Iran's revenge on US allies in the Gulf continues: two Iranian drones attacked the US embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday
Flames and black smoke at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the headquarters of the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV station in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, March 3. Photo source: FADEL itani / AFP / Profimedia
Tensions continue in the Middle East in a fourth day of hostilities following the US-Israel attack on Iran over the weekend. Iran is targeting US partners in the Gulf despite a warning from President Donald Trump, who said late Monday that military operations against Tehran would be stepped up to destroy the regime's nuclear and ballistic capabilities. The Pentagon confirmed the death of six US soldiers and the conflict quickly escalated: Iranian drones targeted Riyadh's diplomatic quarter and Iran officially declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking a vital route for world oil. The Israeli army has ordered further evacuations in Lebanon and is continuing heavy military operations in Beirut, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised “swift and decisive action”.
US President Donald Trump told CNN that the “big wave” of US attack on Iran has yet to come. The White House leader told a news conference that he wants to destroy Tehran's ballistic capabilities, annihilate Iran's navy, end its nuclear ambitions and prevent it from arming militant groups.
Increases the number of soldiers killed in battle
Meanwhile, the US Central Command announced that the number of American forces who died in the battle had risen to six. The bodies of two soldiers who were reported missing from a base hit during Iran's initial strikes in the region have been recovered. CENTCOM said major military operations continue in the Middle East.
In the face of threats from Trump, Iran and its partners continued to attack US allies in the Gulf on Tuesday morning, with the US embassy in Saudi Arabia being hit by suspected Iranian drones, explosions were heard in Iraq and sirens sounded in Bahrain.
Trump promises response 'soon'
Donald Trump stated, in an interview given to the News Nation channel, that the United States will respond “soon” to the attack on its embassy in Riyadh, which was targeted by drones on the night of Monday to Tuesday, AFP notes.
“Look at what they're doing now. They're attacking airports, they're attacking hotels. They're not just attacking military installations, they're attacking embassies,” Rubio argued.
Asked about the response to this attack, the US president said: “You will soon find out.”
A source close to the Saudi military told AFP on condition of anonymity that Saudi air defense intercepted four drones targeting Riyadh's diplomatic quarter.
Israel continues operations in Lebanon
Meanwhile, Israel continued to attack Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah's command centers and weapons depots in the Lebanese capital.
According to a video recorded by the Reuters news agency, explosions were heard and plumes of smoke could be seen rising in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday morning.
The Israeli military previously issued evacuation orders for dozens of Lebanese villages and settlements and said it had begun attacking Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it had launched drones into Israeli territory “in response” to Israel's bombing of Lebanese cities, CNN notes.
The Israeli Air Force said earlier that it intercepted two drones that crossed Israeli territory from the direction of Lebanon on Tuesday morning.
The attacks come a day after Hezbollah launched missiles and drones at a military base in Israel “in retaliation” for the killing of Iran's supreme leader.
Netanyahu says it won't be an 'endless war'
The Israeli military also said overnight that it had “struck and demolished” the headquarters of the Iranian state radio and television station (IRIB) in northern Tehran.
After the American leader said that hostilities could last for several weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also assured on Monday, in an interview with the American channel Fox News, that the US-Israeli offensive against Iran will not turn into an “endless war”, adding that it will instead be a “swift and decisive action”, according to AFP.
The Israeli official did not give a time window, but specified that “it could take some time, but not a year.”
Strait of Hormuz, closed
The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to maritime traffic and that Iran will set fire to any ship that tries to pass through, Iranian media reported, citing Reuters.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for the Gulf countries' oil exports. Although Iran had previously denied that it had closed the route in retaliation after airstrikes launched against it by the US and Israel on Saturday, the strait was de facto closed, with ship operators avoiding the conflict zone.
