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10 days ago
Iran war: Tehran's Mehrabad Airport hit by strikes
Summary
Israel is launching a fresh wave of attacks on Iran, including strikes on the capital city's domestic airport, as the war enters a second week. DW has the latest.
Follow along for the latest developments in the US-Israel war with Iran on Saturday, March 7.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry told residents that the "siren has been sounded."
"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry posted on X.
Journalists working for the AFP news agency heard two blasts in Dubai and one in Manama, Bahrain, early on Saturday.
Israel said early Saturday that it is working to intercept fresh missile attacks from Iran. The Israeli military said air defenses were "operating to intercept the threat."
A journalist working for the AFP news agency heard a blast in Jerusalem following the warnings of an Iranian attack.
Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, central Israel and the West Bank but no casualties were reported.
The US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced it is approving $151.8 million (€130.55 million) in weapons sales to Israel.
"The Government of Israel has requested to buy twelve thousand (12,000) BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies," the bureau said in a statement. "The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: US government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," it added.
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The weapons approval comes as the US and Israel coordinate their actions in the war against Iran. The State Department is bypassing Congress to sell the weapons to Israel, using emergency authority.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the use of emergency authority shows the Trump administration was not properly prepared for the war with Iran.
"The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war," Meeks said in a statement. "Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story. This is an emergency of the Trump administration's own creation."
Footage on social media and photos provided by news agencies showed Mehrabad Airport on fire after Israel's military announced a new round of strikes.
Mehrabad Airport is located within Tehran's city limits. The airport, which is owned by the Iranian government, is considered the busiest in the country. It only has domestic flights, in contrast with Imam Khomeini International Airport, located outside the city.
A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said the Gulf country intercepted four drones.
The spokesperson said the drones were intercepted in the "Empty Quarter" desert in southern Saudi Arabia. The Defense Ministry said the drones were heading towards the Shaybah oil field, which is on the northern edge of the desert.
In an interview with US outlet Fox Business, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said "tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign" in Iran.
"We'll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles," Bessent said. "We are substantially degrading them."
Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have both suggested that the US military has not yet launched its biggest attacks on Iran.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
US outlet NBC News reported that Trump has privately expressed interest in deploying ground troops in Iran.
The NBC report was based on information from unnamed US officials.
The report said that Trump would not deploy the troops for a ground-scale invasion of Iran "but rather on the idea of a small contingent of US troops that would be used for specific strategic purposes."
The report added that Trump talked about deploying the troops when it comes to his vision for a post-war Iran, where Iran's uranium is secure and a new Iranian government cooperates with the US on oil production.
In response to the NBC report, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the article "is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the president's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions."
Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saied Iravani strongly condemned US President Donald Trump's comments that he should play a role in picking the successor to assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iravani said Trump's remarks "constitute a clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations."
"Iran is a sovereign and independent state," Iravani said. "It does not accept and will never allow any foreign power to interfere in its internal affairs.
"The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign intereference," he continued.
Trump suggested that he envisions a situation in Iran similar to that in Venezuela.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The US military in January conducted an operation in Venezuela, where they captured President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face criminal charges. Trump then backed Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to succeed Maduro, who has allowed the US to sell Venezuelan oil.
The US president has said he is against Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, becoming the next Iranian supreme leader. Trump has not hinted at who he would find suitable for the office.
The Israeli military said it has begun a "broad-scale wave of strikes" on Iran's capital, Tehran. The attacks came after Iran fired a round of missiles at Israel.
Iranian state media then reported a blast in western Tehran after the Israeli military announcement.
The latest fighting comes as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its second week.
Before we dive into what's happening on Saturday, here are some of the most important points from Friday.
No deal with Iran without 'unconditional surrender,' Trump says
US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Iran must surrender unconditonally as part of any deal to end the conflict. After surrendering, Trump said, Iran must select a "GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Germany's Merz: 'An endless war is not in our interest'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merzsaid that "an endless war is not in our interest." He warned that "such scenarios could have far-reaching consequences for Europe, including for security, energy supply and migration."
Brent crude oil prices spike above $90 as war continues
Oil prices jumped above $90 (€77) on Friday as the war continues. The European Central Bank could raise interest rates to combat energy-driven inflation amid the conflict. The war has disrupted oil shipments from Mideast oil producers through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's IRGC says it targeted US base in UAE over attack on girls' school
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US base in the United Arab Emirates. The IRGC said the base was used as a launchpad to strike a school in southern Iran, killing at least 175 people, including many schoolchildren.
Israel hits over 400 targets in one day in Iran, IDF says
The Israel Defense Forces said its air force hit over 400 targets across Iran on Friday. The Israeli military claimed the targets included ballistic missile launchers and Iranian drone storage facilities.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Iran's UN envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed
Iran's UN ambassador said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed one week into the war started by the US and Israel. Thousands more have been wounded, the ambassador added.
Lebanese Health Ministry: Over 200 killed, nearly 800 injured in Lebanon
The Lebanese Health Ministry has said at least 217 people have been killed and nearly 800 wounded since Israel and the militant Shiite group Hezbollah began fighting on Monday. The hostilities have caused mass displacement in Lebanon.
If you missed DW's Iran war updates for Friday, March 6, you can find them here
Follow along for the latest developments in the US-Israel war with Iran on Saturday, March 7.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry told residents that the "siren has been sounded."
"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry posted on X.
Journalists working for the AFP news agency heard two blasts in Dubai and one in Manama, Bahrain, early on Saturday.
Israel said early Saturday that it is working to intercept fresh missile attacks from Iran. The Israeli military said air defenses were "operating to intercept the threat."
A journalist working for the AFP news agency heard a blast in Jerusalem following the warnings of an Iranian attack.
Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, central Israel and the West Bank but no casualties were reported.
The US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced it is approving $151.8 million (€130.55 million) in weapons sales to Israel.
"The Government of Israel has requested to buy twelve thousand (12,000) BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies," the bureau said in a statement. "The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: US government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," it added.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The weapons approval comes as the US and Israel coordinate their actions in the war against Iran. The State Department is bypassing Congress to sell the weapons to Israel, using emergency authority.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the use of emergency authority shows the Trump administration was not properly prepared for the war with Iran.
"The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war," Meeks said in a statement. "Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story. This is an emergency of the Trump administration's own creation."
Footage on social media and photos provided by news agencies showed Mehrabad Airport on fire after Israel's military announced a new round of strikes.
Mehrabad Airport is located within Tehran's city limits. The airport, which is owned by the Iranian government, is considered the busiest in the country. It only has domestic flights, in contrast with Imam Khomeini International Airport, located outside the city.
A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said the Gulf country intercepted four drones.
The spokesperson said the drones were intercepted in the "Empty Quarter" desert in southern Saudi Arabia. The Defense Ministry said the drones were heading towards the Shaybah oil field, which is on the northern edge of the desert.
In an interview with US outlet Fox Business, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said "tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign" in Iran.
"We'll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles," Bessent said. "We are substantially degrading them."
Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have both suggested that the US military has not yet launched its biggest attacks on Iran.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
US outlet NBC News reported that Trump has privately expressed interest in deploying ground troops in Iran.
The NBC report was based on information from unnamed US officials.
The report said that Trump would not deploy the troops for a ground-scale invasion of Iran "but rather on the idea of a small contingent of US troops that would be used for specific strategic purposes."
The report added that Trump talked about deploying the troops when it comes to his vision for a post-war Iran, where Iran's uranium is secure and a new Iranian government cooperates with the US on oil production.
In response to the NBC report, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the article "is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the president's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions."
Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saied Iravani strongly condemned US President Donald Trump's comments that he should play a role in picking the successor to assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iravani said Trump's remarks "constitute a clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states and enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations."
"Iran is a sovereign and independent state," Iravani said. "It does not accept and will never allow any foreign power to interfere in its internal affairs.
"The selection of Iran's leadership will take place strictly in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people, without any foreign intereference," he continued.
Trump suggested that he envisions a situation in Iran similar to that in Venezuela.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The US military in January conducted an operation in Venezuela, where they captured President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face criminal charges. Trump then backed Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to succeed Maduro, who has allowed the US to sell Venezuelan oil.
The US president has said he is against Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, becoming the next Iranian supreme leader. Trump has not hinted at who he would find suitable for the office.
The Israeli military said it has begun a "broad-scale wave of strikes" on Iran's capital, Tehran. The attacks came after Iran fired a round of missiles at Israel.
Iranian state media then reported a blast in western Tehran after the Israeli military announcement.
The latest fighting comes as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its second week.
Before we dive into what's happening on Saturday, here are some of the most important points from Friday.
No deal with Iran without 'unconditional surrender,' Trump says
US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Iran must surrender unconditonally as part of any deal to end the conflict. After surrendering, Trump said, Iran must select a "GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Germany's Merz: 'An endless war is not in our interest'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merzsaid that "an endless war is not in our interest." He warned that "such scenarios could have far-reaching consequences for Europe, including for security, energy supply and migration."
Brent crude oil prices spike above $90 as war continues
Oil prices jumped above $90 (€77) on Friday as the war continues. The European Central Bank could raise interest rates to combat energy-driven inflation amid the conflict. The war has disrupted oil shipments from Mideast oil producers through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's IRGC says it targeted US base in UAE over attack on girls' school
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US base in the United Arab Emirates. The IRGC said the base was used as a launchpad to strike a school in southern Iran, killing at least 175 people, including many schoolchildren.
Israel hits over 400 targets in one day in Iran, IDF says
The Israel Defense Forces said its air force hit over 400 targets across Iran on Friday. The Israeli military claimed the targets included ballistic missile launchers and Iranian drone storage facilities.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Iran's UN envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed
Iran's UN ambassador said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed one week into the war started by the US and Israel. Thousands more have been wounded, the ambassador added.
Lebanese Health Ministry: Over 200 killed, nearly 800 injured in Lebanon
The Lebanese Health Ministry has said at least 217 people have been killed and nearly 800 wounded since Israel and the militant Shiite group Hezbollah began fighting on Monday. The hostilities have caused mass displacement in Lebanon.
If you missed DW's Iran war updates for Friday, March 6, you can find them here
AI Description
The article reports on a new wave of Israeli attacks on Iran, targeting Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. This escalation marks the second week of ongoing conflict, highlighting the intensifying geopolitical tensions.