Israel announces new phase in Iran conflict as US warns strikes will 'surge dramatically'
Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran overnight as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared the commencement of a “new stage” in their campaign against Iran. US and Israeli officials have indicated a potential escalation in military actions.
Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, IDF chief of staff, stated that the initial phase of a “surprise opening blow” has been completed and the military is transitioning to the next phase with further unexpected operations planned.
“We will intensify the strike on the foundations of the regime and its military capabilities,”
he said, adding,
“We have additional surprising moves in our hands, which I do not intend to reveal.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the “firepower over and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically.”
US President Donald Trump has ruled out deploying troops to Iran, describing such an action as a “waste of time,” but expressed a desire to see the Iranian leadership structure removed.
“We want to go in and clean out everything,”he said.
The IDF also renewed strikes against Hezbollah positions in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. Authorities ordered hundreds of thousands of residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate, resulting in widespread panic.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported firing missiles toward Tel Aviv following earlier explosions that ignited a residential building in the city.
Opinion: Influencers sold the world a fantasy Dubai – and now it’s gone in a puff of missile smoke
Illusions of safety and prosperity in Dubai have been shattered as missile strikes bring the realities of regional conflict closer to residents. Social media posts from affluent expatriates, once portraying Dubai as a secure haven, now reflect fear and uncertainty.
Many expatriates, including economic migrants and workers supporting the city’s wealthy elite, face anxiety as the conflict escalates nearby. The Gulf’s image as a low-crime, prosperous region is challenged by the current hostilities.
Gaby Hinsliff, columnist, highlights the contrast between the glamorous lifestyle promoted by influencers and the harsh realities faced by many residents amid the conflict.
Pictures: People forced to flee from southern suburbs of Beirut as Israeli strikes hit Lebanese capital
The AFP news agency reported that the Emirati government issued a mobile alert warning Dubai residents of potential missile threats. The UAE’s interior ministry advised citizens to seek immediate shelter in secure buildings and avoid windows, doors, and open areas.
Four people in UK arrested on suspicion of spying on Jewish community for Iran
Counter-terrorism police in the UK arrested four men on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, identified as Iran. The arrests occurred in Barnet and Watford early on 6 March.
“The men were arrested on Friday, 6 March on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The country to which the investigation relates is Iran.
The investigation relates to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.”
Six additional men were arrested in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender. Cmdr Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing for the Met, emphasized ongoing efforts to disrupt malign activities and urged vigilance from the public, particularly the Jewish community.
Majority of Spaniards against US-Israeli attacks on Iran - poll
A recent survey indicates that 68.2% of Spaniards oppose the US and Israeli military actions against Iran. The poll found 45% strongly disagreed with the war, while 23.2% were somewhat opposed. Conversely, 8% strongly supported and 15.2% somewhat supported the military operations.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has faced criticism from President Trump for denying permission to use Spanish bases for the strikes and questioning the conflict’s rationale. Trump threatened to cut trade with Spain in response.
“We want to go in and clean out everything,”
Sánchez compared the conflict to “Russian roulette with the destiny of millions” and stated Spain would not be complicit in actions harmful to global interests out of fear of reprisals.
Trump further criticized Spain and the UK for perceived lack of support for the military operation and NATO commitments.
UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy reported that 6,500 people have returned to the UK from the UAE since the onset of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Recap of the day
The US granted Indian refiners a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, temporarily lifting global oil prices. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the waiver would not significantly benefit the Russian government financially.
The IDF targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in the Dahiya neighborhood of Beirut, a densely populated commercial and residential area. Evacuation orders for the southern suburbs of Beirut, home to approximately 500,000 people, caused widespread panic and traffic congestion. This escalation occurred despite calls from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, urging Israel not to expand the conflict into Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 123 deaths and 683 injuries in Lebanon since Monday.
President Trump dismissed Iranian claims of readiness for a ground invasion by US and Israeli forces, stating on NBC News that Iran has lost its navy and “everything they can lose.”
Iran’s leadership council convened ahead of selecting a new supreme leader, discussing arrangements for the Assembly of Experts meeting. No timeline or details on the meeting format were provided. The assembly has been meeting virtually due to Israeli strikes on their compound in Qom.
Trump expressed a desire to be involved in appointing Iran’s next leader and rejected the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father, the late Supreme Leader. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the succession is an internal matter for the Iranian people.
The conflict has expanded to affect 14 additional countries across the Middle East and beyond. Azerbaijan accused Iran of drone attacks, which Tehran denied.
The first government-chartered plane evacuating British nationals arrived in the UK from Muscat, Oman, landing at London Stansted early Friday morning.
The US House of Representatives rejected a Democratic-backed resolution to halt hostilities with Iran, allowing President Trump to continue the conflict despite criticism over unclear objectives.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey declined to rule out British participation in US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Canada’s top general announced ongoing discussions among allies about potential support for Gulf states’ defense, clarifying that Canada is not participating in US bombing operations and that no decision has been made regarding involvement in Operation Epic Fury.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a US request for specific support in countering Iran’s Shahed attack drones, with Ukraine providing specialists to assist.
Sri Lanka takes control of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sunk an Iranian warship
Sri Lanka began transferring over 200 sailors from the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr to shore after the ship sought assistance outside Sri Lankan waters. This follows the sinking of an Iranian warship by a US submarine amid rising tensions in the Indian Ocean.
Commodore Buddhika Sampath, Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson, reported that the sailors are being brought to Colombo port and will later be moved to an eastern port. After medical examinations and immigration procedures, sailors will be taken to the naval base at Welisara, north of Colombo.
Iranian leadership council meets ahead of selecting new supreme leader, state media says
Iranian state television reported that a leadership council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, and cleric Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi, met to discuss arrangements for the Assembly of Experts meeting to select the new supreme leader.
No timeline or details on whether the assembly will meet in person or remotely were provided. The assembly has been meeting virtually due to Israeli strikes on their compound in Qom.
President Trump stated he must be involved in appointing Iran’s next leader and dismissed the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father as unacceptable. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the succession is an internal Iranian matter.
Israel carried out 26 airstrikes on Beirut, IDF says
The IDF reported conducting a broad-scale wave of 26 airstrikes in the Dahieh area of Beirut overnight, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Among the targets were an executive council’s command center and a facility storing UAVs used for attacks against Israel.
Earlier, the IDF ordered the evacuation of the entire population of Beirut’s southern suburbs, home to approximately 500,000 people, causing widespread panic and heavy traffic congestion.
This escalation occurred despite appeals from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, urging Israel not to expand the conflict into Lebanon. According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 123 people and injured 683 in Lebanon since Monday.
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia warned Israeli residents on Friday to evacuate towns within 5 km (3 miles) of the border.
“Your military’s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged,”
Hezbollah said in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew.
