By Desmond Nleya
Fighting in the Middle East continues to intensify as Israel launches a new wave of airstrikes on Iran’s capital, Tehran. The Israeli military said the attacks are part of a large operation targeting Iranian military positions.
At the same time, Israel has also carried out heavy strikes in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, where it says it is attacking infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. Since the renewed fighting began, more than 640 people have reportedly been killed and over 1,600 injured in airstrikes in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.
In Oman, two people were killed after a drone was shot down in the Sohar region.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first statement since taking power after the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei. He warned that attacks will continue unless countries in the region close military bases used by the United States.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said its air defense systems intercepted eight drones over several areas, including the capital Riyadh.
In another development, the United States Central Command confirmed that a US refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq, killing four of the six crew members on board.
The situation across the region remains tense as military operations and drone attacks continue.
