Tehran launched new missile and drone attacks at Israel and Gulf states early on April 3, the day after US forces hit a major Iranian bridge and President Donald Trump told the regime to "make a deal" before "there is nothing left" of the country.
Early on April 3, Israel's military said its air defenses were working to intercept missiles fired from Iran as the US-Israeli war with Iran, launched on February 28, moved deeper into its second month.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel."
“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," it added. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Kuwait also said early on April 3 that its air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks, saying any explosions heard were from projectile interceptions, as Iran continues to hit US Gulf Arab allies.
Iraqi security sources reported that a drone crashed into its Trebil border crossing with Jordan, damaging official buildings. It wasn't immediately clear who had launched the drones.
US Army Change At The Top
The attacks come as a Pentagon spokesman said General Randy George, chief of staff of the US Army, will be retiring from his position as his service's highest-ranked officer.
"General Randy A. George will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately. The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement," the spokesman wrote on X.
There was no indication the move was related to the war in Iran amid complaints from critics of Trump that the conflict is spiraling out of control and creating an energy crisis and economic hardships in the United States and around the world.
US media, citing unnamed US officials, said defense chief Pete Hegseth forced George out -- an almost unprecedented move during wartime -- because he wanted someone who would implement his and Trump's vision for the American Army.
Meanwhile, Trump continued to send mixed messages about the war, saying on April 2 in a televised address that the United States is close to "finishing the job" in Iran, while warning that US forces will continue to strike the country "extremely hard" for another "two to three weeks."
In the speech, Trump defended the war as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In a Truth Social posting, Trump -- in all capital letters -- wrote, “It is time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late, and there is nothing left of what still could become a great country."
Iranian Bridge Hit
In the same posting, Trump also hailed the US strike on a major bridge linking Tehran to Karaj in the Alborz Province that has been described by Iranian media outlets as the highest bridge in the Middle East.
“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow!” Trump wrote.
Iranian officials said eight people were killed and 95 injured in two rounds of attacks on the bridge. The account could not be independently verified.
Iran also reported that the Pasteur Institute, a medical research center, suffered heavy damage in an attack. That report also could not be verified, although the Iranian government released a photo purporting to show the damage.
Iran’s powerful parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, wrote a defiant message on social media: "Iranians don't just talk about defending their country, we bleed for it. We've done it before, and we're ready to do it again.... Bring it on."
An Iranian military spokesman warned of "broader and more destructive" attacks to come.
UN Chief: End 'Spiral Of Death'
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on April 2 called for an end to the "spiral of death and destruction" in the Middle East.
"We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the whole Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe," Guterres told reporters in New York.
Guterres cited the dangers of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has brought shipping to a near standstill, creating a bottleneck of oil and natural gas tankers, which has led to a global energy crisis.
"When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world's poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe," Guterres said.
GCC Seeks UN OK
Separately, the head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for UN approval for the use of force to protect the strait from Iranian attacks.
"Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, prevented commercial vessels and oil tankers from transiting, and imposed conditions on some to pass through the strait," GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi said.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
"We call upon the Security Council to assume its full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the safe continuation of international navigation," AlBudaiwi said.
Bahrain has proposed a draft resolution to allow countries to use force to assure free transit through the strait, a measure supported by the United States but one that faces opposition among others within the 15-member Security Council.
"The use of force cannot bring peace. Political settlement is the fundamental way forward," Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong told the Security Council.
The Security Council is set to vote on April 3 on the draft resolution, which has gone through several rounds of adjustments and amendments since being presented by Bahrain.
