US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 38 coverage

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Kashan Airport sustained damage after being targeted several times today, the deputy governor of Isfahan for security affairs told Nornews.

• The rescue of the second F-15 airman faced close-range gunfire; equipment, including helicopters, was damaged, and two planes at the site were destroyed.
• Roughly 155 US aircraft took part in the mission, including 64 fighter jets, 48 refueling tankers, and 13 rescue planes.
• Officials are seeking the identity of the “leaker” who first told a media outlet that a second airman was missing in Iran.
• More than 10,000 combat flights have been carried out over Iran since the war began, targeting 13,000 sites.
• Trump stated that the entire nation of Iran “can be taken out in one night, and that night may be tomorrow night.”

US President Donald Trump claimed that Iranians are “begging” for continued US airstrikes. He quoted a supposed sentiment: “Please keep bombing…”

Trump used the statement to justify ongoing military operations and to emphasize the pressure he believes the US is exerting on Tehran. There is no independent verification of the quote, and Iranian officials have not confirmed any such sentiment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei condemned the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence chief Major General Majid Khademi, saying the “American‑Zionist enemy” has resorted to assassination and terrorism following repeated defeats.

In a statement released by state media, Khamenei mourned Khademi as a martyr and commended his decades of “silent struggles” defending Iran’s security and national interests. He said such losses will not weaken the resolve of the Iranian nation or its armed forces.

Khademi, who led the IRGC’s intelligence organization, was killed in what Iranian officials described as a criminal attack by US and ‘Israeli’ forces. Tehran has characterized the strike as part of ongoing aggression against the country’s leadership.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boasted that American forces “controlled the sky” during the recent full-scale operation to rescue downed US pilots in Iran.

He said US aircraft flew seven hours in daylight to recover the first pilot and another seven hours at night to extract the second, claiming Iran “did nothing about it.”

US Defense official Pete Hegseth said Iran was “embarrassed” and “humiliated” after a successful US operation to rescue a downed American pilot in Iranian territory.

“Over the past 37 days, America’s armed forces have carried out more than 10,000 combat flights over Iran – unheard of,” the Trump said.

He added that the US F-15 that was downed last week in Iran “was the first manned aircraft downed by the enemy in this entire operation”.

US President Donald Trump warned that leaks about lost American pilots undermine national security.

He said the government will identify the person responsible for disclosing sensitive information and bring them to court. Trump emphasized that such leaks could compromise ongoing military operations in Iran and the wider region.

US President Donald Trump said that American forces deployed three helicopters as part of the high‑risk rescue mission in Iran to recover a downed US airman. Trump described the operation as one of the most daring in US military history, involving dozens of aircraft and special operations units operating deep inside hostile territory.

US President Donald Trump revealed that 155 aircraft participated in the operation to rescue an American pilot in Iran.

He described the mission as one of the largest and most complex ever carried out by the US military, highlighting the coordination and scale required to extract the servicemember safely from hostile territory.

US President Donald Trump said that American military personnel came under intense gunfire at very close range during a high‑risk rescue operation inside Iran to retrieve a downed airman, describing the mission as one of the most daring in US military history.

The US president has claimed the US’s war on Iran is going well and that US forces could “take out” the whole country in a single night.

“The entire country can be taken out in one night,” said Trump. “And that night might be tomorrow night.”

US President Donald Trump said that the American military carried out “one of the largest and most complex operations” in Iran.

Yemen’s Houthi group said it carried out an attack targeting 'Israel’s' southern city of Eilat as part of a coordinated operation with Iran and Hezbollah.

In a televised statement, the group said the strike targeted “several key military sites,” describing it as part of a broader joint effort across regional fronts.

US President Donald Trump said American forces could withdraw from Iran immediately, but he prefers to “finish it up,” insisting that Tehran must not acquire nuclear weapons.

“We could leave right now and it would take them 15 years to rebuild what they had. We could leave right now but I want to finish it up,” Trump said. “Iran … cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s comments reinforce his administration’s hardline stance, even as Iran continues to deny any nuclear weapons ambitions. The remarks come amid ongoing military operations and escalating regional tensions.

The US president has reiterated that his administration “sent guns” in an attempt to help Iranian protesters taking part in mass anti-government demonstrations earlier this year.

“They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs,” Trump said.

“You know what happened? The people they sent them to kept them because they said, ‘What a beautiful gun, I think I’ll keep it.’ So I’m very upset with a certain group of people and they’re going to pay a big price for that.”

Trump did not specify which “group of people” he was referring to.

Qatar successfully intercepted several Iranian drones that targeted the country, the Qatari Defense Ministry reported.

A spokesperson for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence says injuries have been reported in a residential area in the north of the country due to falling shrapnel.

Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi’s statement did not specify how many people were injured in the incident.

Al-Otaibi added that the Kuwaiti armed forces responded to 14 ballistic missile attacks along with two cruise missile and 46 drone firings in the country’s airspace over the past 24 hours.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that 'Israeli' aggression has killed 1,497 people and injured 4,639 since the attacks began on March 2.

Iranian state media reported that a second Turkish vessel has passed through the Strait of Hormuz following coordination with Iranian authorities.

Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles toward 'Israel', state television reported, moments after a previous salvo.

The Home Front Command in 'Israel' activated sirens in Manara and Margaliot in the north following detection of the missiles.

Four people were injured today after Iran launched multiple missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Defence confirmed, with debris from interceptions and impacts causing casualties.

The ministry said its air defense systems intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 19 drones. 

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

‘Israel’ said it has killed Asghar Bakeri, described as the head of an undercover unit within Iran’s Quds Force, according to military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani.

The claim has not been independently verified, and Iran has not issued any official response.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said Monday that 'Israel' had conducted a "powerful strike" on Iran's largest petrochemical complex, after Iranian media reported multiple explosions at the site.

The military "just carried out a powerful strike on Iran's largest petrochemical facility, located in Asaluyeh -- a central target responsible for about 50 percent of the country's petrochemical production", Katz said in a video statement.

'Israel' carried out a similar strike on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone in southwest Khuzestan province on Saturday, a local Iranian official said, adding that five people were killed.

"At this point, the two facilities, which together account for roughly 85 percent of Iran's petrochemical exports, have been taken out of operation and are no longer functioning," Katz said.

"This represents a severe economic blow amounting to tens of billions of dollars to the Iranian regime."

'Israel' also carried out strikes last month on gas facilities at the South Pars Special Economic Zone in Asaluyeh.

The South Pars/North Dome mega-field, the largest known natural gas reserve in the world, is shared between Iran and Qatar.

In recent days, 'Israel' has targeted key industrial sectors as part of the ongoing military campaign against Iran.

On Friday, 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 'Israeli' strikes had destroyed around 70 percent of Iran's steel production capacity, significantly undermining Tehran's ability to manufacture weapons.

Steel is a strategically important material used in industrial and military production, including for missiles, drones and ships.

Katz said he and Netanyahu had ordered the military "to continue striking with full force Iran's national infrastructure".

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran would defend itself with “all its might” if necessary.

He emphasized that any diplomatic process must respect Iran’s sovereignty and security concerns.

Baghaei criticized both the United States and ‘Israel’, accusing them of disregarding international law and operating without “red lines.”

The spokesperson confirmed that a ceasefire framework, reportedly consisting of 15 points and delivered through mediators, had been presented to Tehran. He said the proposal was unacceptable in its current form.

“Iran’s national security and interests are the key criteria for any agreement,” Baghaei said, adding that pressure tactics would not influence Tehran’s position.

Baghaei reiterated that diplomacy remains possible, but only if conducted without coercion. He said threats undermine trust and complicate efforts to reach a resolution.

In a post on X, Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with Haifa mayor Yona Yahav after the deadly strike in Haifa, offering condolences to the families of the four victims and urging residents, especially in northern 'Israel', to follow Home Front Command safety instructions and remain in protected spaces.

Speaking at the site of yesterday’s Iranian ballistic strike on a residential building in Haifa, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir defended 'Israel’s' handling of the war against Iran, calling the conflict an “absolute necessity” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to prevent Tehran’s “Nazi regime” from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He criticized those seeking “exit strategies,” insisting on a victory strategy, praised the IOF’s work, and called for continued operations against Iran in Lebanon and Gaza, while condemning the High Court of Justice for permitting public anti-war protests.

Sirens sound to announce end of alert period

Air raid sirens sounded across Tel Aviv as authorities detected rockets launched from Iran, raising security concerns in the city.

Air raid sirens blare across Jordan

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, said the US account of rescuing a downed pilot over Iran is dubious, describing it as a “deceptive operation to steal Iranian uranium.”

He highlighted inconsistencies in the reported location, noting that the US claimed the pilot went missing in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, while the actual US landing site was far in southern Isfahan.

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, Tehran has drafted its diplomatic response to the US proposal to halt hostilities and will announce it at the appropriate time.

Iran has received the two-stage plan, which includes an initial truce followed by a final agreement to end the war, but has rejected what it calls “final ultimatums,” emphasizing it will respond on its own timeline.

Rescue efforts end as 'Israeli' authorities confirm the deaths of all four people trapped in the collapsed Haifa building after an Iranian missile strike.

A strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday after 'Israel's' army issued an evacuation warning for the area, the latest raid since war erupted between 'Israel' and Hezbollah last month.

Iran state TV released a video showing Commander-in-Chief Mojtaba Khamenei in a war room, with a screen in front of him displaying an image of Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor.

Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash says that any settlement of the US-Iran war must guarantee access through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that a deal that fails to rein in Iran’s nuclear program and its missiles and drones would pave the way for “a more dangerous, more volatile Middle East.”

US-'Israeli' strikes killed on Monday the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Guards said.

"Major General Majid Khademi, the powerful and educated head of the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was martyred in the criminal terrorist attack by the American-Zionist enemy... at dawn today," said the Guards in a post on their Telegram channel.

Reuters reports that Iran and the U.S. have received a two-step plan to end hostilities in the Middle East, starting with an immediate ceasefire and followed by a final agreement expected within 15–20 days, according to informed sources.

Authorities in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates say they are responding to an incident after a drone approached from Iran toward a telecom building. Officials reported no injuries and did not confirm whether the drone struck the building.

Former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif criticized US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “desperate and vulgar outburst” on social media.

“Iran will defend itself, but heed this warning for your own good: This aggression began with a war crime: targeting & murdering 170 schoolchildren,” Zarif wrote, referring to the attack on Minab. He added that Trump’s threats constitute complicity in further potential war crimes, which carry international criminal responsibility.

Zarif, who played a key role in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, was previously reprimanded by Tehran after publishing an article in Foreign Affairs proposing a roadmap to end the war.

Alert period ends in Jordan.

Sirens blare in Jordan amid ongoing regional tensions.

A 34-year-old woman was seriously injured in Petah Tikvah after being struck by debris from interceptor missiles during Iranian attacks on central ‘Israel’, according to YNet.

Reports indicate at least 15 sites were hit across central regions, including damage to a building in Tel Aviv. Channel 2 shared footage showing smoke over Gush Dan and Bnei Brak, as well as minor damage to the Tel Aviv building.

Two bodies were recovered from under the rubble of a building in Haifa that was struck in an Iranian missile attack a day earlier, according to Israel’s Channel 12 citing a source.

• Senator Edward Markey from Massachusetts said that “an unhinged and profanity-laced tweet threatening war crimes won’t open the Strait of Hormuz”. He urged negotiations with Iran, “so that Americans don’t keep paying more at the pump and our servicemembers don’t pay with their lives”.
• Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut described Trump’s planned actions as a “clear war crime” and urged Republican leaders to stop the president. “Trump is calling reporters today to tell them he is going to commit mass war crimes next week. GOP leaders need to stop him. Never mind that blowing up bridges and power plants and killing innocent Iranians won’t reopen the Strait. It’s also a clear war crime,” he said.
• Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan said, “It is both irresponsible and wrong to indiscriminately kill civilians in Iran and destroy civilian infrastructure like bridges and power plants – particularly when the President said this war was to aid the Iranian people”. She added that it is US “service members who are put in legal and mortal danger” and that Trump’s actions were making Americans less safe abroad, and “costing American blood and treasure”.
• Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii urged people to oppose Trump’s plans. “Bombing civilian infrastructure is a war crime, and the time to speak out against it is right now,” he wrote.

A 90-year-old woman was seriously injured in Tel Aviv after losing consciousness and sustaining a severe head injury while rushing to a protected area during an Iranian missile attack, paramedics reported.

Magen David Adom (MDA) teams provided emergency treatment at the scene, including resuscitation, before evacuating her to Ichilov Hospital in unstable condition. Paramedic Ido Adelheit said, “We saw a woman in her 90s lying near the staircase, unconscious and suffering from a severe head injury. We provided life-saving treatment and evacuated her to the hospital.”

Iranian state media reported that three missiles were fired toward ‘Israel’ over a 20-minute period. ‘Israeli’ air defence systems, including the Iron Dome, were reportedly activated to intercept the threats.

No immediate information has been released on casualties or damage. Residents in central ‘Israel’ were advised to remain in shelters as alerts continue.

Iranian officials reported that US-‘Israeli’ air attacks have damaged dozens of universities, schools, and research facilities across the country. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokesperson, told Iran’s Press TV that the total number of civilian sites affected since the war began on February 28 exceeds 100,000.

“The enemy cannot tolerate Iran’s achievements,” Mohajerani said, highlighting the government’s view that the strikes target Iran’s scientific and educational progress.

'Israel’s' Home Front Command reported that two Iranian missiles hit central 'Israel' within a short span on Monday. 

'Israeli' authorities reported new missile launches detected from Iran targeting central regions of 'Israel'. Air raid sirens are expected to sound across multiple areas, including Jerusalem, Gush Dan, Shfela, Sharon, Beqaa, Lachish, and Samaria.

An attack struck the Victoria military base located near Baghdad International Airport on Monday, Iraqi security sources reported. The nature of the assault, believed to involve rockets or mortars, has not been fully confirmed.

Iraqi officials have not yet disclosed whether there were any casualties or material damage. Security forces have increased patrols around the base and are investigating the source of the attack.

Victoria base, which hosts both Iraqi and foreign personnel, has been targeted multiple times in the past amid ongoing regional tensions. Analysts warn repeated strikes could signal a continued escalation in attacks on strategic military sites in and around Baghdad.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said the Strait of Hormuz will “never return to its former state,” particularly for the US and ‘Israel’, in a statement posted on social media on Monday.

The statement said Iran is in the final stages of operational preparations for a so-called “new order” in the Gulf, reflecting Tehran’s expanding control over the strategic waterway.

The warning follows a parliamentary committee’s approval of draft legislation imposing transit fees on ships passing through the strait. Iranian media reports indicate the plan would:

• Require passage fees in Iran’s national currency.
• Ban US and ‘Israeli’ vessels from transit.
• Restrict countries participating in unilateral sanctions against Iran.
• Reinforce Iran’s sovereignty, armed forces authority, maritime security, and legal cooperation with Oman.

Officials describe the legislation as part of a broader effort to assert Iranian control over the strait and respond to ongoing US and ‘Israeli’ threats in the region.

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army confirmed that its air defence systems are intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks over Kuwaiti territory.

In an official statement, the army said any explosions heard by residents are the result of interception operations and not strikes on urban areas. The statement did not specify the origin of the attacks or the number of threats intercepted.

Officials stressed that the situation remains under control, with forces maintaining heightened alert to protect key infrastructure and population centers.

‘Israeli’ firefighters comb through rubble in Haifa searching for four missing people who remain trapped after an Iranian missile hit a building six hours ago.

A Lebanese Army soldier was killed in a ‘Israeli’ strike in southern Lebanon.

‘Israel’ continues searching for four people still trapped under rubble following an Iranian strike on Haifa earlier on Sunday.

Earlier reports from Magen David Adom confirmed that nine people were taken to Rambam and Bnei Zion hospitals, including an 82-year-old man in serious condition after being hit by debris and blast impact, three people with minor injuries from shrapnel and shock, and five treated for anxiety.

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Read more: US & ‘Israel’ at war with Iran | Day 37 coverage