Israel announces ‘new stage’ in war against Iran

The Israeli military has announced that it has entered a “new stage” in its ongoing war against Iran, signalling the possibility of further military strikes.

 

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the new phase of the conflict would involve “more surprising actions,” although it did not provide specific details.

 

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also indicated that military operations against Iran could intensify.

 

“Attacks on Iran will increase a lot,” Hegseth said.

 

The IDF further claimed that it had destroyed an underground bunker in Tehran that allegedly belonged to the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

 

According to the Israeli military, the facility was still being used by high-ranking Iranian officials.

 

The military said about 50 fighter jets dropped nearly 100 bombs on the location, with the strikes affecting several streets and multiple entry points around the target area.

 

Iran had not issued an immediate response to the claims as of the time of reporting, according to The Guardian UK.

 

Meanwhile, the United Nations says the escalating conflict has already triggered fresh displacement in neighbouring Lebanon.

 

The UN reported that nearly 100,000 people have fled their homes in the country, while some Syrian refugees have begun returning across the border.

 

The Israeli military has also ordered residents to evacuate large sections of Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying the area is being targeted because it allegedly hosts positions used by the Hezbollah militant group.

 

The developments come amid rising fears that the conflict could expand into a wider regional war in the Middle East.