Iran Retaliates, Mideast War Escalates
Iran has launched a barrage of missiles at Israel and U.S. positions in Gulf Arab states, a direct response to the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei. The U.S. military confirmed at least three American troops were killed. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck Tehran for a second day, and California leaders condemned former President Trump for the escalating conflict.
The initial, massive U.S. and Israeli military operation on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also reportedly killed about 40 other senior Iranian officials. Among those reported dead are the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Gen Mohammad Pakpour, and defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. The strikes targeted Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense systems, and missile and drone launch sites. Iran's retaliation was swift, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran has reportedly used Emad and Ghadr missiles in its attacks on Israel. In central Israel's Beit Shemesh area, a missile strike on a residential neighborhood killed at least eight people and wounded 28. The three American service members were killed as part of "Operation Epic Fury," the name given to the U.S. and Israeli joint operations. In addition to the fatalities, five other U.S. troops were seriously wounded. Iran has targeted as many as 27 U.S. bases in the region and also claimed to have struck the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, a claim the U.S. has denied. In the United Arab Emirates, Iranian missile and drone attacks have killed three people and wounded 58. The dead were identified as Pakistani, Nepali, and Bangladeshi nationals. A hotel in Bahrain's capital, Manama, that houses U.S. Embassy employees was also struck, causing material damage but no casualties. The second day of the conflict saw Israeli warplanes striking targets in the "heart of Tehran" for the first time, hitting the office of the president and Iran's National Security Council building. The Israeli military announced it had targeted at least 30 sites in western and central Iran in its latest wave of strikes. California leaders were quick to condemn the military action. Gov. Gavin Newsom, while acknowledging a "corrupt and repressive Iranian regime," stated the strikes were not justified given the risk to American lives. Other prominent California Democrats, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Senator Adam Schiff, called the move an "unnecessary war" initiated without Congressional authorization.
