TEHRAN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned Sunday that the country’s forces could sustain an “intense war” for six months against the United States and Israel, as the regional conflict enters its second week.
The escalation comes after Israeli strikes targeted Tehran’s military commanders at a seaside hotel in central Beirut. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least four fatalities at the hotel, where AFP journalists observed shattered windows and burn marks. Israel said the strikes were aimed at fuel storage facilities supporting military infrastructure.
Iranian forces have continued retaliatory attacks across the region. Saudi Arabia intercepted more than a dozen drones headed for Riyadh, while Kuwait reported damage to fuel tanks at its international airport. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Tehran “will be forced to respond” if neighboring countries are used as bases for attacks.
The Revolutionary Guards said the country has thus far deployed “first and second generation” missiles, with plans to use advanced long-range systems in coming days. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said the nation is prepared to fight an extended conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue operations “with all our force,” following joint US-Israeli raids that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week. President Donald Trump attended the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, highlighting the US involvement in the escalating war.
Iranian officials, including security chief Ali Larijani, accused the US of underestimating the situation, likening its strategy to a failed attempt to replicate Venezuela’s regime change. Hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned regional neighbors aligned with the US and Israel that attacks would continue.
The conflict has led to mounting civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Iran’s health ministry reported 926 civilians killed and around 6,000 wounded, while Lebanon’s health ministry cited at least 294 fatalities from Israeli air strikes.
Israel has claimed near-total air supremacy over Tehran, striking military academies, missile storage sites, and command centers. Meanwhile, Trump has emphasized Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions and suggested US forces might secure the country’s enriched uranium stockpiles if necessary.
Global reactions remain mixed. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi condemned the conflict, stating it “should never have happened” and warning that “the world cannot return to the law of the jungle.” Russia has largely remained on the sidelines, despite its close ties with Tehran.
Analysts warn that with both sides showing no signs of backing down, the path to a ceasefire remains uncertain, and the conflict could last for weeks or months, destabilizing the Middle East and affecting global energy markets.
