TEHRAN/JERUSALEM, March 4 — The escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its fifth day on Wednesday with a series of devastating strikes and retaliatory maneuvers. At least 80 people were reportedly killed following a US military strike on an Iranian warship, marking one of the most significant naval engagements since hostilities began.
Explosions resonated across Tehran at dawn as the Islamic Republic’s state television confirmed new waves of aerial attacks. Simultaneously, the Israeli military affirmed that its air defense systems were activated to intercept a barrage of Iranian missiles, with audible explosions reported by residents in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
In a public assessment of the situation, US President Donald Trump suggested that the current military campaign could extend for a month or longer. Official reports indicate that nearly 800 people have been killed in Iran since the outbreak of war. The President stated that the casualties included individuals the US administration had previously viewed as potential future leaders of the country.
The theater of war has also expanded into Lebanon. Israeli officials maintained that they are conducting retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah militants in the region. According to Lebanese state-run media, an Israeli strike on a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck resulted in at least four deaths. The ongoing exchanges follow earlier operations targeting Iranian nuclear sites and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the Gulf.
