The Israeli military launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the fifth day of the war initiated by Israel and the United States, as Iranian retaliatory strikes continue against Israel and regional Arab states.
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Simultaneously, Asian markets recorded a sharp decline on Wednesday due to fears of an expanding conflict and disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reaffirmed on Wednesday its full control over the strait, through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes.
On Tuesday, IRGC General Ibrahim Jabbari threatened to strike "all economic centers" in the region, following earlier vows to target any vessel passing through the waterway.
In Lebanon, Israeli raids on Wednesday killed at least six people in areas south of Beirut and five others in Baalbek (east). Lebanon was drawn into this regional war after Hezbollah claimed responsibility late Sunday for rocket fire toward Israel, cited as "revenge" for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
"2,000 Targets"
The Israeli military announced a new wave of strikes on "dozens" of Iranian security command centers, along with missile launch sites, air defense systems, and other military facilities. While sirens blared across Israel prior to the missile launches on Wednesday morning, emergency services reported no immediate casualties.
On Tuesday, strikes destroyed the headquarters of the body responsible for electing a successor to the Supreme Leader, who was killed on Saturday, the first day of the war. National funeral ceremonies for Khamenei are set to begin Wednesday evening and last three days, with burial scheduled in his birthplace, Mashhad, according to the official Iranian news agency (IRNA).
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to kill anyone chosen to succeed Khamenei. Meanwhile, General Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), announced that U.S. forces have struck "nearly 2,000 targets" in Iran since the offensive began on Saturday.
The wide-scale war has cast a shadow over the global economy; the Seoul Stock Exchange plummeted by approximately 12%, leading to a temporary suspension of trading. Oil prices remained elevated despite assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. Navy could escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary."
"Worst-Case Scenario"
Speaking to White House reporters, Trump denied being "dragged" by Israel into this war, as his Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested the previous day. "Given the path the negotiations were on, I think they [the Iranians] were going to attack first," Trump said, adding, "Almost everything in Iran has been destroyed."
Rubio had told reporters on Monday that the U.S. launched a preemptive strike after learning of Israeli plans to attack, which would have triggered retaliation against American forces. When asked who would lead Iran after the war, Trump remarked that most officials Washington had considered are dead. He added that the "worst-case scenario" would be the rise of someone "as bad as Khamenei."
At the onset of the offensive, Trump called on the Iranian people to topple the regime established in 1979. However, the primary declared objective of the war remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and dismantling its missile capabilities.
Evacuations Underway
The Israeli military claimed to have struck a secret underground military center in the Tehran area used for the nuclear program. Conversely, Tehran stated it has not yet deployed its most sophisticated weaponry in this confrontation.
On Wednesday, the U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Oman authorized non-essential personnel to depart after both countries were affected by Iranian strikes. Similarly, the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus authorized the departure of non-essential government staff and families following an Iranian attack on a British military base on the island late Sunday.
Washington reports that approximately 9,000 Americans have left the Middle East since the war began. The first French-organized evacuation flight arrived in Paris early Wednesday, with Germany and the UK expected to follow suit with special flights.
In Tehran, streets appeared nearly deserted on Tuesday. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that the death toll has exceeded 780 since the start of the war. The Pentagon confirmed that six U.S. service members have been killed, while emergency services in Israel reported ten deaths from Iranian strikes. — (AFP)
