Isfahan Hit, Majority of Americans Oppose the War — Poll Shows 53% Against Strikes
Summary
Strikes on Isfahan killed at least 15 people at a factory, while Iran's Space Research Centre was severely damaged and residential areas in Shiraz came under attack. A Quinnipiac poll found that 53% of U.S. voters now oppose the attacks, with 75% against sending ground troops. In a troubling development for the coalition, reports indicated that Israel is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors. The death toll in Iran since February 28 surpassed 1,400.
Military Developments
Isfahan and Shiraz Struck
Coalition forces struck Isfahan, killing at least 15 people at a factory. Iran's Space Research Centre was severely damaged in the attack. Separately, residential areas in Shiraz were also struck, though casualty figures were not immediately available.
IRGC Launches 50th Wave
The IRGC announced its "50th wave" of operations against U.S. bases in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait — a staggering figure that illustrated the sustained tempo of Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region, even as its own territory was being systematically bombarded.
Israel's Interceptor Crisis
Reports indicated that Israel informed the U.S. it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors — a potentially critical vulnerability. With Iran continuing to launch waves of missiles and drones, and Hezbollah maintaining sustained barrages from Lebanon, Israel's ability to defend its population was becoming strained.
Iran Arrests Alleged Collaborators
Iranian authorities announced the arrest of 20 people in northwestern Iran for allegedly cooperating with Israel by sending military location details — indicating active intelligence operations inside Iran and the regime's efforts to root them out.
Confirmed Kill: Brigadier-General Jalali Nasab
Iran confirmed that Brigadier-General Abdullah Jalali Nasab was killed in an Israeli attack, adding to the growing list of senior military officials eliminated since the war began.
Casualties Continue to Mount
- Iran — Death toll surpassed 1,400 since February 28
- Tehran — Governor reported at least 10,000 residential homes "damaged or completely destroyed"
- Lebanon — Israeli attacks killed 826 people and displaced 800,000+ since February 28; WHO reported 14 health workers killed in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours
- Jordan — Military intercepted 79 of 85 missiles and drones targeting "vital sites" during the second week; 14 personnel wounded
- Iraq — Drone strike hit the Lanaz oil refinery in Erbil
Political Developments
American Public Turns Against the War
A Quinnipiac poll found that 53% of U.S. voters oppose the attacks on Iran, while a striking 75% oppose sending ground troops. The numbers represented a political warning sign for the administration, particularly as the war showed no signs of winding down.
Trump: Iran "Wants to Make a Deal"
Trump told NBC that Iran "wants to make a deal" but that the terms were "not good enough yet." He also questioned whether new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "even alive" after Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed Mojtaba was "likely disfigured." Trump reiterated that Kharg Island had been "totally demolished."
Diplomacy Rebuffed
The Trump administration rebuffed diplomatic negotiation efforts by Middle East allies. Iran, for its part, rejected any ceasefire until U.S. and Israeli strikes end — creating a deadlock with no apparent off-ramp.
Regional Diplomatic Efforts
- Lebanon's President Aoun — Renewed calls for a truce
- France's President Macron — Expressed support for Lebanon in a call with Aoun
- IRGC — Warned the U.S. to move industries out of the Middle East and warned civilians to stay away from U.S.-affiliated factories
Economic Impact
The economic toll continued to expand across the region:
- Erbil, Iraq — Lanaz oil refinery struck by drone, disrupting Kurdish oil exports
- Global energy markets — Remained in crisis mode following the Kharg Island strikes, with traders pricing in extended disruption
- 108 injured in Israel in the past 24 hours from Iranian strikes, adding to pressure on Israel's strained defenses
International Reaction
- WHO — Condemned the killing of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon
- Jordan — Revealed the scale of its own air defense effort, intercepting dozens of missiles and drones
- France — Macron engaged diplomatically in support of Lebanon
- IRGC — Issued warnings to U.S.-affiliated businesses and civilians in the region
What to Watch
- Israel's interceptor supply — can the U.S. resupply fast enough?
- Whether Trump's "deal" rhetoric signals a shift toward negotiations
- Domestic political fallout from the Quinnipiac poll numbers
- IRGC's ability to sustain 50+ waves of retaliatory operations
- Lebanon's humanitarian crisis as displacement tops 800,000