A week after US-Israel strikes inside Iran triggered a dramatic escalation in West Asia, the war rhetoric is only getting sharper. Washington says its campaign is degrading Iran’s missile capability while urging Tehran’s forces to surrender.
The fallout is spreading beyond the battlefield. The US has suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait, energy markets are on edge, and India is closely watching oil supplies as the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption.
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Tehran says it has not closed Strait of Hormuz
Khatibzadeh also rejected claims that Iran had blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Addressing the Raisina Dialogue, he said Tehran remains a “responsible power” in the Persian Gulf and has no immediate plan to shut the waterway.
Iran vows ‘resistance to the last soldier’ amid war
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said the country has no choice but to defend itself against what he described as an invasion by the United States and Israel. Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, he said Iran would resist “to the last bullet and the last soldier.”
Iran says more than 75 enemy drones shot down
Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iranian air defences have intercepted dozens of hostile drones since the fighting began. According to him, the number of drones downed has now crossed 75.
Tehran warns strikes will intensify in coming days
Iranian military officials said their retaliatory campaign will expand further as the conflict continues. They claimed Iranian air defence units are intercepting US and Israeli aircraft and drones across multiple regions of the country while preparing for more attacks.
Iran launches 21st wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its aerospace forces carried out the 21st wave of retaliatory strikes under “Operation True Promise.” The attack reportedly involved swarms of suicide drones and Khayber missiles equipped with cluster warheads aimed at overwhelming Israel’s multi-layered air defence systems.
Kuwait says 67 soldiers injured amid regional attacks
Kuwait’s Defence Ministry said 67 members of its armed forces were injured during recent security incidents linked to the widening Middle East conflict. Officials said all injured personnel are receiving treatment and their condition is stable, with two still under observation. The military added it remains on high alert and is monitoring developments round the clock.
Kuwaiti defence systems have detected and intercepted a large number of projectiles in recent days. According to officials, 212 ballistic missiles and 394 drones aimed at Kuwaiti airspace have been neutralised so far as tensions escalate across the region.
Pentagon denies reports of US fighter jet being shot down
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected reports circulating online claiming that an American F-15 fighter jet had been shot down. He said such claims were false and accused Iran of spreading misinformation during the conflict.
Hegseth said the United States has sufficient military resources to continue the operation for as long as necessary. He added that the pace and duration of the campaign would be determined solely by Washington.
Pentagon denies reports of US fighter jet being shot down
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected reports circulating online claiming that an American F-15 fighter jet had been shot down. He said such claims were false and accused Iran of spreading misinformation during the conflict.
Hegseth said the United States has sufficient military resources to continue the operation for as long as necessary. He added that the pace and duration of the campaign would be determined solely by Washington.
US says Iran’s military capability heavily damaged
According to Trump, Iran’s naval and air capabilities have suffered major damage during the strikes. He claimed the Iranian Navy has lost around two dozen ships within three days, while anti-aircraft systems, missiles, and launchers have been significantly degraded. The operation against Iranian infrastructure continues under the campaign named ‘Operation Epic Fury’.
Trump says Iran reached out for talks but ‘too late’
US President Donald Trump said Tehran has approached Washington asking “how to make a deal” amid ongoing strikes, but he believes the request has come too late. Speaking at a White House event, Trump said the US now “wants to fight more than they do.” He claimed American and Israeli forces are destroying Iran’s missile and drone infrastructure “every single hour.”
US strikes nearly 200 Iranian targets in 72 hours
US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper said American bombers have struck nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran over the past three days. He added that B-2 Spirit bombers recently dropped multiple bunker-buster bombs on underground ballistic missile launchers.
Missile and drone attacks from Iran sharply reduced: US
Cooper said the military campaign has already weakened Iran’s retaliatory capabilities. Ballistic missile attacks have fallen by about 90 per cent, while drone strikes have dropped by roughly 83 per cent compared to earlier phases of the conflict. US forces are also working to dismantle Iran’s missile production infrastructure in the longer term.
US using captured Iranian drone design against Tehran
The CENTCOM chief also revealed that American forces are deploying a reverse-engineered drone based on an Iranian design. The drone, called LUCAS, was originally captured from Iran, modified in the United States, and redeployed in operations. Cooper described it as “indispensable” for targeting Iranian assets.
US warns Iran against miscalculating Washington’s resolve
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Iran’s leadership would be mistaken if it believed the United States could not sustain the conflict. Speaking at a press conference, he said Washington’s commitment to the operation would only intensify. “We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively,” he said.
Israel says Hezbollah commander killed in Beirut strike
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander, Zaid Ali Jumaa, in Beirut. According to the Israeli military, Jumaa headed Hezbollah’s artillery operations in southern Lebanon and oversaw large-scale rocket and missile attacks on Israel. The IDF also linked him to a 2015 anti-tank missile attack in Mount Dov that killed two Israeli soldiers.
US suspends embassy operations in Kuwait
The US State Department has suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait City and advised American citizens to leave the country if possible. The department said there were no injuries among embassy staff but stressed that the safety of Americans abroad remains its highest priority. Kuwait currently remains under a Level-3 travel advisory.
The State Department urged US nationals in Kuwait to depart using commercial transportation if it is safe to do so. Those unable to leave have been advised to shelter in place and remain alert to security updates. Citizens were also encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts from nearby diplomatic missions.
Washington expects India to increase US oil purchases
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver is a short-term measure covering oil shipments already stranded at sea and would not provide major financial benefit to Russia. He added that India remains an essential partner for Washington and that the US expects New Delhi to eventually ramp up imports of American oil.
US allows temporary waiver for India to buy Russian oil
Amid fears of supply disruptions in the Gulf, the United States has granted a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move aims to keep oil flowing into global markets as shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz face severe disruption.
Also Read: Oil shock buffer: US gives India 30-day waiver to buy Russian crude as Gulf crisis rattles Hormuz