Middle East Crisis

Iran War
Video shows US missile strike near girls' school

Video footage shows a US Tomahawk missile strike near the girls' school where at least 175 people – many of them children – were killed early in the war. This is reported by the journalist group Bellingcat, which has reviewed and verified the video clip.

The missile hit a nearby facility used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. According to Bellingcat, the footage confirms that the US attacked the area. This appears to contradict Donald Trump's statement earlier today that Iran itself bombed the girls' school.

The US is the only party to the war using Tomahawk missiles.

Situation in Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei becomes new Supreme Leader in Iran

The Assembly of Experts in Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, several media outlets report.

He is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first round of US-Israeli attacks in the war. 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has long been identified as a possible successor, and the election is interpreted as the regime's more conservative and hardline faction still in power.

Mojtaba Khamenei has long had close ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and opposes rapprochement with the West, writes Reuters.

Even before the election was made public, US President Donald Trump said that Mojtaba Khamenei is an "unacceptable" successor and that anyone elected without American approval "will not last long".
 

Reactions
US source critical: "I don't think it was a good idea"

The US received advance notice of last night's Israeli attacks on fuel depots in Iran, but the scale was much greater than the Americans had expected. This is what sources told Axios.

According to the information, the US fears that infrastructure attacks will cause ordinary Iranians to rally behind the regime.

- We don't think it was a good idea, says an American source.

According to the site, this is the first clear disagreement between the countries since the war began.

 

Influencers play down the danger in the United Arab Emirates

Influencers are posting on social media that paint a safe and positive image of the United Arab Emirates, despite the Iranian missile attacks. This is reported by DN.

The country's top leaders have also begun to appear more in public places such as luxury shopping malls and horse racing tracks. At the same time, videos are being seen where businessmen and celebrities leave Dubai in private planes, and where tourist attractions are empty.

Several influencers have spread clips that give the impression that everyday life in Dubai is not disrupted by the war. In clips from different profiles, almost identical formulations can be heard about how the leaders of the United Arab Emirates are protecting the country and its inhabitants from the attacks.

In the comment sections, there is speculation that major influencers are being paid for posts that show the country as safe and stable.