Here's what's happening in the ongoing conflict as of early Thursday.
President Donald Trump marked one month of "Operation Epic Fury" with a national address on Wednesday. He claimed U.S. forces have scored swift, decisive victories and issued a stark warning: if talks fail, the U.S. could strike Iran's power infrastructure and oil facilities within 2–3 weeks. He vowed to "finish the job."
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian published an open letter to Americans, urging them to question media narratives about his country. He framed Iran as a historically peaceful nation that has never started a war, despite facing invasions and foreign pressure. He criticized the U.S. military presence in the region, calling it a threat rather than a deterrent to stability.
EU and UK Discuss Strait of Hormuz Tensions
EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen said she held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the rising tensions in the Middle East, specifically the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. They flagged Iran's actions as a threat to global economic stability and agreed to work with partners to restore safe navigation. The discussion also touched on the upcoming EU-UK summit.
U.S. Embassy in Iraq Warns of Imminent Militia Threat
The U.S. embassy in Iraq has issued a warning that Iran-aligned militias may carry out attacks in central Baghdad within the next 24 to 48 hours. The potential targets include Americans, Iraqi institutions, and critical infrastructure. This alert follows the recent kidnapping of a U.S. journalist in the city.
Iran and Hezbollah Strike Israel During Passover
Iran launched a major ballistic missile attack on Israel, while Hezbollah fired rockets from Lebanon. The strikes forced millions of Israelis into bomb shelters during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The IDF reported around 10 missiles targeted central Israel, marking the largest Iranian strike in the conflict so far, according to the Times of Israel.
Large Explosions Reported Near Isfahan, Iran
Geolocated videos from near Baharestan, about 13 miles south of Isfahan, showed large explosions, bright orange flashes, flaming debris, and rising smoke columns, indicating significant blasts in the area, CNN reported on Wednesday.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Wounded in Reported Strike
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi was seriously injured, and his wife was killed, in a reported joint U.S.-Israeli strike on his home in Tehran. Kharazi, a moderate politician and adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been hospitalized, Fox News reported, citing Iranian media.
Australia's Leader Questions War's Endgame
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese questioned the need for further military action if President Trump believes the war's objectives have been met. He warned that prolonging the conflict would negatively impact the global economy. "It is not clear what more needs to be achieved – or what the endpoint looks like," Albanese said at the National Press Club in Canberra, according to Al Jazeera.
