Almost a week into the recent Middle East conflict, Iranian attacks in the region have significantly decreased. The US attack on Iran continues to escalate, and Israel’s attack on Lebanon is adding to the panic.
More than 1,320 people have been killed in the war, according to Lebanese and Iranian state media, and the Trump administration has warned it will soon escalate. NATO allies are being reluctantly drawn into the conflict.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are the main headings?
US and Israel step up attacks: US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon intensified, with explosions heard across Tehran and Beirut into the early hours of Friday. Some residents of Tehran described it as the “worst night” since the war began, as a CNN team there witnessed heavy attacks just before dawn.
Iran’s attacks are slow: Meanwhile, Iranian ballistic missile attacks have fallen by 90% and drone attacks by 83%, US Central Command said Thursday, offering potential relief to neighboring Gulf states bearing the brunt of Iran’s retaliation.
President Trump’s comments: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that there is no possible deal with Iran “short of unconditional surrender.” He told CNN’s Dana Bash that he was not concerned about whether Iran would become a democracy as long as the new leader treated the United States and Israel “well.” He also claimed that the US had sunk 25 Iranian battleships and curbed the soaring price of gasoline.
Europe drawn in: Countries including Britain, France, and Spain agreed to provide military support to protect allies’ interests. British helicopters equipped with anti-drone equipment began arriving in Cyprus on Friday. However, many are also critical of the war. Despite Italy sending defense weapons to the Persian Gulf, the country’s defense minister said attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel violate international law. Spain was in a similar vein, calling the war an “extraordinary mistake.”
Energy supply concerns: Shipping giant Maersk has become the second shipping company to suspend operations in the Middle East. Analysts say oil storage tanks are filling up across the region after Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has all but halted exports. This means there is an increasing risk that oil production will have to be stopped. U.S. oil prices and international benchmark Brent crude oil prices rose 31% and 24%, respectively, this week. Meanwhile, oil prices continued to rise, reaching $91 per barrel for the first time since October 2023.
What is happening in Iran and Lebanon?
More attacks by Israel: Israel is moving to the “next phase” of the war after carrying out 2,500 attacks with more than 6,000 weapons, military commanders said late Thursday. He added that the Israel Defense Forces would move deeper into Lebanon. Meanwhile, in Iran, Israel launched a “massive wave of attacks” against key regime infrastructure in Tehran early Friday morning.
Beirut targeted: A new Israeli attack targeted the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, an area considered a stronghold by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. As the death toll in Lebanon exceeded 200, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday that it had attacked an Iranian “command center” in Beirut. An evacuation order for the entire region, home to more than 500,000 people, on Thursday caused mass panic as people rushed to evacuate. Photos show evacuee families sleeping rough and abandoned homes. The Lebanese government said more than 109,000 people were in evacuation centers.
Rising casualties: U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,200 people in Iran and 217 in Lebanon since the latest conflict began, according to Iranian state media and the Lebanese Ministry of Health. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the airstrike damaged more than 3,000 homes across Iran. Iranian airstrikes have also killed dozens of people in other countries in the region.
Girls’ school bombing: The White House did not deny that the US military bombed a girls’ elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on Saturday, killing at least 168 children and 14 teachers, state media reported.
Pro-regime rally: After Friday prayers, a crowd of thousands gathered in Tehran to denounce the US and Israeli bombing campaign across Iran. Many of the people attending prayers in Tehran are religious hardliners, showing that the government is still able to mobilize large crowds.
Iran and Hezbollah attack Israel: Iran announced Thursday night that it had launched a hybrid drone and missile attack on Tel Aviv. A CNN team on the ground spotted what appeared to be a cluster warhead over central Israel. Eight Israeli soldiers were wounded by Hezbollah artillery fire on Friday, the IDF said.
Attacks in the Gulf: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday that three drones were intercepted east of the capital Riyadh, and the night before, air defense forces intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at bases south of the capital. In Bahrain, a hotel, two residential buildings and an oil refinery were hit by Iranian attacks. Iran’s military announced Friday that it had launched a new wave of drones targeting U.S. military bases in Kuwait.
U.S. radars targeted: Satellite images from major military bases in the Arabian Peninsula suggest Iran is seeking to undermine the THAAD air defense system by destroying U.S. radars that detect incoming missiles and drones.
Expanding theater: Iran is also accused of attacking Azerbaijan in its first attack on Azerbaijan since the start of the civil war, a charge Iran denies.
Stranded travelers: Hundreds of Americans returned home Thursday on the first chartered evacuation flight from Abu Dhabi. Tourists from other countries are also returning home on similar flights, but confusion continues. More than 11,000 flights have been canceled in 10 countries in the region since the conflict began, according to aviation tracking company Flightradar 24.
NATO strengthens equipment: NATO countries strengthened their defense posture after a suspected Iranian missile was shot down Wednesday while flying into Turkish airspace. Iran said it had not fired any missiles at Türkiye, state media said.
Impact on sports: Iran’s national women’s soccer team was forced to salute and sing the national anthem ahead of their Women’s Asian Cup match, sources told CNN Sports. Iran will not participate in the Winter Paralympic Games because its only para athlete cannot travel safely.
Kurdish group attacked: Iran’s Kurdish armed group said on Friday that its base in Iraq was attacked with missiles and drones, injuring four fighters. Attacks against Iraqi Kurdish groups have increased in frequency and intensity since CNN reported that the CIA intended to use Iranian Kurds to lead the invasion of Iran.
Next Supreme Leader: President Trump has ruled out the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father, the late Supreme Leader, saying he needs to be “involved” in appointing Iran’s next leader.
The cost of war: Wars cost the United States about $891.4 million per day, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which analyzed information shared by the Pentagon about attack targets and assets involved.
