US–Israel strike Iran oil sites as war spreads across Gulf, Trump claims ‘we’re winning by a lot’

As the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its second week, the war expanded across the region with fresh airstrikes, missile alerts and mounting casualties, deepening fears of a broader Middle East conflagration.

US and Israeli forces struck oil storage depots and refining facilities in Tehran for the first time, igniting massive fires that sent thick plumes of smoke across the Iranian capital. The strikes marked a significant escalation in the campaign targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.

Amid the intensifying conflict, a massive fire engulfed a high-rise tower in Kuwait City, while several Gulf states activated air defenses in response to a fresh wave of Iranian missile and drone launches.

Iran’s senior security official Ali Larijani claimed that a “number” of American soldiers had been captured since the fighting began. The assertion was swiftly dismissed by the United States Central Command, which said no US service member had been taken prisoner.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring countries for the spillover of hostilities and indicated that Iranian attacks on regional targets would cease. The apology came even as Gulf states reported intercepting waves of missiles and drones launched from Iranian territory.

On the diplomatic front, Donald Trump said the United States was “winning the war by a lot” and ruled out negotiations with Iran, signaling a hardening of Washington’s stance. The US president has also approved a $151 million arms package for Israel, while demanding what he called the “total capitulation” of Iran.

Regional shockwaves

The widening conflict triggered disruption across the Gulf. Operations at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended after explosions and missile alerts in the region. Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia said their air defense systems had intercepted more than 200 drones and missiles in the past 24 hours.

Rising toll

The human cost of the war continues to climb. At least 1,230 people have been reported killed in Iran, while more than 200 deaths have been recorded in Lebanon. Six American troops have also been confirmed dead as the hostilities intensify.

India monitors developments

India has also been drawn into the unfolding crisis on humanitarian grounds. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan docked at Kochi after a sister ship was reportedly sunk by a US submarine during the conflict.

Massive air raids over Tehran

In one of the largest waves of strikes so far, more than 80 Israeli fighter jets targeted Imam Hussein University in Tehran along with underground ballistic missile silos early Saturday, signalling an intensified campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s military infrastructure.

Trump dismisses talks, hints at leadership wipeout

US President Donald Trump recently said he had no interest in negotiating with Iran, suggesting the war could end with the destruction of Iran’s military leadership.

“At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left may be to say ‘We surrender’,” Trump said, warning that the ongoing air campaign could eliminate potential Iranian leaders who might otherwise negotiate an end to the war.

US and Israel consider seizing uranium stockpile

According to a report by Axios, officials in the United States and Israel have discussed the possibility of deploying special forces into Iran at a later stage of the conflict to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The report, citing sources familiar with the discussions, has not yet been independently verified.