Following President Donald Trump’s major Israel-US strike on Iran to overthrow Tehran’s ruling mullahs, Israel bombarded Lebanon on Monday, escalating the violence throughout the region.
After Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed armed Shiite Muslim movement, fired rockets towards Israel in response for the death of Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israeli troops bombarded locations throughout Lebanon, including Beirut.
As the US military expanded its targets throughout Iran on Sunday, Israeli forces reported that “large-scale strikes” were also taking place in the center of Tehran.
Iranian military launched missiles and drones throughout the Middle East in retaliation for the heavy attacks that Washington claimed destroyed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, killing people in Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
AFP correspondents reported hearing further explosions Monday morning in Doha, Dubai, and Manama.
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Trump told the New York Times that the United States and Israel might continue the same level of attacks for four to five weeks, vowing to exact revenge for the initial US casualties.
It won’t be challenging. He added, “We have enormous amounts of ammunition.” He also mentioned that he had three unidentified candidates on his shortlist for Iran’s post-war leadership.
However, the influential head of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, expressed resistance.
He stated on X that Iran “will not negotiate with the United States” and that “Trump plunged the region into chaos with his ‘delusional fantasies’ and now fears more American troop casualties.”
“Most punishing blow”: Since the Islamic revolution overthrew the pro-Western shah in 1979, Iran has been a sworn enemy of both Israel and the United States. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have called on Iranians to overthrow the Iranian regime.
Trump called on Iranian security personnel “to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death” in a video speech.
He reiterated, “It will be certain death.” “It won’t look nice.”
According to the Pentagon, the operation, which it has dubbed “Epic Fury,” claimed the lives of three US service men and left five critically injured.
Trump stated, “Unfortunately, there will probably be more before it ends.”
“However, America will exact revenge for their deaths and deal the terrorists who have fought a war against, essentially, civilization the harshest blow possible.”
Trump, who ran on a platform of opposing foreign operations, hasn’t done much to convince Americans that war is necessary.
Attacks throughout the Middle East: AFP journalists reported that inhabitants of southern Lebanon fled after the Israeli military declared it was attacking both regions of the nation, and explosions rocked Beirut before morning.
Families fleeing from farther south clogged the roads in Sidon, according to an AFP reporter, who also noted that some of the cars had beds strapped to the roof.
Weakened by a previous Israeli offensive, Hezbollah claimed to have launched rockets and drones toward Israel “in retaliation for the pure blood” of Khamenei. This is the first time the group has made such a claim since a ceasefire agreement was reached in November 2024 after a year of fighting between the two countries.
The rocket fire on Monday was deemed “irresponsible” by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose administration has advocated for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
This “endangers Lebanon’s security and safety, and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks on it.” On X, Salam said.
Following a fatality the day before in Tel Aviv, an Iranian missile strike on Israel’s center city of Beit Shemesh killed at least nine people and injured scores more.
Additionally, three persons were hurt on one of Jerusalem’s main thoroughfares.
The assassination of Khamenei was referred to as a “declaration of war against Muslims” by Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose elected position is subservient to that of the supreme leader.
Pezeshkian stated that Iran views exacting revenge on the offenders as a reasonable obligation and right.
“Get up”
Weeks after Iranian authorities brutally put down large-scale rallies, killing thousands, Israel and the US launched an attack.
One of the biggest challenges to the religious state was the protests, which were initially spurred by economic concerns but ultimately included demands for more social liberties.
“America is with you,” Trump declared, urging Iranians to rebel.
The late Shah’s son Reza Pahlavi advised Iranians to remain alert when airstrikes occur and to wait for the appropriate time to reenter the streets.
However, he also called for “nightly chants” in opposition to the Islamic republic.
Some Iranians applauded reports of Khamenei’s death, while pro-government protests with the slogan “Death to America!” also emerged after state media verified his murder.
In order to manage the nation until a permanent replacement for the supreme leader is identified, Iran appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to serve with Pezeshkian on an interim leadership council.
Support was mixed. While many Iranians living abroad applauded Khamenei’s passing, protesters attempted to attack the US consulate in Karachi, and officials reported that 17 people had been killed in Pakistan.
The strike, which occurred two days after Iran and the United States held discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program, has elicited conflicting responses from world leaders.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Sunday that although his nation, a stalwart ally in the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will not join offensive action now,” he would permit the US to use UK bases for “defensive” operations.
All of the Gulf states were targeted by Iran’s initial retaliation strikes on Saturday, with the exception of mediator Oman.
According to the Oman News Agency, two drones struck Oman’s commercial port of Duqm on Sunday, injuring a foreign employee.
Following Iran’s earlier declaration that the vital route was closed, which caused oil prices to spike globally, three ships were also targeted in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
According to the Pentagon, the “missiles launched didn’t even come close” to hitting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as claimed by the Revolutionary Guards.
According to Trump, US military actions have largely destroyed Iran’s navy headquarters and sunk nine Iranian naval vessels.
At least four people have died and numerous others have been injured as a result of Iran’s retaliation strikes in the Gulf.
According to the Red Crescent’s most recent toll, which was released on Saturday night, strikes inside Iran have killed 201 people and injured hundreds more.
The chief of the Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, and Khamenei’s top adviser, Ali Shamkhani, were certified dead by Iran’s court.
