The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran confirmed on Friday that their spokesman, Ali Mohammad Naini, lost his life during a series of coordinated strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. This incident marks a significant and high-profile casualty in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the escalating violence between Tehran and its adversaries. The IRGC described the attack as a “criminal and cowardly terrorist act” perpetrated by the American and Israeli forces in the early hours of the day, emphasizing the severity of the blow to their leadership.
Ali Mohammad Naini had been serving as the official spokesperson for the IRGC since 2024, a role that placed him at the forefront of Iran’s military communications. Iranian state media confirmed his death during the recent strikes, although neither the United States nor Israel has issued any immediate statements regarding the incident. Earlier on the same day, Naini had publicly dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims that Iran’s missile production capabilities had been neutralized, highlighting the ongoing information war alongside the physical confrontations.
In a related development, Iran launched multiple missile barrages targeting Israeli territory late Thursday night. These attacks came shortly after Netanyahu declared that Iran’s military infrastructure had been “decimated” by the ongoing war efforts. The Israeli military reported detecting three missile launches within an hour and a half before midnight (2200 GMT), followed by another salvo a few hours later. Residents of Jerusalem experienced several loud explosions accompanied by air raid sirens, signaling the intensity of the attacks. Emergency services confirmed no casualties, but police reported damage in various parts of the city.
Further reports indicated that shrapnel from the missile strikes reached the northern city of Haifa, damaging an educational institution in its suburbs, though no injuries were reported. Earlier on Thursday, media outlets had reported damage to an oil refinery in Haifa, a critical facility for Israel’s energy infrastructure. During a press briefing that evening, Netanyahu asserted that Israel and the United States were making significant progress in the conflict, aiming to dismantle Iran’s missile manufacturing and uranium enrichment capabilities. He characterized Iran as being “decimated” and suggested a leadership crisis in Tehran amid the turmoil.
Meanwhile, the conflict’s repercussions have rippled across the region, with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun calling for a ceasefire and negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s ally. The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, have resulted in over 1,000 deaths, highlighting the human cost of the escalating hostilities. Despite these calls for peace, no immediate ceasefire appears forthcoming, as both sides continue their military campaigns.
Netanyahu, in his remarks, praised his collaboration with former US President Donald Trump, asserting that the war was progressing faster than many anticipated. He expressed uncertainty about who currently governs Iran, referencing the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed supreme leader and son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on the conflict’s first day. Netanyahu spoke of emerging fractures within Iran’s command structure and battlefield operations, suggesting efforts to exploit these divisions.
Despite the confidence expressed by Israel and the United States, the conflict has unsettled global energy markets. Iran’s missile attacks on Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas complex—the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility—as well as refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have sent shockwaves through oil and gas prices. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for global energy supplies, remains under threat from Iranian control, further exacerbating market volatility. Brent crude oil prices surged by six percent to $119 per barrel before settling back near $110, while European gas prices jumped nearly 30 percent following the strikes.
The damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex is particularly significant, with QatarEnergy estimating losses of up to $20 billion annually and a repair timeline extending over five years. Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery in Yanbu with a drone attack, prompting Riyadh to assert its right to respond militarily. In Kuwait, drone strikes ignited fires at the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries, which together process around 800,000 barrels per day, raising concerns about regional energy security.
Former US President Trump commented on the situation, indicating that he was not always informed in advance about Israeli operations such as the South Pars gas field strike, which supplies about 70 percent of Iran’s domestic gas needs. He claimed to have warned Netanyahu against further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure, though he acknowledged a generally cooperative relationship. Netanyahu, however, insisted that Israel acted independently in its strikes and dismissed notions that he had drawn Trump into the conflict, portraying himself as the senior partner in the alliance.
Trump further warned that the United States would consider destroying South Pars if Iran continued its attacks on Qatar but clarified that there were no current plans for deploying ground troops into Iran. Iran’s military, through its Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command, responded defiantly, vowing to completely destroy Gulf energy infrastructure should Israeli attacks persist. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this stance, warning of “zero restraint” if Iran’s facilities were targeted again.
In response to the growing instability, several Western nations including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands pledged to support efforts ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, though they provided few specifics. Rome and Berlin emphasized that any intervention would be contingent on a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the escalating violence and urged direct dialogue between the United States and Iran. Britain cautioned that attacks on critical infrastructure risked deepening the regional crisis, while India and China voiced concerns about the security of oil supplies passing through the strategic waterway.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that there is no set timeline for ending the conflict, but affirmed that the United States remains on course with its objectives. He noted that the decision to conclude hostilities rests with the US president, who will determine when the mission’s goals have been met. Meanwhile, Gulf states reported ongoing missile and drone threats early Friday, with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait activating air defenses and Saudi Arabia intercepting multiple drones. Bahrain also experienced a fire caused by shrapnel from what it termed “Iranian aggression,” though no injuries were reported.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for targeting US forces at the Al-Dhafra air base in the UAE, as well as sites within Israel, using missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed that its forces intercepted and destroyed ten drones in the eastern region and another in the north within a span of less than two hours. Despite the ongoing conflict, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards maintained that missile production continues unabated, signaling Tehran’s determination to sustain its military capabilities amid the war.
