US President Trump hints at increased American involvement in the war

At least 585 people have been killed and 1,326 wounded across Iran since Israel began launching attacks on Friday, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists (HRA). 

The group said 239 of the dead were civilians and 129 were security personnel. Iran’s government has not updated its official casualty count since Monday, according to the Associated Press.

HRA said it verifies local reports through a network of sources inside Iran.

The mounting toll comes as the war between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day on Wednesday. 

Since the conflict began, Israel has focused its strikes on senior Iranian military officials, many of whom were killed on the first day. Gen. Ali Shadmani, the newly appointed chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was also confirmed dead on Tuesday.

Iranian state media reported that the strikes have also killed nuclear scientists, including the country’s top negotiator in its talks with the US, along with university professors and healthcare workers. 

On Monday, an Israeli missile hit the headquarters of Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB during a live broadcast. Iranian officials claimed the attack killed several journalists.

Iran has responded with about 400 missiles targeting Israel since Friday. On Saturday, missiles hit key areas in Tel Aviv, including The Kirya, the main headquarters of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). 

On Monday, a missile struck Haifa’s main oil refinery. Israeli officials say 24 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of hostilities.

Iran’s new army commander, Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, addressed the retaliatory strikes in a video on Tuesday. He said the missiles so far were intended as a warning, but that “the punishment operation will be carried out soon.”

Trump hints at increased American involvement

As tensions escalate, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a post on Truth Social, as signs of increased US involvement grow through both his online statements and military movements. 

Trump posted a warning urging “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran” earlier in the day, only hours after his abrupt departure from the G7 summit in Canada on Monday. In a separate post, he insisted the move “has nothing to do with a ceasefire. Much bigger than that.”

He also wrote in another post that “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” echoing a similar claim made a day earlier by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His multiple social media posts come as aircraft carriers and refuel tankers are being deployed to the Arabian Sea and eastern Mediterranean.

Increasing the number of ships makes US involvement likely, as American warships already in the area have been intercepting Iranian missiles since Friday.

However, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a Fox News interview that the deployments are intended to “ensure that our people are safe.”

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