The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered its second day. The Iranians, as well as their regional proxies, continue to retaliate in kind against multiple countries in the region.
Readers can catch up first on the events of the first day of the war with our initial rolling coverage here.
The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now confirmed by Iranian authorities, has created a new dimension to the conflict. The regime in Tehran has pledged to avenge Khamenei, and has also announced 40 days of public mourning.
Speaking with CBS News‘ Robert Costa by phone earlier tonight, President Donald Trump suggested that a new diplomatic resolution to the conflict may now be within reach. It is “much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously, because they [the Iranians] are getting beat up badly,” he said.
“Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates,” Trump added when asked if he had someone he would like to see lead Iran now. He also said he knew who was running Iran following Khamenei’s death, “but I can’t tell you.”
“It’s what we expected. Less than we thought, actually. We thought it’d be double,” the President also said about Iran’s retaliatory attacks so far.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed the first U.S. casualties of the conflict.
“Three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury,” according to an official statement. “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.”
U.S. Central Command has now issued a formal statement regarding the targeting of what it calls an Iranian “Jamaran class corvette.” This is how the U.S. military refers to Iran’s Moudge class warships, which are also often described as frigates. Satellite imagery provider Vantor had initially assessed the ship that was struck to be an Alvand class warship, from which the Moudge class is derived. You can read more about this in TWZ‘s previous reporting here.
“My message to the remaining officials of this republic of terror is this: surrender to the Iranian nation. Declare your loyalty to my plan and our transition framework, and hand over power without further bloodshed,” Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, and now an opposition figure to the regime in Tehran living in exile, has written in a post on X. “Any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to failure in advance. Whoever they place in his position will not only lack legitimacy, but will also be a partner in the crimes of this regime.”
“To the military, law enforcement, and security forces, I say: your weapons must be used to defend the great nation of Iran, not the republic of crime, thuggery, and its anti-Iranian criminals. Join the people of Iran and the Lion and Sun Revolution,” he added. “Use your arms to protect Iranians against the mercenaries of the Islamic Republic so that this 47-year nightmare may end more swiftly.”
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