{"id":332101,"date":"2026-03-06T13:40:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/332101\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:40:08","slug":"israeli-strikes-target-iran-and-lebanon-as-us-warns-of-bombardment-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/332101\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli strikes target Iran and Lebanon as US warns of bombardment \u2018surge\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon early on Friday with the US apparently striking an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic\u2019s fleet of warships.<\/p>\n

Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned was \u201cabout to surge dramatically\u201d.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military said on Friday morning it had begun \u201ca broad-scale wave of strikes\u201d on Tehran, Iran\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n

\"LebanonFlames and smoke rise from the site of Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs (Hassan Ammar\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

Witnesses described the Israeli airstrikes as particularly intense, shaking homes in the area. Others reported explosions around the Iranian city of Kermanshah in an area that is home to multiple missile bases.<\/p>\n

The Israeli military said strikes have already destroyed most of Iran\u2019s air defences and missile launchers.<\/p>\n

The war has escalated to affect countries across the Middle East and beyond.<\/p>\n

Early on Friday, Iran fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, all countries that host US forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties.<\/p>\n

In Lebanon, where the war has intensified fighting between Israel and Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, Israel launched a series of airstrikes late on Thursday and into Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other areas. Motorists jammed roads trying to flee or seek shelter.<\/p>\n

#Israel<\/a>\u2019s military ground incursions into southern #Lebanon<\/a>, blanket displacement orders & continued airstrikes are bringing more misery & suffering to civilians.
We urge the parties to step back from the brink of a major escalation of this conflict.https:\/\/t.co\/pjA126BRMz<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YUtV7nPC3J<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) March 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The US and Israel have battered Iran with nationwide strikes, targeting their military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s attacks have targeted Arab neighbours, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel.<\/p>\n

The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed.<\/p>\n

The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, urged all countries involved to de-escalate, saying \u201cthe world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze.\u201d<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Friday that \u201csome countries\u201d had begun mediation efforts in the conflict, without elaborating.<\/p>\n

The US military said early on Friday that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, setting it ablaze.<\/p>\n

\"TrumpPresident Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

The US military\u2019s Central Command released black-and-white footage of the burning carrier. The Iranian military did not immediately acknowledge the attack.<\/p>\n

The drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, is a converted container ship with a 180 metre runway for drones.<\/p>\n

The vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports, reports said at the time of its 2005 inauguration.<\/p>\n

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, described the carrier as \u201croughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we speak, it\u2019s on fire,\u201d Mr Cooper told reporters.<\/p>\n

Speaking alongside Mr Cooper, Mr Hegseth gave few details on Thursday when he promised an upcoming surge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more fighter squadrons, it\u2019s more capabilities, it\u2019s more defensive capabilities,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s more bomber pulses more frequently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qatar\u2019s Defence Ministry reported it intercepted a drone attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of US Central Command.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles fired early on Friday toward Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, which hosts U.S. forces.<\/p>\n

Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, where the Interior Ministry said Iranian strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building. It said there were no casualties.<\/p>\n