US and Israel escalate strikes on Iran as Tehran warns of internal crackdown
US and Israeli forces maintained a cycle of retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, March 11. The conflict, now in its 12th day, continues to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for one-fifth of the world’s energy supply.
Global oil prices began to retreat from early-week highs as markets reacted to potential stabilization efforts. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reportedly considering the largest strategic reserve release in history to counter supply disruptions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Regional bases under fire
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed missile launches targeting key Western military installations. Strikes were directed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Al Harir Air Base in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Drone activity was also reported at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and Naval Support Activity Bahrain. While a US official confirmed a drone strike on a diplomatic compound in Iraq, no American casualties were reported in that specific incident.
Israel’s domestic alerts
Air raid sirens forced Israeli civilians into shelters early Wednesday as the military intercepted a new wave of Iranian missiles. Explosions from defense systems lit the sky over several cities before dawn.
Simultaneously, Israel conducted fresh strikes on Beirut. These operations targeted Hezbollah positions, the Iranian-aligned group heavily involved in the regional escalation.
Crisis in Tehran
Residents in the Iranian capital described the night as the most intense bombardment since the conflict began on February 28. "It was like hell," one resident told Reuters, noting that strikes hit multiple sectors of the city.
Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, claimed that over 1,300 Iranian civilians have died since the start of the campaign. He reported that approximately 8,000 homes and 1,600 commercial buildings have been destroyed.
Internal suppression fears
Tehran is bracing for potential domestic unrest triggered by the war. Police Chief Ahmadreza Radan warned that security forces would ruthlessly suppress any protests, labeling demonstrators as "enemies of the state."
"Our forces have their fingers on the trigger," Radan stated on state television. Authorities have already announced dozens of arrests, including a foreign national, on suspicion of espionage.
The human toll continues to rise across borders. At least 11 people have died in Israel from Iranian strikes, while dozens of fatalities are reported in Lebanon. The Pentagon has confirmed seven US service members killed and 140 wounded since the hostilities began.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
