Six United States service members were killed after a refuelling jet crashed in western Iraq on Friday, as the war in the Middle East continued to intensify with US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks.
Washington said the crash was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire”, according to reports by BBC and Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that the Iranian people could eventually rise up against their government following recent US and Israeli military strikes, but said such a change may not happen immediately, according to Al Jazeera.
“I really think that’s a big hurdle to climb for people that don’t have weapons. I think it’s a very big hurdle … It’ll happen, but it probably will be, maybe not immediately,” Trump told Fox News Radio in an interview on Friday.
Iran has continued launching missile attacks on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states, showing no sign of backing down despite sustained strikes by US and Israeli forces.
An Iranian missile strike wounded at least 58 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel’s military said it had responded by striking more than 200 targets in Iran as the conflict escalated.
Senior Iranian officials, including security chief Ali Larijani, appeared publicly during al-Quds Day rallies in Tehran even as Israeli strikes targeted the Iranian capital.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States and Israel of trying to destabilise and divide Iran through the ongoing war.
“America and the Zionist regime pursue sinister intentions and goals to weaken and cause Iran and major Islamic countries to disintegrate,” he said.
According to Al Jazeera, there have been no signs of significant protests or any major defections against the Iranian ruling system since the US and Israel launched the war, which has killed more than 1,300 people.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington would intensify its military campaign, describing the operation as aimed at “decimating” Iran’s military capability.
At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared footage of crowds attending al-Quds Day rallies in Tehran while explosions were heard nearby.
“Proud and honored to have accompanied the Strong and Resilient People of Iran to mark International Quds Day,” Araghchi wrote on X.
“Iranians will ALWAYS stand firm and NEVER cower before cowardly attacks.”
‘War will end when I feel it’
US President Donald Trump said he would know the war had ended “when I feel it”, as he outlined his views on the ongoing conflict with Iran during the interview.
“When I feel it, okay? I feel it in my bones,” Trump said when asked how he would determine that the war was over.
He also commented on Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since the start of the conflict.
“I think he’s damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said.
On the security of the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for global oil shipments – Trump said the United States was prepared to escort oil tankers if necessary.
“We would escort oil tankers through the Strait if we need to,” he said, adding that he hoped the situation would stabilise.
“Hopefully things are going to go very well. We’ll see what happens.”
Trump also signalled that US military pressure on Iran would intensify in the coming days.
“Over the next week we’re going to be hitting them very hard,” he said.
Top Iranian officials attend al-Quds Day rally in Tehran
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani were among senior officials who joined the annual al-Quds Day rally in Tehran.
State media images also showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei attending the march.
Their public appearances came after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iranian leaders had “gone underground cowering”.
Al-Quds Day is an annual international event organised to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israeli control of Palestinian territories.
Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem.
Earlier reports said one person was killed after multiple explosions were heard near the rally.
UAE says Iran must halt attacks before mediation
A senior United Arab Emirates official has said Iran must stop attacks on neighbouring countries before any mediation efforts can begin.
UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh told Reuters that a diplomatic settlement would ultimately end the war, but that current conditions made mediation difficult.
“Ultimately, it will be a diplomatic solution, but there needs to be that tipping point moment, and I think that President Trump will lead us all to that moment in his time,” she said.
She added that neighbouring states were shocked by Iran’s attacks.
“It is difficult to talk about mediation when under attack,” Nusseibeh said.
“Mediation can only happen when the guns go silent.”
Israel continues striking Lebanon
Israeli warplanes are carrying out air strikes in several areas in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency is reporting.
Air strikes have targeted a house in Aytit in the Tyre district and a building in Ghaziyeh, south of Sidon.
Attacks also hit the town of Kfar Dounine in Nabatieh governorate, the agency reported.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has launched missile attacks on Israel jointly with Hezbollah, reports Iranian state-linked news agency Tasmin.
The Iranian military wing says the IRGC navy and drone unit were involved alongside the Lebanese armed group, with which it is allied.
Air alerts have been triggered in Tel Aviv, central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.
There have been no reports of casualties or damage from this latest wave of strikes so far.
At least 773 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The ministry said a further 1,933 people have been injured in the attacks, including 103 children.
