TEHRAN, March 8 — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that its forces are capable of sustaining an “intense war” for six months against the United States and Israel, following a strike that targeted Tehran’s commanders at a hotel in central Beirut.
TEHRAN, March 8 — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that its forces are capable of sustaining an “intense war” for six months against the United States and Israel, following a strike that targeted Tehran’s commanders at a hotel in central Beirut.
As the conflict enters its second week, regional tensions have escalated. Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple drones aimed at Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, while Kuwait reported an attack on fuel tanks at its international airport. The strike on Kuwait’s aviation fuel storage heightened concerns over energy supplies, prompting the country’s national oil company to cut crude production due to threats near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas transit.
Tehran accused the US and Israel of hitting an oil depot in the Iranian capital on Saturday, marking the first reported assault on Iran’s oil infrastructure, coinciding with plunging stock markets and surging crude prices. Israel stated it had struck “a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran” used to support military operations.
On Sunday, the Israeli military launched additional strikes across Tehran, following a precision attack on “key commanders” of the Quds Force, the IRGC’s foreign operations unit, at a hotel in Beirut. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least four fatalities at the hotel, where windows were shattered and walls charred.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the campaign against Iran “with all our force,” aiming to dismantle its leadership after joint US-Israeli raids killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, triggering the broader regional conflict.
Despite the threat, the IRGC said Iran could sustain the conflict at its current pace for six months. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini stated that Iran had so far used “first and second generation” missiles but plans to deploy “advanced and less-used long-range missiles” in the coming days.
US President Donald Trump attended the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait, underscoring the conflict’s expanding reach. Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani accused the Trump administration of attempting a scenario similar to Venezuela, aiming to quickly oust Iran’s leadership, but added, “They are trapped.”
The hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned neighboring countries supporting the US or Israel that “heavy attacks on these targets will continue.”
Iran has targeted US assets in the region, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait reported new attacks. Saudi forces intercepted more than a dozen drones, Qatar reported two cruise missiles and ten ballistic missiles fired at the country, and UAE defences engaged incoming missiles and drones. Video footage showed a projectile hitting Dubai airport, and explosions were reported in Baghdad and Erbil.
Within Iran, infrastructure and residential areas are increasingly damaged, with citizens reporting heightened anxiety and a strong security presence. Iran’s health ministry reported at least 926 civilians killed and around 6,000 wounded, though AFP could not independently verify the figures.
Israel conducted strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Beirut after the militant group launched rockets and drones in response to Khamenei’s death. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 294 deaths from Israeli airstrikes over the past week, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warning of a looming “humanitarian disaster.”
Israel’s latest raids targeted a military academy, underground command centres, and missile storage sites. Netanyahu claimed near-total air supremacy over Tehran. Trump repeated allegations that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons and suggested US troops might eventually be needed to secure enriched uranium stockpiles. He also blamed Iran for a deadly strike on a school in Minab that killed at least 150 people, which Iran attributes to the US.
Analysts say there is no clear path to ending the conflict, which US and Israeli officials estimate could last a month or longer. Trump suggested Iran’s economy could recover if a leader “acceptable” to Washington replaced the late supreme leader, a proposal Tehran rejected.
Meanwhile, China and Russia have largely remained on the sidelines. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi condemned the Middle East war, stating it “should never have happened” and warning, “A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle.” — AFP
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