Iran-Israel War: Tehran Hit, Escalation Fears Rise – AP News
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The conflict in Iran escalated late Saturday with reports of strikes on an oil storage facility in Tehran, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled further military action. The attacks come amid conflicting statements from Iranian officials regarding the ongoing hostilities and the potential for de-escalation.
Israel’s military confirmed targeting fuel storage facilities in the Iranian capital. Video footage showed flames rising above Tehran, marking what appears to be the first direct targeting of a civilian industrial site since the start of the conflict. Iranian state media attributed the attack to a joint operation by the United States and Israel, impacting facilities supplying fuel to Tehran and surrounding provinces.
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered an apology for attacks on “neighboring countries,” a gesture seemingly aimed at easing regional tensions. However, this statement was quickly countered by hardline elements within the Iranian leadership, highlighting internal divisions over the war’s trajectory.
The conflicting signals from Tehran stem from a power dynamic involving the elected president and the powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which operates with considerable autonomy and answers directly to the Supreme Leader – a position currently vacant following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the initial airstrikes. Pezeshkian’s call for diplomacy, stating that “arrangements be made” to convene the Assembly of Experts to choose a new supreme leader, was undercut by statements from other members of the leadership council.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary and a member of the leadership council, indicated that Iran’s military strategy would remain unchanged, asserting that targets in neighboring countries with a perceived enemy presence would continue to be attacked. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and a former Revolutionary Guard general, echoed this sentiment, advocating for adherence to the late supreme leader’s defense policies.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has continued to escalate its military involvement, with strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, leadership, and nuclear program. The stated objectives of the conflict have shifted over time, at times suggesting a desire to topple the Iranian government or install new leadership.
The fighting has resulted in significant casualties. Iranian officials report at least 1,230 deaths within Iran, while Lebanon has seen over 290 fatalities and Israel 11. Six U.S. Troops have also been killed. Incoming missiles from Iran have prompted air raid sirens across Israel, though no casualties have been reported there.
The conflict is expanding beyond Iran’s immediate borders. A missile landed within the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad, Iraq, impacting the helicopter landing pad. Iraqi security officials described the attack as a “terrorist act” carried out by “rogue groups.” Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched numerous attacks on U.S. Military bases and facilities in Iraq since the start of the war.
Gulf Arab states have also been targeted. Sirens sounded in Bahrain on Saturday, and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones and a ballistic missile aimed at its Shaybah oil field and Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. Forces. The United Arab Emirates reported the death of an “Asian driver” due to debris from intercepted aerial attacks, bringing the total number of foreign nationals killed in the UAE to four.
The UAE government stated that its allies did not provide adequate warning before the conflict began. Pezeshkian dismissed President Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender, stating it was “a dream that they should take to their grave.” Trump, in turn, warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” and that additional targets would be identified.
The situation remains fluid and highly volatile. The internal divisions within Iran’s leadership, coupled with the escalating military actions and expanding geographic scope of the conflict, present significant challenges to any potential diplomatic resolution. The war has already rattled global markets and raised concerns about regional stability.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Kurdish groups in northern Iraq are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran, with the U.S. Reportedly offering support. President Trump, however, stated that he has ruled out Kurdish involvement, citing the complexity of the conflict.