On the sixth day of the United States–Israeli war against Iran, fighting escalated inside Iran while tensions rose across the Gulf, Lebanon and Iraq. Iran’s threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continued to rattle regional trade, and the conflict’s reach expanded further, including reports of naval action off Sri Lanka.
Inside Iran: Rising Toll, Leadership Questions, and Wider Targets
Casualties: Iranian state media reported that deaths from five days of attacks reached 1,045, with more than 6,000 people wounded.
Succession: Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was described as a leading contender for the top post, after years of building influence and ties within the establishment and the IRGC.
Civilian sites hit: Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the US and Israel of striking 33 civilian locations, including hospitals, schools, residential areas, the Tehran Grand Bazaar and the Golestan Palace complex.
Naval incident off Sri Lanka: Reports said a US submarine sank the Iranian frigate Iris Dena off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Sri Lanka’s navy reportedly recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people.
New ground activity: There were signs Kurdish-Iranian armed groups may have launched a ground offensive in northwest Iran. Separately, US officials were reported to have asked Iraqi Kurdish forces to support cross-border operations, with Kurdish forces in northern Iraq said to be on “standby.”
Strait of Hormuz: The IRGC announced the closure of the strait, and Iranian threats against vessels were reported to have pushed maritime activity close to a standstill.
Spain angle: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Spain for refusing to allow US base access; President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain.
Gulf Nations: Retaliation, Security Alerts, and Diplomatic Moves
Oil disruption: Iran’s retaliatory strikes continued to disrupt regional energy flows.
Saudi Arabia: The US secretary of state and Saudi foreign minister discussed what they described as continued Iranian threats to regional stability. Saudi Arabia condemned an Iranian drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh.
Qatar: Qatar began evacuating residents near the US Embassy in Doha as a “temporary precautionary measure.” Qatar’s foreign minister contacted Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and called for an immediate halt to strikes, warning Iran against drawing neighbours into the conflict.
Kuwait tanker incident: An explosion was reported near a tanker anchored about 30 nautical miles southeast of Kuwait’s Mubarak al-Kabeer.
Ukraine support: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with officials in Qatar and other Gulf states about sending Ukrainian experts to assist with defence against Iranian drones and missiles.
Israel: Continued Operations and Limited Domestic Easing
Fresh strikes: Israel announced a new “wave of strikes” aimed at military infrastructure in Tehran.
Claims of military gains: US and Western officials said Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, and that air superiority now allows Israeli and US aircraft to operate more freely over Iranian territory.
Home-front changes: Israel slightly eased wartime safety rules, shifting from “essential” to “limited” activity guidelines.
United States: Congressional Vote and Public Opinion
War Powers vote: The US Senate voted 53–47 against requiring the Trump administration to seek Congressional approval to continue the war, stopping a bipartisan War Powers effort.
Public support: A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated support remained low, with about 25% backing the attacks and 43% disapproving.
Administration message: The White House defended the campaign, stating goals of eliminating Iran’s nuclear ambitions and destroying its navy. Trump claimed Iran was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon and argued the strikes were necessary.
Lebanon, Iraq, Turkiye, and China: More Fronts, More Pressure
Lebanon: Fighting intensified, with Israel striking areas including Beirut and Khiam and exchanging heavy fire with Hezbollah.
Iraq: A drone struck a building near Erbil airport, and Kurdish forces were again described as on “standby” for possible cross-border action.
Turkiye airspace incident: NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile that entered Turkiye’s airspace, according to reporting that included commentary from retired US General Mark Kimmitt.
China: China’s foreign minister urged an “immediate cessation” of US and Israeli action in a call with Israel’s foreign minister, according to China’s foreign ministry.