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Trump warns Iranian forces to 'surrender or die' as Middle East conflict intensifies

Trump warns Iranian forces to 'surrender or die' as Middle East conflict intensifies

No timeline for the end of the war, ground invasion a waste of time says Trump

One week of war has been completed in the wider region of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, which has turned into a literal... Hell. The US, together with Israel, continue to carry out daily aerial strikes against Tehran and other targets in Iran, claiming to have sunk at least 30 Iranian ships, "vanished" the air defense, and significantly reduced Tehran's missile capability. In statements, US President Donald Trump called on the Revolutionary Guards to surrender, threatening them that otherwise... they will die.

Trump maintained that there is no timeline for the end of the war, while referring to the scenario of a ground invasion, he said it would be... a waste of time. For its part, Iran is not only holding out but managing to deliver impressive blows against the prestige—and more—of the US and Israel. The Revolutionary Guards claim to have struck—for the second time—the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with sea drones, report they shot down another American F-15, while sweeping Tel Aviv and strategic Israeli targets with terrible missile attacks. The Israelis, beyond the 5,000+ bombs dropped on Tehran and other Iranian targets, continue their invasion of Lebanon and the bombings in Beirut, already forcing more than 420,000 people to flee their homes. At the same time, the Gulf states, which are receiving very strong hits from Iran, appear disappointed by the inability of the US to protect them...1_913.jpg

Trump: Surrender or die

The US President, Donald Trump, called on Iran's military forces to surrender, arguing that otherwise, they will face "guaranteed death." "I call once again on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the army, and the police to lay down their weapons. Now is the time to defend the Iranian people and help reclaim your country. After all these years, you will have the chance to take your country back. Accept immunity, we will give you immunity. You will be perfectly safe with full immunity or you will certainly face death, and I don't want to see that," said Trump, who repeated the claim that Iran has approached the US to "close a deal" to end the American military operation.

"They call and say 'how can we close a deal?'. I replied 'you're a little late' and we want to fight now more than they do," Trump claimed, asserting that the Iranian naval fleet "has disappeared" and that the US destroyed "24 ships in three days," adding: "They have no air force, they have no air defense."2_1040.jpg

No time limits

Trump said he has "no time limits" for the duration of the war with Iran. "I don't have time limits for anything," Trump told Time magazine. "I want to finish it." Describing US goals in the context of the attack on Iran, he said "they cannot have nuclear weapons. Those are numbers one, two, and three. Number four, no ballistic missiles. Another goal is placing 'someone reasonable and sane' in Iran's leadership," emphasized Trump, who, when asked if Americans should worry about retaliation and strikes in the United States, replied: "But yes, you know, we expect some things. As I said, some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die."

Invasion a waste of time

Regarding the major question of whether the US will attempt a ground invasion of Iran, Trump argued that such a move... would be a waste of time. "It's a waste of time. They have lost everything. They have lost their navy. They have lost everything they could lose," said Trump, who nonetheless noted "we want to invade and clean everything up." "We don't want someone who will need 10 years to rebuild Iran. We want them to have a good leader. We have some people who I believe will do a good job," said Trump, though he did not name who he has in mind.3_934.jpg

US Pentagon: Iran's missile attacks down by 90% - Our missile power will soon increase

At the same time, the US Pentagon claims that the US and Israel are the ones setting the pace of the war in Iran. In statements, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed that Iran's missile attacks have decreased by 90% while asserting that US missile power against Iran will increase very soon. According to the head of the Pentagon, the US does not face a shortage of offensive and defensive weapon systems. Furthermore, Pete Hegseth stated that the American armed forces have not expanded the list of targets within the ongoing operation against Iran. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed the US military struck an Iranian drone carrier ship, described as a vessel the size of a World War II aircraft carrier.

"American forces do not hesitate to complete the mission of sinking the entire Iranian navy," the post stated.4_761.jpg

Disappointment in Gulf states: The US cannot protect us

The Persian Gulf countries have been disappointed by the ability and willingness of the United States to defend them, according to a report by Foreign Policy. "The Persian Gulf states can no longer believe that the US is capable of protecting them. And even if they are forced to cooperate openly with Israel in its war, they will increasingly perceive it as a threat," the report points out. It is also emphasized that after Iran's retaliation against American bases, the countries of the region realized how unprotected they are. This is despite all the statements from American politicians and agreements with the US. As a result of Iran's retaliation, 12 countries have been affected to date, according to the head of CENTCOM, Brad Cooper. The military commander did not name these states; he only noted that the leaderships of the countries "are not particularly pleased" with Tehran's actions.

Alarm in the Gulf

It is characteristic that from the Iranian attacks with missiles and drones, the Gulf states are in a state of alarm... and panic. The Ministry of Defense of Qatar announced in the early hours that a drone raid against the US air base Al Udeid was repelled, Saudi Arabia announced it intercepted three Iranian drones east of Riyadh, while powerful explosions rocked Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Retaliation from UAE: Freezing Iranian assets

The United Arab Emirates is considering "freezing" Iranian assets as retaliation for the missile and drone attacks on its territory, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources. "The United Arab Emirates is considering freezing billions of dollars' worth of Iranian assets located in this Persian Gulf state," says the report, noting this move could "cut one of Tehran's most important economic arteries," limiting Iran's access to foreign currency and international trade networks.

According to information, Emirati representatives have already privately informed Iran of their plans. Many sources told the newspaper that, as an alternative, UAE authorities are considering implementing special restrictive measures to stop illegal Iranian activities. This includes restrictions on local exchanges involved in money transfer schemes bypassing official banking channels, as well as freezing the assets of shadow companies based in the US. The targets of the restrictions would be accounts linked to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Furthermore, the UAE does not rule out the possibility of seizing Iranian ships to strike the country's shadow fleet, the Wall Street Journal adds. It is also noted that the UAE served for years as a financial center for Iranian individuals and companies trying to avoid Western sanctions. On March 3, Axios reported that the UAE is reportedly considering military actions against Iran in response to missile and drone attacks. Later, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the UAE has not made a decision to engage in the conflict. "The country received over 1,000 attacks, more than the total of all other target states combined, and our armed forces responded with professionalism and efficiency," the Ministry stated. They also added that the UAE does not participate in the conflict and "did not allow the use of its territory, territorial waters, or airspace for any attack against Iran."
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Larry Johnson (former CIA analyst): The Iranians... blinded the US and Israel

Iran's attacks on radar stations disrupted the air defense systems of the United States and Israel, argued former CIA analyst Larry Johnson. "What is important is that the US and its allies use what is called a multi-layered air defense system. Imagine a pyramid. At its base are these radar stations. These radars were destroyed early on. As a result, both the US and Israel were essentially blinded," Johnson emphasized. The analyst noted that after the destruction of the radar, it will become harder for the United States and Israel to determine the launch times and targets of Iran's missiles. Furthermore, according to Johnson, Tehran's strategy in the current conflict differs significantly from that used during the summer confrontation with Washington: Tehran now reacts more quickly to attacks on its territory and attacks on American military bases.

Message from Pezeshkian (President of Iran): War in a new phase, the Apocalypse is coming

Iran warns of terror attacks and a new phase of the war. "We have entered a new phase of the war. Tehran has exhausted its stockpiles of old missiles, and now the real technology of the Islamic Republic will be revealed. From now on, Kheibar Shekan-4 missiles will be launched toward the Gulf and the Middle East, and intensively toward Israel and the US deployed in the region. All those who have chosen to stand against Iran will suffer the consequences in the coming hours," emphasized Masoud Pezeshkian.

More intensive and extensive attacks in the coming days

Iran's attacks against Israeli and US positions will become even more powerful and frequent in the coming days, argued the representative of Iran's central air defense command, Khatam-ol-Anbiya. "In the coming days, Iran's attacks against enemy positions will become more intensive and extensive," the Tasnim agency reports, quoting his words.
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New shock blow to the US – Iran hit the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln

Iran hit the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln for the second time in four days. US surprise is evident. The ship sustained damage and is withdrawing from the wider region.
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This is a development that has not happened in the last 80 years to the US Navy. According to an announcement from the headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces (Khatam al-Anbiya), the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which had approached about 340 kilometers from Iran's maritime borders in the Sea of Oman aiming to control the Strait of Hormuz, was attacked by naval drones of the IRGC Navy. Iran reported that the aircraft carrier was forced to move away rapidly accompanied by its cruisers, and is now 1,000 kilometers from the area. This move shows the intensity of the military presence and the weaknesses of the American military display in the region.8_224.jpg

Revolutionary Guards: We shot down an F-15

Furthermore, the Revolutionary Guards announced they shot down an American fighter jet in southwestern Iran. According to the Guards, an American two-seat multi-role fighter, the F-15E Strike Eagle, was successfully targeted by the IRGC Aerospace Force's new air defense systems in the early hours of Wednesday and crashed along Iran's southwestern border. The US Air Force lost three F-15Es on the third day of the war, March 2, in what CENTCOM later described as a... friendly fire incident over Kuwait. A recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that all three fighters were shot down by a single Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter that was on a drone hunting mission. Iran claims, however, that the aircraft were shot down by its air defense.9_142.jpg

Heavy bombardment of Tel Aviv and Israel

During the night, Iran launched a fierce missile and drone attack against Israel. The Revolutionary Guards announced they launched the powerful Khoramshahr-4 missiles toward Tel Aviv in the early hours of Thursday, 4/3, as part of the 19th wave of Operation "Sadeq-4." The Revolutionary Guards claim the Khoramshahr-4 missiles, each carrying a one-ton warhead, were launched toward the center of Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and the Israeli Air Force's 27th squadron base located at the airport. The IRGC stated the launches were carried out under the code "Ya Hassan ibn Ali (peace be upon him)." The announcement adds that the strategic missiles, accompanied by attack drones, successfully crossed multiple layers of regional and internal air defense in Israeli territory, creating a "literal Hell for the defenders."10_98.jpg

Shot down Israeli and American drones

Iranian media reported that the country's forces shot down two drones, including an American MQ‑9 and an Israeli Hermes 900. It became known that the MQ‑9 Reaper drone was destroyed over Lorestan province in western Iran, while Israel's Hermes 900 was intercepted in the wider Tehran area. These incidents were described by Iranian reports as part of a "brilliant day for air defense."

US deadlock, appeal to South Korea for Patriot transfer to Middle East

The deadlock into which the US is gradually entering in the war with Iran is being revealed... South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that the US and South Korean militaries are discussing the transfer of some Patriot air defense systems located in South Korea for deployment in the war against Iran. The statement was made in response to a question during a parliamentary hearing. Reports have suggested that the US military could soon be forced to begin rationing its defense systems due to constant Iranian attacks against its facilities in the Middle East. Top American military officials denied these reports, and in a briefing earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Patriot missile stocks remain "exceptionally strong."

Investigation into the school massacre in Iran

Top US military investigators believe it is possible that American military forces are responsible for the attack on a girls' school in Iran that killed dozens of children on Saturday, but they have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two US officials told Reuters. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Wednesday acknowledged that the US military is investigating the incident.

Ready to present the new leader of Iran

The three-member leadership council temporarily ruling Iran is preparing to present a new supreme leader following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian state television. The council, which assumed the supreme leader's powers after his death on Saturday, held its fourth meeting, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News agency. "Plans have been made to convene the Assembly of Experts and present the future leader," Mehr News reported. The 88-member Assembly of Experts is meeting online this week after their headquarters in the holy city of Qom was hit by Israeli raids. There have been conflicting reports regarding the timing of the selection of Iran's new leader. A senior member of the Assembly told state media the process is "close to completion," while another member reported to a different outlet that the duration of the process is "uncertain." Israel warned that any new leader would be a target for neutralization.11_196.jpg

Fierce Israeli bombardment of Tehran

The Israeli military announced it launched a "wide wave" of attacks in Tehran against the "infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime." Iranian state television reported explosions in various parts of the city. The Al Jazeera network reported that the Israeli armed forces announced they began conducting new large-scale aerial strikes, targeting "infrastructure in Tehran." The Iranian public television network IRIB reported that explosions were heard "in the western and eastern parts of Tehran."

IDF: We hit over 500 Hezbollah targets

The IDF announced it hit over 500 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and carried out over 26 waves of aerial strikes, during which it also hit the southern suburbs of Beirut. As reported, the Israelis announced the targets include top Hezbollah commanders, members of the elite Radwan Force, rocket launchers, command centers, weapons depots, as well as members of other terrorist organizations and their infrastructure.12_199.jpg

In southern Lebanon, the military estimates that approximately 420,000 Lebanese citizens have fled their homes after the IDF ordered everyone in the region to leave and move north, beyond the Litani River. Tens of thousands more have fled the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, since the IDF also ordered an evacuation there yesterday afternoon. At the same time, the official Lebanese news agency ANI spoke of Israeli bombings during the night in the southern part of Lebanon.13_106.jpg

Warning from Hezbollah to Israel: Evacuate

Hezbollah warned residents of cities and communities in northern Israel to evacuate their homes urgently up to a distance of 5 kilometers from the border with a message in Hebrew published via Telegram in the early hours. "The attack of your army against the national sovereignty and the peaceful citizens of Lebanon, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the campaign of exile it conducts will not go unanswered," the Hezbollah announcement stated.

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