The war between United States, Israel and Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday with no sign of easing, as American and Israeli forces carried out what officials described as the most intense strikes yet on Iranian targets while the conflict spread across the region.
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would see the largest wave of US attacks since the war began, with more aircraft, bombers and intelligence-guided strikes deployed against Iranian military infrastructure.
Iran, whose military capabilities have been battered by days of bombardment, vowed to continue fighting. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected the possibility of a ceasefire, saying Tehran intends to punish what it calls aggression by Washington and Tel Aviv.
Another senior Iranian figure, Ali Larijani, issued a warning to US President Donald Trump on social media, saying Iran does not fear US threats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said the broader aim of the war was to weaken Iran’s leadership to the point where popular forces could overthrow the government.
“We are breaking their bones,” Netanyahu said of the ongoing campaign.
Strikes expand across the region
The fighting has spread well beyond Iran’s borders, with new strikes reported across Lebanon and Iraq.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least seven people across southern Lebanon early Wednesday, including five in the town of Qana. Additional airstrikes in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts also caused casualties.
Israeli forces also launched strikes on infrastructure linked to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut after issuing evacuation warnings for the densely populated area.
Elsewhere, drones targeted military installations at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad late Tuesday, according to Iraqi security officials. The drones landed near facilities used by US-led coalition forces, including the American-operated Victoria Base, though no casualties were reported.
Trump says Iran war could end 'soon' as US has 'nothing left to target'
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the war with Iran could end “soon”, claiming American forces had already inflicted massive damage on Tehran’s military capabilities. Speaking in a phone interview with Axios, Trump said there was “practically nothing left to target” in Iran and added, “Little this and that… Any time I want it to end, it will end.” His remarks came as US officials reported continued strikes against Iranian assets and mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz, though American and Israeli officials say there has been no formal directive yet to end the fighting.
Additionally, he pushed use of Strait of Hormuz saying, "I think oil companies should use the Strait of Hormuz." "We took out just about all of their mine ships in one night... just about all of their navy is gone," he added.
Thai vessel attacked by Iran, India 'deplores' hit
India on Wednesday condemned an attack on the Thai-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree in the Strait of Hormuz, which was bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the strike that left three crew members missing. The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi had seen reports of the incident and criticised the targeting of commercial vessels amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. The MEA said: “We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Straits of Hormuz on 11 March. The ship was bound for Kandla in India. India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia.”
IEA to release record 400 million barrels from emergency reserves
A coordinated global effort to stabilise volatile energy markets gathered pace after the International Energy Agency agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves as conflict in the Middle East disrupts supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The move, far larger than the 182.7 million barrels released after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, comes as Iran’s attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure sharply cut crude exports across the Gulf, prompting countries including Germany, Austria and Japan to begin drawing down strategic reserves to ease pressure on global oil markets.
Heavy bombardment in Tehran
Residents of Tehran reported some of the war’s "heaviest bombardment" overnight, with powerful explosions shaking neighborhoods and causing electricity outages across parts of the capital.
Witnesses said the strikes lasted for extended periods around midnight, with some residents describing residential buildings being hit. Many businesses in Tehran closed early amid fears of further attacks, AP reported.
Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly fled major cities, seeking refuge in rural areas.
US targets Iranian naval assets
The US military said it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid fears Tehran could attempt to block the vital shipping lane.
The waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has become a focal point of the conflict.
President Trump warned that if Iran deploys naval mines in the strait, they must be removed immediately or face severe military consequences.
"If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!" he said.
140 US service members wounded
The Pentagon said about 140 US service members have been wounded since the conflict began, though most injuries are minor. Eight troops were reported to be severely injured, while several have already returned to duty.
Civilian and military casualties have mounted across the region as well. In Lebanon alone, authorities say hundreds have been killed and more than a thousand wounded since the latest round of fighting began.
Markets and global concerns
Despite the escalating conflict, financial markets showed relative stability Tuesday after days of volatility triggered by uncertainty about how long the war might last.
The S&P 500 slipped slightly, while oil prices stabilized after plunging from nearly $120 per barrel earlier in the week to around $90.
Global leaders are closely monitoring the conflict’s economic consequences. Leaders of the Group of Seven are expected to hold emergency talks on energy security and potential measures to stabilize oil markets.
With both sides rejecting calls for negotiations and intensifying military operations, fears are growing that the conflict could further destabilize the Middle East and disrupt global energy supplies.
