As the war entered its eighth day, huge explosions were heard throughout Iran as Israel mobilized 80 fighter jets and launched ‘widespread airstrikes’ targeting Tehran and Isfahan, where key nuclear facilities are located. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE saw new drone and missile attacks on Saturday. Iran’s president apologized for attacks on Gulf countries.
However, President Massoud Fezeshkian fired a warning shot at U.S. President Donald Trump in a pre-recorded message, pledging “we will never surrender.” On Friday, President Trump insisted that the United States would negotiate with Iran without Tehran’s unconditional surrender.
The conflict, which has shaken global energy supplies and disrupted air travel in the Middle East, has killed 1,332 people in Iran and about 10 in the Gulf.
Day 8 of the US-Israel-Iran War
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The biggest development of the day was a surprise speech by the Iranian president, who apologized to the Gulf countries after carrying out widespread airstrikes over seven days. Fezeshkian said Iran would stop bombing its neighbors unless attacks on Tehran were launched from Gulf countries. Hours later, President Trump called Tehran the "loser of the Middle East” and warned that Iran would be "hit very hard” today.
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However, following the speech, new drone and missile attacks were seen in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. Dubai Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, briefly suspended operations after debris from a drone that was intercepted by UAE air defenses landed on the runway. Video showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the airport.
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The UAE also suffered attacks on the US-used Al Dhafra air base for the second time this week. Iranian state media claimed U.S. air combat centers, satellite communications hubs and radar systems were targeted using drones.
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Meanwhile, Qatar repelled a ballistic missile attack and Saudi Arabia said Saturday that 16 drones heading to Shaybah, one of the Middle East’s largest oil fields, had been intercepted. Iran also destroyed key components of the THAAD missile defense system used by the United States at Muwafak Salti Air Base in Jordan.
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Meanwhile, with no sign of an end to the conflict, the United States is preparing to deploy its third aircraft carrier, the USS George HW Bush, to the Middle East. U.S. Central Command also said it had attacked more than 3,000 targets in Iran and destroyed 43 Iranian warships over the past seven days.
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