Issuing a fresh warning to Iran’s leadership, US President Donald Trump early Friday claimed that American and Israeli forces were decisively slamming the Islamic Republic’s military, as the war continues to permeate across the region, sending shockwaves to the global economy.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, the US president said that the US was “totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically and otherwise,” while simultaneously slamming The New York Times for its fabricated reporting and misrepresenting the war.
“Iran’s navy is gone, their air force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth,” Trump wrote. “We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition and plenty of time — watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today.”
He added that Iran had “been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years,” concluding: “Now I, as the 47th president of the United States of America, am killing them.”
The war, launched on February 28 when the US and Israel jointly launched a military operation against Iran, so far has reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including several senior Iranian officials.
Iran has responded with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting American bases.
Causing damage to the wider regional security, several Gulf nations have actively directed their militaries to be on operational readiness, with Saudi Arabia stating that its air defences intercepted nearly 50 drones during multiple attack waves early Friday, including one approaching the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh.
In Oman, two people were killed when drones crashed into an industrial area in Sohar, according to the Oman News Agency.
Similarly, air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain, while in Dubai black smoke was seen rising from an industrial area after a fire, authorities said was caused by debris from intercepted projectiles.
Meanwhile, Turkey said its airspace was briefly threatened by an Iranian ballistic missile, which was intercepted by NATO air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara said it was taking all necessary measures to protect its territory while seeking clarification from the country responsible for the launch.
