A joint US-Israeli military campaign in Iran is entering a new phase focused on destroying ballistic missile sites buried deep underground, according to two sources familiar with the military operation The strategic shift comes nearly a week into a joint air assault that has ignited a regional war Smoke has been seen rising over Tehran following explosions amid the conflict
The war began with opening salvos that killed Iran's leaders and prompted retaliatory attacks by Iran in Israel, the Gulf, and Iraq Israel has also conducted attacks in Lebanon The Israeli military confirmed it struck one underground missile site overnight, as part of a campaign that has hit hundreds of Iranian targets since the conflict began Analysts have differing assessments of Iran's remaining missile stockpile
The escalating conflict has drawn public criticism from regional business leaders. Emirati billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor condemned US President Donald Trump for initiating a war that has endangered Gulf countries On the social media platform X, Habtoor stated the US had placed the region “at the heart of a danger they did not choose”
Inside Iran, the humanitarian situation is raising concerns. Many residents have reportedly fled Tehran on the advice of US and Israeli authorities Human rights groups have reported that political detainees in the city's Evin prison have been kept in their cells during air strikes and refused food, describing the conditions as “chaotic”
Mohsin Rana
