The conflict involving Iran and Israel entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with tensions escalating across the region and new military developments emerging. Explosions were reported in Tehran while Iran continued launching strikes targeting United States military assets, fuelling anger among several Gulf states.
Speaking during a briefing at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued one of the strongest statements since the fighting began, declaring that the Iranian regime “are toast and they know it”. He described the results of the US military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, as “incredible” and “historic”, insisting that the United States was winning. Hegseth added that the confrontation “was never meant to be a fair fight” and warned that further waves of attacks were expected.
The defence secretary also revealed that a US submarine had sunk an Iranian warship with a torpedo on Tuesday night. According to Hegseth, the vessel had believed it was safe in international waters but was destroyed in what he described as the first such US naval attack on an enemy warship since the World War II.
Meanwhile, the conflict continued to spread across the region. The Israeli military said it had destroyed around 300 Iranian defence systems and ballistic missiles while striking sites linked to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and weapons network in Tehran. Israel also reported that two soldiers were moderately injured in southern Lebanon after a missile attack.
In response, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem vowed the group would continue its armed campaign against Israel, calling its weapons a legitimate right while Israeli forces remain in the region.
Diplomatic tensions have also surfaced within Western alliances. Spain denied claims from the White House that it had agreed to cooperate with US military operations, contradicting earlier statements by US officials and highlighting divisions over the conflict.
Despite the escalating strikes, the White House said deploying US ground troops inside Iran is not currently part of the operational plan, though officials declined to rule out the possibility entirely as the situation continues to evolve.
via Euronews
