Iran and Israel Exchange Strikes Amid Escalating Conflict Explosions rocked Tehran hours after dramatic footage showed flames engulfing Mehrabad International Airport, as Israel launched a “broad-scale wave of strikes” targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed using over 80 fighter jets in pre-dawn attacks, focusing on sites including a military university, missile storage facilities, and command centers. Iranian state media reported the strikes, with footage showing smoke rising from the airport and explosions in western Tehran. The extent of damage to the airport remains unclear, though Iranian officials claimed it was hit. Iran’s leadership responded with retaliatory strikes, targeting Israeli and Gulf nations. Regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported repelling attacks, while the U.S. military claimed to have struck more than 3,000 Iranian targets since the conflict began. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Tehran, vowing no negotiations without “unconditional surrender.” Meanwhile, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, dismissed U.S. demands, stating, “They will take their dreams of our unconditional surrender to the grave.” Pezeshkian’s remarks came amid a power vacuum following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with a three-person council temporarily governing the country. Iranian state media highlighted the damage to Tehran’s sports center, describing debris-filled rooms, a ruined gym, and a destroyed library. The IRIB report also noted a mosque was “completely damaged.” Israeli officials emphasized the strikes targeted military assets, including the Imam Hossein military university, which trains Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers.#iran #israel #mehrabad_international_airport #supreme_leader_ali_khamenei #emirates_airlines
