in directing precision missile attacks against Israeli targets, resulting in a strategic shift toward increased attacks on Arab Gulf nations. This evaluation emerges amid conflicting statements from US and Israeli leadership regarding ultimate war objectives. President Donald Trump reiterated his administration’s commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran while explicitly encouraging citizens to overthrow their government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed similar sentiments predicting a ‘quick and decisive’ action to enable democratic government transition. Conversely, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contradicted this narrative, denying regime change constitutes official war policy. Military officials confirmed approximately 3,500 combined strikes against Iranian targets, while Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies reported Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles and 100 drones toward Israel across 123 attack waves, alongside significantly larger deployments—500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones—targeting Gulf Arab states, particularly the UAE, indicating Tehran prioritizes regional neighbors despite identifying Israel as its primary adversary.

  • Names and ages of children killed in strike on Iranian school

    Names and ages of children killed in strike on Iranian school

    A devastating aerial assault on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, has resulted in the deaths of at least 165 individuals, predominantly young children, according to multiple sources. The attack, attributed to joint US-Israeli military operations, employed a controversial ‘double tap’ tactic where a second strike targets first responders and survivors shortly after the initial explosion.

    Eyewitness accounts from Red Crescent medics describe a horrific scene where school administrators attempted to protect students by moving them to a prayer hall following the first impact. As parents arrived to retrieve their children, a subsequent missile struck the same shelter area, dramatically increasing the casualty count. School staff reported being rendered speechless by the overwhelming sounds of children’s screams and cries amidst the devastation.

    Middle East Eye has independently verified 61 victims through cross-referencing sources including Iran’s Gymnastics Federation, handwritten casualty lists, and Tasnim news agency reports. The documented fatalities include 25 boys, 26 girls, eight women, one man, and a two-month-old infant. Among the youngest confirmed victims were Sara Shayesteh (5), Ehsan Saleminia (6), and Salma Zakeri (6).

    US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged the incident days after the strike, stating that an investigation was underway. The attack has sparked international condemnation and widespread mourning across Iran, with mass funerals attended by thousands of grieving community members.

    The extensive victim list includes:
    – Hana Dehqani, 8
    – Arya Bahadori, 9
    – Ahmad Soltani, 8
    – Athena Chamani-nezhad, 6
    – Mahna Zarei, 2 months
    – Mohammadreza Shahsavari, 8
    – Reza Ranjbar, 6
    – And numerous other children whose ages range from 5 to 12 years old

    This incident represents one of the deadliest attacks on an educational facility in recent Middle Eastern conflict, raising serious questions about targeting protocols and the protection of civilian infrastructure in warfare.

  • Fidan reveals failed Turkish attempts to stop Iran war

    Fidan reveals failed Turkish attempts to stop Iran war

    Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has disclosed extensive diplomatic efforts by Ankara to prevent military confrontation between the United States and Iran, revealing that Tehran fundamentally misjudged Washington’s determination during critical negotiations.

    In a comprehensive briefing, Fidan detailed how Turkey initiated backchannel diplomacy following a historic January 27 phone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. During this exchange, Trump expressed support for Erdogan’s proposal to facilitate direct talks with newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian via teleconference—an offer Tehran ultimately declined.

    “Had the proposal for a trilateral meeting between the United States, Turkey and Mr. Pezeshkian been accepted by the Iranian side, it would have been a game-changing development,” Fidan stated, emphasizing that negotiations had reached a critical impasse requiring innovative diplomatic solutions.

    The minister described January’s security environment as particularly volatile, with Washington facing intense decision-making pressure regarding potential military action against Iran. “Those were truly dark days,” Fidan recalled. “Talk of war breaking out, of an imminent strike, was everywhere.”

    Three days after the Trump-Erdogan discussion, Turkey hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul, where Turkish diplomats developed a novel negotiation architecture. The proposal involved separating four contentious issues into two categories: two matters for direct US-Iran discussion and two for resolution through regional mediation involving Turkey and other Middle Eastern nations.

    While American officials immediately accepted this framework, Iranian representatives requested consultation with senior leadership in Tehran. Turkish officials later learned that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—recently deceased—opposed multilateral negotiations in Istanbul.

    Iran instead opted for bilateral talks in Oman, excluding regional powers Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan from the process. By February 27, Fidan recognized the negotiations were stalling, though he believed extended dialogue might have produced agreements absent American military timetables and substantial Israeli pressure.

    Fidan suggested Iran’s misreading of Trump’s decision-making constraints ultimately weakened their diplomatic position. He expressed Ankara’s preference for limited military de-escalation rather than regime change, which would introduce “far more complex risks” regionally.

    The foreign minister indicated that Iran’s temporary leadership council—including President Pezeshkian—might present new opportunities for conflict resolution, describing the Iranian leader as someone Ankara could productively engage with on American concerns.

  • Israel ‘approved Lebanon attack’ hours before Hezbollah rocket fire

    Israel ‘approved Lebanon attack’ hours before Hezbollah rocket fire

    Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated dramatically following a series of preemptive military actions, bringing the region to the brink of renewed full-scale conflict. According to intelligence reports from Israel’s Channel 12 News, the Israeli security cabinet approved offensive operations against Lebanon on Sunday night after receiving intelligence indicating imminent Hezbollah attacks. This decision came shortly before Hezbollah launched rocket barrets into Israeli territory, which the group characterized as both retaliatory for recent targeted assassinations and preemptive against anticipated Israeli aggression.

    Sources close to Hezbollah leadership revealed to Middle East Eye that the militant organization detected preparations for significant Israeli military action and opted to strike first to disrupt attack plans and facilitate civilian evacuations from vulnerable areas. The group’s leadership viewed this move as strategically necessary to mitigate potential casualties from an expected Israeli assault.

    In response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, Israel has intensified aerial bombardments across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, particularly targeting the Dahiyeh area. Lebanese health authorities report at least 61 fatalities and 335 injuries resulting from the ongoing military operations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued stark warnings on social media platform X, declaring that “Hezbollah will pay a heavy price” and threatening further escalation.

    The conflict has triggered massive displacement, with approximately 65,000 Lebanese citizens registering at emergency shelters and an additional 10,000-20,000 believed displaced but not yet registered. Israel’s Northern Command has ordered widespread evacuations south of the Litani River, affecting an estimated 300,000 residents.

    In a significant political development, the Lebanese government has moved to ban Hezbollah’s military and security operations, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam demanding the group surrender its “illegal” weapons. Meanwhile, Israeli military leadership, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, has emphasized that operations will continue until Hezbollah’s military capabilities are substantially degraded, asserting that the Lebanese government has failed to adequately disarm the organization.

    Rafi Milo, commander of Israel’s Northern Command, claims Hezbollah has “fallen into a strategic trap” as Israel implements attack plans developed over the past eight months. Israeli forces report striking approximately 250 targets across Lebanon and eliminating several senior Hezbollah commanders. Military officials have vowed to intensify operations in coming days regardless of Hezbollah’s actions, with potential targeting expanding to include major population centers such as Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon.

  • US sub sinks Iranian warship in intl waters near Sri Lanka

    US sub sinks Iranian warship in intl waters near Sri Lanka

    In a significant naval escalation, a United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship during a military operation in the Indian Ocean. The incident occurred in international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, marking the first torpedo sinking of an enemy vessel by U.S. forces since World War II.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the engagement during a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, stating, “An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.”

    The targeted vessel was identified as the IRIS Dena, a Soleimani-class frigate of the Iranian navy. According to Sri Lankan officials, the attack resulted in substantial casualties. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra reported that at least 80 crew members aboard the Iranian frigate were killed in the sinking.

    The incident represents a dramatic escalation in ongoing military operations between the United States and Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disclosed that American forces have now struck or sunk more than 20 Iranian vessels since joint U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran commenced on Saturday morning.

    Notably, the IRIS Dena had recently participated in multinational naval exercises held in the Bay of Bengal from February 18-25, according to official exercise documentation. The sinking has raised concerns about further regional instability and potential impacts on crucial shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

    Recovery operations are underway, with photographs showing bodies of Iranian sailors being transported to the mortuary at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka, highlighting the human cost of the confrontation.

  • Forty nations meet in The Hague to discuss measures against Israel’s West Bank annexation

    Forty nations meet in The Hague to discuss measures against Israel’s West Bank annexation

    In a significant diplomatic mobilization, representatives from forty nations assembled in The Hague on Wednesday to formulate coordinated international responses to Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. The conference, orchestrated by The Hague Group—a coalition established in January 2025 to address legal accountability for Israel’s actions—marked the largest gathering since the group’s inception.

    Convened against the backdrop of Israel’s controversial E1 settlement approval and recent governance overhaul in the West Bank, the meeting brought together diverse nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, the assembly focused on translating political condemnation into concrete state-level actions regarding what participants characterized as de facto annexation of Palestinian lands.

    Participants unanimously reaffirmed commitment to fundamental international principles including the UN Charter, prohibition of territorial acquisition by force, and the right to self-determination. The conference yielded three specific measures for further development: enhanced accountability protocols for alleged international crimes including military service screening mechanisms, non-recognition policies through settlement goods import bans and corporate activity restrictions, and arms transfer halts with revised public contracting procedures.

    Colombian Vice-Minister of Multilateral Affairs Mauricio Jaramillo framed the discussion as addressing systemic impunity, stating Israel was ‘carrying out dispossession in plain sight.’ Palestinian Ambassador Ammar Hijazi welcomed the initiative as a rare operationalization of legal obligations, emphasizing that ‘the legal framework is not in dispute’ but implementation remains lacking.

    The meeting builds upon previous actions including The Hague Group’s July 2025 emergency summit in Bogotá, which demanded international sanctions against Israel. Recent months have seen several nations including Turkey, Spain, and Ireland implement independent sanctions aligned with the group’s objectives.

  • Turkey says Iranian missile over its airspace destroyed by Nato defences

    Turkey says Iranian missile over its airspace destroyed by Nato defences

    Turkish defense authorities confirmed on Wednesday that NATO air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile transiting toward Turkish airspace. The incident represents a significant escalation in regional tensions and demonstrates NATO’s active defensive posture in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    According to official statements from Ankara, the projectile had traversed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being neutralized by NATO’s integrated air and missile defense network. Ministry officials reported that missile fragments recovered in Hatay province’s Dortyol district confirmed the successful interception. The incident resulted in no casualties or property damage.

    Turkey’s defense ministry issued a stern warning following the interception, emphasizing the nation’s capability to protect its territorial integrity against any threat regardless of origin. While reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to regional stability, the statement explicitly reserved the right to respond to hostile actions against Turkish sovereignty.

    The incident occurs amid deteriorating regional security conditions following recent military actions against Iranian leadership. Iranian forces have employed a decentralized retaliation strategy, targeting Gulf nations with missile strikes that damaged infrastructure in Dubai and Saudi Arabia while disrupting Qatar’s LNG exports.

    Ankara’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran have collapsed following recent military actions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged the failure of mediation attempts despite proposing creative solutions to nuclear and ballistic missile disagreements. Fidan emphasized that any successful negotiations would require multilayered engagement given the unpredictable nature of current hostilities.

    Meanwhile, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party criticized external intervention in Iran, arguing that regime change should emerge from internal popular will rather than foreign imposition. The party expressed concern that current military actions fail to address the aspirations of Iran’s diverse ethnic communities while acknowledging the Iranian regime’s history of human rights abuses.