Tehran vows to fight 'battle for survival' amid intensified U.S.-Israel strikes

The US and Israeli military operations against Iran have entered their fifth day, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. Facing sustained air and missile strikes, Iranian officials have described the conflict as a "battle for survival" and pledged to respond with full force.

On Tuesday, an Israeli official said the Israeli Air Force struck a building in the city of Qom where senior clerics were reportedly gathering. The meeting was said to involve members of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the 88-member body responsible for selecting the country's supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death. The official said it's unclear how many members were present at the time of the strike.

Provincial authorities in Qom later confirmed that the attack killed six people and injured 30 others. Rescue teams continue clearing debris at the site.

Israeli forces also launched large-scale strikes targeting Iran's launch facilities, air defense systems and critical infrastructure, according to the Israel Defense Forces in the early hours of Wednesday.

A CMG reporter in Tehran said he heard multiple explosions from Tuesday afternoon. At the scene, the reporter observed thick smoke rising from the western, eastern and northeastern parts of the city, with the explosions occurring in quick succession.

Several blasts were reported near the reporter's location, with the closest explosion taking place about 500 meters away. The northeastern area of Tehran is home to numerous Iranian military facilities, including the Ministry of Defense and other key sites.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had carried out the 16th wave of its retaliatory campaign. The operation involved missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli military sites in central and northern Israel.

According to the IRGC statement, targets included the Israeli military's General Staff headquarters and Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv as well as facilities in Petah Tikva and the western Galilee region.

The IRGC cited intelligence and field monitoring reports, claiming that more than 680 Israeli personnel had been killed or wounded since the conflict began. Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed those figures. The IRGC said they would fight until their "last breath."

Over 1,700 US strikes reported

The US military announced on Tuesday that it had conducted more than 1,700 strikes on Iranian targets since launching operations on February 28.

Speaking at the White House, US President Donald Trump said American forces were continuing to target Iranian missile stockpiles and launch platforms, warning that Iran would face "even greater strikes" if hostilities persist. He rejected suggestions that Israel had pressured Washington into the conflict, stating that he made the call to strike.

The Israel Defense Forces also said that since the start of the current campaign, Israeli aircraft have dropped more than 4,000 bombs on Iranian targets, exceeding the total used during the 12-day conflict between the two countries in June 2025.

Israeli officials added that around 300 Iranian missile launchers had been destroyed and that strikes on ballistic missile systems and air defense networks would continue.

Tehran vows to fight for survival

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that Tehran had approached negotiations in good faith and consistently maintained that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. However, he accused the US and Israel of aggression and said Iran's armed forces and citizens would commit fully to a "battle for survival."

He urged the international community to condemn and restrain what he described as crimes committed by Washington and Tel Aviv in the region, stressing that the war had been imposed on Iran and that the country would continue fighting for its survival and dignity.

In a separate statement, the IRGC alleged that over the past four days, US and Israeli strikes had hit civilian locations, including schools, hospitals, sports venues, restaurants and wedding halls. The statement claimed more than 700 Iranian civilians had been killed and many others injured.

The IRGC warned that these actions would be met with further retaliation and that operations against US and Israeli interests would expand in "depth and scope."

Conflict spreads across the region

The fighting has increasingly spilled beyond Iran and Israel.

Late on Tuesday, a fire broke out near the US consulate in Dubai following what officials described as a drone incident. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an Iranian drone struck a parking area outside the facility, causing no casualties. He added that the United States had begun precautionary evacuations from some diplomatic posts.

In Iraq's Kurdistan region, security sources reported that two drones crashed in mountainous areas near Erbil without causing casualties or property damage. Later that evening, explosions were heard in Sulaymaniyah province.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for pro-Iranian militias, claimed responsibility. It announced on Tuesday evening that it has carried out 27 military operations against "enemy bases" in Iraq and the region since dawn. It said in a statement that the operations involved "dozens of drones and missiles" targeting various installations throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said the country's airspace remains closed due to security concerns, leaving nearly 8,000 foreign tourists temporarily stranded. Authorities said on Tuesday that accommodation arrangements are being made until flights resume.

China calls for immediate ceasefire

As airstrikes and retaliatory attacks continue, the conflict shows little sign of easing, raising fears of a broader regional escalation in the days ahead. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent the conflict from further escalating and spiraling out of control during a phone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Tuesday.

Wang said China opposes the military strikes launched by Israel and the United States against Iran. The use of force cannot truly resolve the issue. Instead, it will create new problems and grave repercussions, Wang said.

He called for an immediate ceasefire, stressing that the true value of military strength lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war. 

Wang said that China has consistently upheld a just position on Middle East issues and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation.

Read more: 

U.S.-Israel strike on Iran sparks global alarm, deep divisions at home

After Khamenei's death, what's next for Iran?

Reasons and influence behind U.S. and Israel's attack against Iran

'Not America First': U.S. unauthorized war with Iran faces backlash at home