War widens: First IDF combat deaths in Lebanon as Bahrain water plant hit by Iranian drones
Dubai: The Israeli military confirmed on Sunday that two soldiers were killed in combat operations in southern Lebanon, marking the first military fatalities for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) since the regional conflict with Iran ignited nine days ago.
One of the fallen soldiers was identified as 38-year-old Maher Khatar, a resident of the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The IDF has withheld the identity of the second soldier pending the completion of family notifications.
Civilian Infrastructure Targeted
The announcement comes as the war’s geographic scope and targeting continue to widen. Bahrain accused Tehran on Sunday of striking a water desalination plant with drones, a significant escalation that threatens the freshwater supply of the island nation. While Bahrain’s electricity and water authority maintained that supplies are currently stable, the attack, the first of its kind against Gulf water infrastructure, sparked international concern that civilian life-support systems have become intentional targets.
Tehran has justified such actions by claiming the U.S. established a precedent after a strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island damaged a desalination facility serving 30 villages. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, "The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran."
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Escalating Rhetoric and Retaliation
On the diplomatic front, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian adopted a defiant tone Sunday, appearing to retract conciliatory remarks made just a day prior. After previously apologising for strikes on Gulf neighbours, Pezeshkian vowed to expand attacks on American interests across the Middle East in response to relentless U.S. and Israeli air campaigns.
"The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be," Pezeshkian said in a video address. He added that the U.S. demand for unconditional surrender is a "dream that they should take to their grave."
Conversely, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled they would not pursue a negotiated settlement. Aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters, "They’d like to settle. We’re not looking to settle."
Human and Economic Toll
The conflict, which began with "Operation Epic Fury" on Feb. 28, has resulted in staggering casualties according to regional officials:
- Iran: At least 1,230 deaths.
- Lebanon: 397 deaths, with more than 400,000 people displaced.
- Israel: 11 fatalities, including the two soldiers killed Sunday.
- U.S. Military: Six troops killed.
In Tehran, a massive fire at an oil storage facility, triggered by an Israeli strike, blanketed the capital in toxic smoke so dense that witnesses described a midday darkness. The Iranian Red Crescent warned residents of the risk of acid rain and respiratory distress, reporting that roughly 10,000 civilian structures nationwide have been damaged.
Global markets remain volatile as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively impassable. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, warned Sunday that the global oil industry would face a "downward spiral" as production and export capabilities continue to degrade.
With inputs from AP