In 1989, millions of mourners gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a significant figure in Iran’s history.

On Tuesday night, a US submarine fired a torpedo that sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, marking the first such military action by the United States against an adversary since World War II, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Sri Lankan officials reported that 32 individuals were rescued from the vessel, which went down off their coast. The authorities confirmed that there were fatalities, but the exact number of those who perished remains undisclosed.

Iranian State Television has begun referring to the conflict as the “Ramadan War,” alluding to the ongoing holy month of Ramadan observed by Muslims worldwide. This label hints at a potential long-term engagement, as leaders appear to be preparing the public for an extended period of hostilities.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the leading US military commander in the Middle East, reinforced this perspective. “We’ve just begun,” he stated, suggesting that the conflict may be far from over.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, echoed that sentiment, saying: “We’ve just begun”.

In addition to striking Tehran on the fifth day of the conflict, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel.

As the conflict spiralled, Turkey said NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey’s airspace.

The war has killed more than 1000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, while disrupting the supply of the world’s oil and gas, snarling international shipping, and stranding hundreds of thousands of travellers in the Middle East.

Shifting timelines for US operations

During his Pentagon briefing, Hegseth declined to give a definitive timeline to how long the US would be involved in the war, indicated it could stretch to eight weeks.

“You can say four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight, it could be three,” he said.

“Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off balance, and we’re going to keep them off balance.”

Cooper said American forces have damaged Iran’s air defences and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

Still, air raid sirens and explosions could be heard across central and northern Israel on Wednesday. Israel’s military said Iran launched missiles toward the country, and Hezbollah sent rockets.

Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

At least 1045 people have been killed in Iran, the country’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said on Wednesday. Eleven people in Israel have been killed. More than 50 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. Six US troops have been killed.

A resident of Tehran, who runs a clothing shop, said he didn’t know how to protect himself from the bombing.

“It’s very difficult to decide what to do. If I leave the city, how am I supposed to earn money and survive?” said the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the fear of reprisals.

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