The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States (US) escalated on Friday as missile strikes targeted Tel Aviv, air raids hit Beirut, and the death toll in Iran surpassed 1,300. A school strike on the first day of the campaign is now being linked to US forces. Military investigators believe it is "likely" that US forces were responsible for the strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab, which killed 168 people.

 

Verified satellite imagery shows the Shajareh Tayebeh school was hit by "multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneous strikes." United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that of the 190 children killed in the region so far, 181 were in Iran.

 

In a fresh wave of strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a combined missile and drone attack targeting "locations in the heart of Tel Aviv." Blasts were heard over the city as Israeli defense systems attempted to intercept the threat. This follows an earlier IRGC claim of striking fuel tanks at Israel’s Ramat David Airbase.

 

Beirut’s southern suburbs also faced new Israeli air raids this morning. State media reported "hostile warplanes" struck the area just a day after evacuation orders were issued. In Dubai, residents received emergency alerts on their phones from the Emirati interior ministry, urging them to "seek immediate shelter" due to potential missile threats.

 

The humanitarian and infrastructure damage in Iran is mounting. The Iranian Red Crescent reports that 1,332 people have been killed since Saturday, with 3,643 civilian sites damaged, including over 3,000 homes and several medical facilities. In Shiraz, official reports confirm at least 20 citizens were killed in recent strikes.

 

Despite the attacks, Tehran is attempting to restore administrative functions. Ministries and executive bodies are scheduled to operate with 20 percent of staff from Sunday, though female employees will continue to work remotely. However, the country remains under a near-total internet blackout, which has now crossed the 144-hour mark.

 

The IRGC has warned of a "prolonged war," claiming that advanced weaponry not yet used in the conflict will be deployed. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini stated that "painful blows" are coming, describing the situation as a "sacred and legitimate war."

 

Regional spillover continues to affect neighboring countries. Saudi Arabia reported destroying three drones east of Riyadh, while explosions were noted over Doha and Manama. In the Persian Gulf, 52 French ships are currently blocked as France seeks an international coalition to secure shipping lanes.

 

In Washington DC, President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of sending ground troops to Iran, calling the idea a "waste of time." He claimed Iran has "lost everything," including its navy. This follows a US Senate vote that blocked a resolution requiring Trump to seek congressional authorization for the ongoing military campaign.

 

In Britain, counter-terrorism police arrested four men suspected of assisting Iran’s intelligence service by spying on locations and individuals linked to London’s Jewish community. The Metropolitan Police said that the men were arrested at three addresses in the capital as part of a long-running investigation. 

 

Airlines including Emirates and Etihad have begun resuming limited flight schedules, though operations remain precarious due to the threat of missile fire.

 

The current escalation began last Saturday after joint illegal US and Israeli strikes targeted sites across Iran. Iranian media reported that the attacks resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.