A Tehran resident says civilians expected regime change without widespread destruction, but Israeli airstrikes hitting infrastructure and areas near homes have shattered that hope.

“We weren’t supposed to be bombed,” she said after an explosion near her apartment.

Source: FT

Israel is quietly exploring plans to establish a security presence or potential military base in Somaliland, near the entrance to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The move would give Israel a strategic position to monitor and potentially conduct operations against Houthi forces in Yemen.

The idea follows Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December, opening the door for deeper security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and possibly a permanent foothold near one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Source: Bloomberg

Chinese sailors filmed Iranian missile strike on the Fujairah oil storage facility in the UAE.

Patriot interceptors attempted two interceptions, firing six missiles, but failed to stop the strike.

Date unknown.

Satellite imagery shows Ukrainian ATACMS and SCALP/Storm Shadow strikes on Donetsk Airport, destroying six garages storing Geran-2 kamikaze drones and causing a major fire in the terminal ruins.

Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Standard Chartered told staff to avoid Dubai offices and work remotely amid Iran attack threats targeting banks and financial institutions in the Gulf.

Source: Bloomberg

EU officials warn the Iran war could push inflation above 3%.

Source: Bloomberg

Trump says the U.S. will release “a little” oil from its strategic reserves.

The Pentagon told Congress the first six days of the Iran war cost over $11.3 billion, with the total expected to rise as more operational costs are calculated.

Source: NYT

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan.

Drafted by Bahrain and backed by 135 countries, the resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, while Russia and China abstained.

It reaffirmed support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of GCC states and Jordan, condemned Iran’s attacks as violations of international law, and criticized strikes on civilian infrastructure that caused casualties and damage.

Nearly all U.S. Senate Democrats sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding a “swift investigation” into airstrikes on a girls’ school in Iran that killed dozens of children.

Signed by 46 senators, the letter says most victims were girls aged 7–12 and notes that neither the U.S. nor Israel has claimed responsibility.

Lawmakers asked whether U.S. forces carried out the strike, what steps the military takes to prevent civilian casualties, and whether AI tools were used in the operation.

Source: Reuters

Trump explains the Iran War to his supporters:

We did an excursion. Do you know what an excursion is?

We had to take a little trip to get rid of some very evil people.

Trump on Iran:

They don’t know what the hell hit them, right? They don’t know. They got hit by the American military — they don’t know.

They say, “What the hell is happening?”

They didn’t expect anything like this.

Trump:

China uses a lot of coal. China is very smart.

They don't use windmills. They make all the windmills, and they sell that garbage to us. Round and round it goes keeps losing money.

Trump:

Operation EPIC FURY!!!

Trump on Iran:

Operation Epic Fury — is that a great name? Well, it’s only good if you win.

You know, you can only do it if you win — and we’ve won. Let me say: we’ve won. You never like to say it too early, but we won the bet in the first hour. It was over.

They gave me a list of names. “Sir, you can pick the name you’d like.” I asked what the name of the attack would be.

They gave me about 20 names, and I was almost falling asleep. I didn’t like any of them. Then I saw Epic Fury, and I said, “I like that name. I like that name.”

Trump on Iran:

We knocked out 58 naval ships. Their navy — let’s put it that way. And we also knocked out the mine-layers — the ships that lay mines. They put mines in the water at night. Lovely job, right? Blow up ships.

And we knocked out 31 of them.

Trump on Iran:

We don’t want to leave early, do we? We’ve got to finish the job, right?

Over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran.

Trump on Iran:

We don’t want to go back every two years.

Because someday there will be a time when you don’t have me as president.

And perhaps you’ll have a weak, pathetic person like we’ve had in the past.