VFI News Israel Strikes Iran Missile Sites as Tehran Fires Back; Mojtaba Khamenei Named Supreme Leader

Israel Strikes Iran Missile Sites as Tehran Fires Back; Mojtaba Khamenei Named Supreme Leader . . .

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RmfGtgR3HF8

Israel has intensified its military campaign against Iran as the conflict enters its second week, striking key missile infrastructure and military facilities across Tehran and central Iran. In this update on the escalating Israel–Iran war, the Israel Defense Forces deployed more than 80 fighter jets to target ballistic missile production sites, underground storage facilities, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assets, including aircraft linked to the IRGC Quds Force at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport. The strikes come as Iran continues launching ballistic missile salvos toward Israeli cities such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Beersheba, triggering air raid sirens and sending millions of civilians to shelters across the country.

The conflict has also produced a major political shift inside Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei has been named the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes during the opening phase of the operation. The appointment by the Assembly of Experts signals a continuation of Iran’s hardline leadership, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pledging full obedience to the new leader. At the same time, Donald Trump warned that Iran’s new leadership would need international approval to remain in power and stated that further action remains possible to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

Beyond the battlefield, security concerns have also emerged in the United Kingdom after reports that Mojtaba Khamenei owns luxury apartments overlooking the Embassy of Israel, London. Experts warn the properties could provide a strategic surveillance position near the diplomatic compound, raising questions about foreign influence, intelligence gathering, and national security in London. Meanwhile, the regional conflict continues to spread, with Iranian drones and missiles striking targets across the Gulf and Hezbollah launching attacks from Lebanon toward northern Israel.

This report examines the latest developments in the Israel–Iran conflict, including Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, Tehran’s retaliation with ballistic missiles, the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader, and the broader geopolitical implications for the Middle East and global security.

#Israel #Iran #MiddleEast #IsraelIranWar #Geopolitics

Israel continued its military campaign against Iran overnight on Saturday, March 8, striking key missile infrastructure and IRGC aircraft as the war entered its second week. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that more than 80 fighter jets carried out a wave of strikes on several Iranian military sites in Tehran and central Iran, dropping approximately 230 bombs on the targets. Among them was a subterranean facility used for the storage and production of ballistic missiles, where hundreds of Iranian soldiers operated.

The IDF also struck a separate missile storage site containing bunkers and launch infrastructure, as well as Imam Hossein University, the IRGC’s military academy, which served as an emergency command center. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force confirmed destroying 16 aircraft used by the IRGC Quds Force at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, which served as a hub for arming and funding the regime’s terrorist proxies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah.

Even as Israeli strikes intensified, Tehran continued firing ballistic missile salvos toward Israel throughout the night and into Saturday morning. Frequent launches triggered sirens in Jerusalem, Beersheba, Tel Aviv, and northern Israel, repeatedly sending millions to shelters. Most missiles were intercepted, and no injuries were reported. Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned that any European Union member states joining the conflict would become legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we pray in Yeshua’s Name for Your divine protection over the people of Israel and all those endangered by the expanding conflict with Iran. Strengthen the hands of those defending our land and grant wisdom to military leaders as they make critical decisions. We ask that You shield every civilian from the missiles and drones raining down, and that You intervene to bring an end to the bloodshed. We pray for Your peace to prevail over the entire region and for hearts hardened by hatred to be turned toward You.”

Iran officially announced on Sunday, March 8, that the Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei to serve as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. He replaces his father, Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28. The appointment came despite strong opposition from US President Donald Trump, who had called the younger Khamenei “unacceptable.”

Mojtaba Khamenei had long been considered the most powerful figure in Iran’s security apparatus and a preferred candidate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His appointment nonetheless faced numerous obstacles, including the fact that buildings associated with the 88-member Assembly of Experts had been hit by airstrikes during the war. Over the weekend, it was confirmed that Mojtaba was wounded in the opening blow of Operation Roaring Lion but survived, while his father, mother, wife, and son were all killed.

Trump stated on Sunday that Iran’s next supreme leader would need US approval to remain in power. He told American media that if Iran’s new leader does not get such approval, “he’s not going to last long.” The IRGC, which answers directly to the supreme leader, immediately declared its readiness for “complete obedience” to the newly appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, signaling continued defiance against Western demands.

(INN/VFI News)

“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.” – Psalm 33:10

US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday, March 8, that Iran’s next supreme leader would require American approval to remain in power, warning bluntly that any leader who fails to obtain it “is not going to last long.” Trump made the remarks during an interview with American media as Operation Roaring Lion entered its second week. He emphasized that the goal is to prevent repeated conflicts over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Trump said the United States intends to ensure Iran does not return to pursuing nuclear weapons in the future. When asked whether he would consider approving a leader connected to Iran’s previous leadership structure, the President replied that it would be possible, noting that there are “numerous people that could qualify.” He also claimed Iran had previously been preparing for major regional aggression, calling it “a paper tiger.”

The President stated that the United States has not ruled out additional actions regarding Iran’s nuclear material, saying “Everything is on the table.” Over the weekend, Trump also met with the families of six US service members killed during the conflict. He described the encounter as “a beautiful event” where families were “devastated but proud,” and said parents urged him to continue the mission on behalf of their fallen children.

(INN/VFI News)

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, owns two luxury apartments directly overlooking the Israeli embassy in London, raising serious national security concerns. The sixth- and seventh-floor apartments in Kensington, west London—purchased in 2014 and 2016 through a front man—sit less than 50 meters behind the embassy building. Security experts have described the situation as a “serious security breach.”

Security specialists warn the location could allow surveillance of embassy staff and visitors, including audio capture of garden conversations and potentially even extracting speech from inside the building. Wireless networks could also be vulnerable to hacking from such proximity. The flats, valued at £35.7 million together, are part of a wider portfolio acquired through intermediaries, including 11 mansions in Hampstead worth hundreds of millions of pounds, purchased via shell companies registered in the Isle of Man.

The revelations come amid the arrests of four men in London suspected of spying for Iran, believed to have monitored Jewish locations including synagogues. Counter-terrorism expert Roger Macmillan stated that the Kensington apartments function as “a permanent surveillance platform.” Both properties are now blocked from sale by Treasury sanctions imposed on Ali Ansari, the front man accused of financing the IRGC. Ansari has denied any links to Iran and intends to challenge the sanctions.

(INN/VFI News)

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.” – Isaiah 54:17

Rosian Zerner was born in 1935 in Lithuania. When Germany invaded Lithuania in 1941, Rosian and her family were confined to the Kovno Ghetto. When she was six years old, her parents helped her escape through a hole they had dug under the ghetto fence, where she was met by her father's secretary. She was hidden by several rescuers over the next three years before being liberated by the Soviet troops in 1944.

Eleven-year-old Elena Abdullah Hussein told her father she loved him and went to sleep in Kuwait City on Tuesday night, March 4. Moments later, debris from an Iranian drone slammed into her bedroom, killing her as she slept. Elena’s Iranian family had been sheltering in their building’s basement since Iran began its retaliation campaign across the Gulf on Saturday, February 28, following US-Israeli strikes that decimated Tehran’s leadership.

As bombardments appeared to slow on Tuesday night, the family decided to return to their second-floor apartment. Elena called her father about two hours before the incident and said she was going to bed. Her father, Abdullah Hussein, who was working late at his fabrics company, said her final words felt like a goodbye. Elena was among 13 people killed across the Gulf region since the escalation began, with eight of those fatalities in Kuwait alone.

Emergency responders rushed Elena to Al-Amiri hospital, attempting resuscitation both in the ambulance and upon arrival, but she succumbed to her injuries after nearly 30 minutes of efforts. Elena’s uncle said the family remains in shock and has not been able to break the news to her younger sister, who sustained only minor injuries. Kuwait hosts one of the largest Iranian communities in the Gulf, and Elena’s death marked the first known child killed in a Gulf country as a result of the wider conflict.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we weep before You for the innocent lives lost in this terrible conflict, especially this precious young girl. We pray in Yeshua’s Name for comfort and healing for Elena’s grieving family and for every family across the region that has been shattered by violence they did not choose. We ask that You bring a swift end to the indiscriminate attacks harming civilians and children far from the battlefields. Lord, protect the innocent, bind up the brokenhearted, and let Your mercy triumph over the destruction.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized on Saturday, March 7, for Iranian strikes on neighboring Gulf countries, even as missiles and drones continued flying toward those same nations. His message, one week into the conflict, signaled that Tehran’s political leadership either cannot or does not seek to exercise full command over the country’s armed forces. Pezeshkian is one member of a tripartite leadership council that has governed Iran since the February 28 airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved halting attacks on neighboring countries unless an attack on Iran originates from their territory. He also flatly rejected Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender, calling it “a dream that they should take to their grave.” Iran’s armed forces spokesman added confusion by claiming Tehran had “not hit countries that did not provide space for America to invade our country”—even though US strikes have not been launched from the Gulf states under attack.

Hours after the apology, Dubai International Airport was struck by an Iranian drone, and Qatar intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile, underscoring the disconnect between Pezeshkian’s words and the IRGC’s actions. In response to the ongoing leadership confusion, prominent Iranian cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi urged the Assembly of Experts to quickly name a new supreme leader. Trump responded to the apology by writing on social media that Iran had “surrendered” and warning that Iran would “be hit very hard.”

(TOI/VFI News)

“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” – Luke 1:78-79

Two IDF soldiers were moderately wounded in a Hezbollah missile attack on an Israeli military position in southern Lebanon on Friday afternoon, March 7, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday, March 8. Several anti-tank guided missiles were fired at the position, and the soldiers, who serve in the Givati Brigade, were evacuated to a hospital. The IDF struck the Hezbollah cell responsible within minutes of the attack.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the strike, which targeted the same army post hit a day earlier in an attack that wounded three other troops, including one seriously. In total, 13 IDF soldiers have been wounded in Hezbollah attacks since the terror group resumed hostilities on Monday, March 3, days after the US and Israel launched strikes on the Iranian regime. The IDF confirmed launching a new wave of airstrikes on Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The military announced that it had conducted over 600 strikes in Lebanon using more than 820 bombs since Hezbollah began its current offensive. On Saturday, Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets and drones from Lebanon at northern Israel, with large barrages targeting Haifa and Kiryat Shmona in the evening. No injuries were reported from those attacks. Israel has expanded its presence in southern Lebanon, aiming to push Hezbollah away from the border and eliminate its ongoing threat.

(TOI/VFI News)

“Dear God, we lift up every IDF soldier serving on the front lines in Lebanon and ask for Your hand of protection over each one. We pray in Yeshua’s Name that You strengthen and heal those who have been wounded, and comfort their families in these anxious hours. We ask that You guide Israel’s military leaders with divine wisdom as they work to neutralize the threat of Hezbollah and protect the communities of northern Israel. Grant safety to all who dwell in the land and bring an end to the terror.”

Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer in Ramat Gan has been ranked the seventh-best hospital in the world in the 2026 World’s Best Hospitals list published by Newsweek and Statista, marking the highest placement ever achieved by an Israeli medical institution. The ranking evaluated more than 2,500 hospitals across 32 countries. Sheba climbed from eighth place last year and ninth the year before, continuing a remarkable upward trajectory.

The hospital’s rise reflects its transformation into an AI-driven medical center, integrating artificial intelligence into the core of its clinical, research, and administrative operations. Sheba treats more than two million patients annually and is recognized not only on the flagship list but also among Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals and Best Specialized Hospitals. The ranking places Sheba alongside world-renowned institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Sheba’s Director-General Professor Yitshak Kreiss on the achievement, expressing deep appreciation for the medical teams who serve citizens and wounded IDF soldiers alike. Three additional Israeli hospitals also appeared in the top 250: Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv at number 58, Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem at 157, and Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva at 165.

(JNS/VFI News)

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

Want to see more from VFI? Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visionforisrael and hit “like” if you like us!