On day 21 of the US-Israel attacks on Iran, Tehran vows retaliation for energy site strikes, amid widespread missile exchanges and rising civilian casualties.
Iran has warned it will show 'zero restraint' if its energy facilities are attacked again, following Israel's strike on the South Pars gasfield and Tehran's retaliatory attacks on energy sites in Haifa, Israel, and Ras Laffan, Qatar. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a new wave of missile and drone strikes on US bases and Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, escalating the conflict that began on February 28.
Regional Attacks and Defenses
In the Gulf, UAE and Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted missile attacks, while Saudi Arabia reported destroying 10 drones in its east and another in the north. UAE authorities detained five members of a terrorist network linked to Iran and Hezbollah, which allegedly used business fronts for infiltration. Qatar's key LNG facility at Ras Laffan was hit, potentially cutting 17 percent of output for up to five years, affecting global supplies to countries like Belgium, Italy, South Korea, and China.
Bahrain's Defense Force shot down five incoming missiles, bringing its total interceptions to 139 missiles and 238 drones since the conflict started. Iran's ambassador to Germany sought clarification on the role of the Ramstein Air Base, a key US hub for Middle East operations.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated he will consult UN Security Council members on securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for 20 percent of global oil and gas flows, once fighting subsides.
US and Israeli Responses
In the US, President Donald Trump defended the surprise element of the strikes during a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, controversially referencing the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed that US goals remain unchanged, targeting Iran's missile systems, military industry, navy, and preventing nuclear weapon development, with no set end date.
Trump stated no US ground troops are being sent to Iran, though he has previously varied on this position. A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing after a mission over Iran, with officials investigating if it was struck by Iranian fire, which would mark the first such incident in the current war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel is winning and the war could end sooner than expected, denying that Israel dragged the US into the conflict. He said Israel acted alone in striking the Iranian gasfield and is holding off on future attacks as requested by Trump, but signaled a potential 'ground component' to the war.
The humanitarian toll includes over 18,000 civilians injured and 204 children killed in Iran, with more than 1,400 total deaths reported since February 28. Global oil and gas prices have risen sharply due to supply disruption fears, impacting markets in the UK and Europe.
