Massive explosions lit up the horizon over Tehran overnight as Israel launched a heavy wave of airstrikes against the Iranian capital. Footage circulating widely on social media shows fireballs and secondary blasts across the city’s skyline, marking a significant intensification in the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump stated Thursday that the joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign is “totally demolishing the enemy far ahead of schedule” and signaled that the military pressure will only continue to climb.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reinforced this stance on Thursday, issuing a stern warning to leadership in Tehran. Hegseth noted that Iran is making a “bad miscalculation” if it expects the United States to de-escalate or slow its current pace of operations.
Despite the increased bombardment from the West, data from U.S. Central Command suggests that Iran’s ability to strike back may be faltering.
According to military reports, Iranian ballistic missile strikes have plummeted by 90%, while drone attacks have dropped by 83%. This sharp decline in retaliatory fire has reportedly eased immediate pressure on neighboring Gulf states, which had faced a series of Iranian strikes earlier in the week.
In a Friday morning post on Truth Social, President Trump clarified his administration’s ultimate goal for the campaign, ruling out traditional diplomatic negotiations.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” the President wrote. He further outlined a vision for the country’s future following a change in power, stating that after the selection of “GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s),” the U.S. and its allies would work to rebuild the nation.
“We will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” Trump added, concluding his post with the slogan, “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).”
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