emeni leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has vowed that his country stands ready with all options and will use every means at its disposal to confront the ongoing unprovoked and reckless US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

In a speech delivered on Thursday, al-Houthi said that “Yemen cannot remain neutral or silent and will do everything to confront the Zionist project in the West Asia region.”

“Iran was the only country which fully supported the Yemenis against the repeated US and Israeli aggressions,” he added.

He further emphasized that “the Yemeni stance against the US and Israel is clear and transparent and is not directed against any Muslim nation.”

“We have no hostile intentions against any Islamic country.”

Houthi further emphasized that the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran was “illegitimate and has no justification.”

Iran's military is closely monitoring US forces across the region, the senior spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces says, asserting that the American military structure in West Asia has "collapsed in the shortest possible time."

In a wide-ranging interview with the Iranian news agency IRNA, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi expressed strong criticism of US military adventurism in the region, while highlighting the Iranian response to ongoing hostilities.

He said that US personnel are now forced to abandon certain military bases and take refuge in civilian hotels, a move that he condemned as an attempt by the US to use civilian structures for military cover.

"The Americans, who once relied on their military bases to establish a presence, are now hiding in hotels and relying on the civilian areas of our region as a protective shield," Shekarchi said.

"This marks a humiliating retreat and an admission of their inability to defend themselves."

He said that the American forces are no longer able to sustain a military presence in several regions of West Asia, citing the destruction of key US bases.

"We have dismantled 17 US bases in the region, and they have failed to protect their forces or their installations," Shekarchi stated, adding that the failure of US military plans is a significant blow to American credibility.

The spokesman further discussed Iran’s evolving defense strategy, stating that the 12-day war in June had catalyzed a major shift in the country’s military doctrine.

"Following the 12-day war, we changed our defensive doctrine to an offensive one," Shekarchi said.

"This does not mean we are waging aggression against others, as the US does, but rather that any state that initiates aggression against us will be struck until it is destroyed. We will not relent until we have achieved victory and punished the aggressors."

He clarified that Iran’s new offensive posture is defensive in nature, aimed at safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and deterring foreign intervention.

"Our goal is to continue the fight until the enemy is punished, and we can remove the shadow of war from the Islamic Republic forever," Shekarchi explained.

The general also emphasized that Iran’s military doctrine is strictly focused on responding to aggression and that Tehran does not seek to engage in unnecessary conflict.

However, he stressed that Iran's resolve would not falter in the face of continued foreign interference. "If they attack us, we will retaliate with everything we have," he stated.

Despite the ongoing US-Israeli terrorist war, Shekarchi made it clear that even if the hostilities were to cease, Iran’s conditions for peace would have to be met.

He referenced the conditions laid out by the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, asserting that these conditions are non-negotiable.

“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to the way it was before,” Shekarchi declared. "We have set four conditions, and until they are met, we will not leave the Americans alone."

He added that Iran’s security in the region would not be compromised, and that any foreign forces operating near Iranian borders would be targeted.

"The Americans have lost their grip on the region, and their F-35 fighter jets will no longer be safe," he warned.

"Any base that hosts US forces in the region will be a target for us. We are fully prepared to respond wherever the threat originates."

Shekarchi also shared grim figures regarding the toll the war has taken on US and Israeli forces.

He confirmed reports of heavy casualties among American personnel, estimating that between 600 and 800 US soldiers have been killed, with nearly 5,000 others wounded.

In addition, the general cited sources within Israel, who said that 1,321 Israeli soldiers have been killed in retaliatory strikes from Iran.

He noted that these numbers were likely understated by the Israeli regime, which has downplayed its losses in the war.

"In the first few days of the war, we targeted a hotel where American soldiers were hiding, and 160 American personnel were either killed or wounded," Shekarchi stated.

"This was just one of many strikes that have taken place, and the casualties on both sides continue to mount."

The general also pointed to the significant damage inflicted on Israeli infrastructure, noting that key military and industrial targets have been struck, resulting in extensive damage to Israel’s military capabilities.

“Israeli defense systems, including their air defense and military centers, have been completely destroyed,” Shekarchi said. “Even their most advanced facilities have been targeted, and the impact has been devastating.”

Iran’s strategy in the war

The military spokesman emphasized that Tehran is determined to maintain control of the situation in the region. "We have always maintained the initiative in this war," Shekarchi said.

"We have not been on the defensive; we have been on the offensive from the beginning, and we will continue to lead the conflict until we achieve our objectives."

He highlighted that the Iranian military had deployed a range of advanced technologies and capabilities in its retaliation, including cutting-edge air defense systems that have successfully targeted US F-35 fighter jets.

"Our capabilities are growing stronger by the day, and we are constantly improving our military systems to ensure that we can meet any challenge," Shekarchi said.

Addressing the regional countries that have been affected by the war, Shekarchi urged them to take a stand against the US and Israeli forces.

"We call on the Muslim nations of the region to stop providing shelter to US forces," he said.

"We respect the sovereignty of all countries, and we do not seek to impose our will on anyone. However, if you allow foreign forces to use your land and airspace for military operations against Iran, you will bear the consequences."

The general also reiterated that Iran’s military actions are aimed at defending its sovereignty and ensuring the security of the region, not at attacking innocent civilians.

"The land and airspace of the Muslim world are sacred to us, and we do not seek to harm anyone. However, if foreign forces use these lands to attack us, we will retaliate accordingly," Shekarchi said.

US strategy and NATO’s reluctance

In his analysis of the US strategy, Shekarchi pointed out that the US is seeking a way to exit the war with its reputation intact.

"The U is trying to exit the war with honor, but it is clear that they have already failed in their objectives," he said.

"The longer they remain, the weaker they become, and the more they risk further damage to their military and political standing."

He also noted that even NATO allies have refused to join the US in the war. "NATO members have declined to support the US in this war," Shekarchi said.

"They understand that engaging in this conflict would only bring more instability and harm to their own nations."

Despite the heavy toll the war has taken on US and Israeli forces, Shekarchi emphasized that the Iranian economy remains resilient.

"Even in the face of the most intense military pressure, our economy has held up," he said. "We have faced challenges, but our resolve has only strengthened. The Iranian people are united, and they will not be broken."

He pointed out that the US is facing significant economic costs as a result of the war, and that these costs would continue to mount as the conflict drags on.

"The world is beginning to see that the US is no longer the dominant power it once was," Shekarchi said.

"We are confident that in the long run, the global community will shift its stance on the U.S. and its aggressive policies."

As the war continues, Shekarchi emphasized Iran’s determination to press on until its goals are achieved.

"The US and Israel are mistaken if they think we will back down," he warned. "Our resolve is stronger than ever, and we will continue to fight until we achieve our objectives."

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and ensuring the security of the region.

"We will not stop until the American and Israeli forces are removed from the region, and until our conditions are met," Shekarchi said.

Press TV’s website 

Did you know that Iran’s leverage in the #Strait_of_Hormuz is not just oil?! It’s also the cables that run under the water!

The Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are home to the cables that power banking, artificial intelligence, and basically your entire online life, and they are now in a real fire zone.

Why this matters: You don’t need to bomb cities to create chaos; just slow down the data, and the rest will take care of itself!

If these cables fail, it won’t be a regional problem, it will be a global one.

Footnote:

If things get tight. The Iranians will have plenty of surprises for the Epstein-like supercriminals.

Tweet by Ravish Kumar; Journalist:️“[Ayatollah] Khamenei’s martyrdom will be remembered for centuries.

He knew that this time America and Israel would kill him, but he did not go to shelter or hide. He did not hide behind mountains. He shamed death and went towards it.”

Beyond the daily headlines about attacks and strikes in the Middle East, the nature of war is changing entirely.

In the first week of Tehran’s response, drones accounted for about 71 percent of recorded attacks against [American interests in] the Persian Gulf states.

We could already see many of these trends in Ukraine, but in Iran, the outline of the “future of war” is definitely emerging.

Today, war can mean suicide drones, built from commercial parts and launched en masse.

The economics of war are being upended; a single drone often costs about $35,000.

It is really about a new military architecture: low-cost autonomous systems, AI-assisted targeting, commercial satellite imagery, flexible communications, integrated sensors, and cyber tools that all work together.

The goal is no longer just to hit. This contrast says it all. It is no longer simply a matter of technological sophistication, but of industrial scale, software integration, and the speed with which lessons learned from the battlefield are translated into mass production.

This revolution in military affairs has deeper implications. With drones, combat is everywhere, and soldiers will have no comfort.

In 2026, Iran will teach the world a more important lesson: “Precision” will now be mass produced.

The countries that win are not simply those with the best military platforms; Rather, the victors will be those nations that can combine a small number of highly advanced and expensive weapons with a large number of inexpensive drones.

Human judgment will eventually be replaced by computer algorithms. This is the future of warfare, and it is coming sooner than most of us imagine.

The chairman of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council has reaffirmed unwavering solidarity with Tehran, warning Arab states not to become “tools” for a “Zionist conspiracy” following illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mahdi al-Mashat said Yemen stands by Iran while stressing the Islamic Republic’s right to defend itself and confront the aggressor regimes.

He further noted that the military assault against Iran was launched due to the Zionists’ “covetous” policies in the region.

Addressing Arab and Islamic countries, he said, “If you don’t help defeat the Zionist conspiracy, don’t be a tool to implement it.”

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian armed forces have responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

Additionally, on Wednesday, the political bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement congratulated Iran on its successful retaliatory operations.

It said the anti-Iran attacks are aimed at empowering the Israeli regime to achieve absolute control over the entire region.

Iran is currently fighting in defense of the region, the Islamic Ummah, and sanctities, against the front of blasphemy and rebelliousness, it pointed out.

Now, the only option is jihad (fighting for the sake of God) and resistance against the Zionist-American enemy that only understands the language of force, it added.

Meanwhile, a report said Ansarullah stands ready to enter the battlefield in support of Iran.

"As they have stated since the first day of the unlawful aggression on February 28, Ansarullah is on full alert and ready to enter the battlefield," Tasnim News Agency reported, citing an informed source.

The resistance movement, the source added, is prepared to enter the equation by exercising control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as an instrument of pressure targeting the aggressors.

Press TV’s website 

Iran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ali Mousavi says vessels not linked to aggressors can enjoy safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz provided that they do not join or support anti-Iran aggression and adhere to regulations set by authorized bodies inside the Islamic Republic.

In a meeting with IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez in London on Wednesday, Mousavi outlined Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway in the Persian Gulf which has been tightly controlled by Iran since the start of the US-Israel aggression on February 28.

“Vessels, equipment and assets belonging to or linked to the aggressor parties or those participating in the [US-Israel] aggression cannot enjoy innocentQ or non-hostile passage,” Mousavi said.

He reiterated Iran, as a country committed to the United Nations Charter and international regulations, has persistently emphasized the necessity of freedom of navigation and maritime safety and security.

He affirmed that the ongoing insecurity in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman is the “direct” result of the military campaign and destabilizing measures of the United States and the Israeli regime.

In line with its inherent right of legitimate defense, Iran has adopted necessary and proper strategies to prevent the abuse of the aggressors and their allies of the Strait of Hormuz for their hostile acts, the diplomat noted.

Screengrab from footage released by IRGC shows the moment of launch of suicide drones against US-Israeli assets in the 82nd wave of Operation True Promise 4, on March 26, 2026.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the launch of the 82nd wave of retaliatory operations against the invading US-Israeli coalition, using different types of missiles and drones. 

In a Thursday statement, the IRGC said that this wave came in retaliation for earlier airstrikes against critical infrastructure and civilian facilities throughout Iran.

It noted that the wave began early on Thursday and would continue throughout the day. 

According to the statement, designated US interests in Arifjan and al-Kharj districts of Saudi Arabia, the US Defense Logistics Site (kGL), the Patriot radar systems in Bahrain's Sheikh Isa region, support fuel depots of the US military, a hangar for P8 surveillance aircraft, a hangar for MQ-9 Reaper combat drones, and a satellite communications dish for drones deployed at Ali al-Salem airbase were devastated with a large swarm of kamikaze drones.

Piers Morgan, a prominent British presenter:

"If you were advising Trump, what advice would you give him? ... What advice would you give him that would be a skillful and achievable way to get America out of this war?"

John Mearsheimer, a prominent professor of international relations:

“I’ve thought about this for a long time and I’ve talked to some very smart people. What they mostly say is that President Trump should declare victory quickly and get out of the war.

He could do that, but it would be seen as a humiliating defeat for the United States. And then, the Iranians might not agree to end the war.

And as I said, the Iranians have a lot of cards to play. They can do a lot of damage. So even if we pull out, it’s not clear that it would solve the problem. The United States would also look like it had suffered a humiliating defeat. So I think President Trump has put himself in a position where he really doesn’t have a good exit strategy.”

 Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says precision-guided Emad, Qiam, Khorramshahr-4, and Qadr missiles struck more than 70 locations across the occupied territories in the 81st wave of Operation True Promise 4. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC Public Relations Department said the missiles successfully hit targets in Haifa, Dimona, Al-Khudriyya near Haifa, and areas north and south of Tel Aviv.

According to field intelligence cited by the IRGC, the regime's casualty toll has gone up, notably following the previous three waves of Iran's powerful strikes.

The total number of killed and wounded has now surpassed 2,500, the statement said.

It said the IRGC and the Army have risen "in the stature of a nation," declaring that the entire nation is mobilized to defend beloved Iran.

In a direct appeal, the IRGC addressed the American people, warning that they are being misled by warmongers such as Trump and Netanyahu through lies and distortion of battlefield realities.

"The truth of the war you must observe at American gas stations, on the streets of Iran, and in the skies of Tel Aviv and Haifa," the statement read.