US, Israel launch fresh strikes on Iran

The United States and Israel launched fresh airstrikes against Iranian targets on Wednesday, while Tehran retaliated across the Gulf by targeting US diplomatic missions. As the conflict enters the sixth day, it has severely disrupted regional energy supplies and global travel.

The US military said it had struck nearly 2,000 targets since launching joint strikes with Israel on Saturday, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict, which the US administration suggested could last several weeks, has left at least 1,045 Iranians dead.

"The supreme leader will be identified at the earliest opportunity, we are close to a conclusion," Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts that will select the new leader, told state TV. He said the candidates had already been identified but did not name them.

The Israeli military said it had carried out strikes on Iranian ballistic missile production and storage facilities. It also claimed to have destroyed what it described as Iran's secret underground nuclear command center.

However, Iran said it had halted uranium enrichment in June, while reaffirming its right to such activities and stressing its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes only.

A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday.

In Dubai, a drone attack sparked a fire near the US Consulate on Tuesday night, as Iran stepped up attacks on US diplomatic facilities across the Gulf. The strike followed similar drone attacks on US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Witnesses in Dubai told China Daily that they heard a loud blast and saw flames, which were quickly extinguished. Police immediately cordoned off the surrounding roads. The Dubai Media Office confirmed there were no casualties.

"All of a sudden, there was a huge bang," said a man who was hundreds of meters away from the site at the time of the attack. "Everyone nearby panicked and ducked for cover."

The Gulf region has been targeted by Iranian aerial attacks since Saturday, with airports and energy facilities among the key targets.

Despite enduring more than 1,000 attacks — a figure higher than all other targeted nations combined, according to its Foreign Ministry — the United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it had no intention of retaliating against Iran.

Governments raced to evacuate their citizens stranded in the Middle East. The US said on Tuesday it was arranging military and charter flights for citizens wishing to leave the region, despite severe disruptions to air travel. Other nations, including France, have also organized evacuation flights for their nationals.

The US and Israel have received lukewarm support, with Western nations limiting their involvement in helping Gulf states and repatriating citizens.

Meanwhile, the first flight to China since the Dubai Airport resumed operation arrived in Guangzhou on Wednesday evening.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday it had taken control of the Strait of Hormuz and warned that vessels attempting to pass through face the risk of being hit. Washington said earlier the US Navy was prepared to escort oil tankers through the strategic waterway.

Experts warned that further escalation could lead to prolonged instability across the region and that the trajectory of the conflict hinges on whether major powers exercise restraint, though the risk of miscalculation remains high.

"For the UAE and the wider region, security risks will rise, particularly from missile attacks, cyberattacks and maritime security threats," said Rabi Mohamed, a political analyst in the UAE.

"Civil aviation and trade could face major disruptions due to airspace closures and shipping disruptions. The regional economy as a whole will face growing uncertainty," Mohamed said.

As Saudi Arabia closed its largest domestic oil refinery on Monday and Qatar suspended liquefied natural gas production linked to the North Field reservoir, he said international oil prices would surge sharply, possibly to very high levels in the short term.

"The energy markets would react immediately with volatility and speculative pressure. This energy shock would create ripple effects across global supply chains, raising transportation and production costs," he said.

cuihaipei@chinadaily.com.cn