US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Tanker hit by ‘large explosion’ off Kuwait, causing oil spill; Iran launches missiles at Israel

The Mark 48 torpedo has long formed the backbone of the United States Navy’s submarine warfare capability. Built to destroy both enemy warships and submarines, it remains the primary offensive weapon carried by American attack submarines.

First introduced in 1972, the torpedo has undergone multiple upgrades over the decades. Newer versions, including the Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability), feature improved guidance systems, electronics and propulsion.

The weapon weighs roughly 3,800 pounds (around 1,700 kg) and carries a powerful warhead capable of severely damaging large naval vessels.

The Mark-48 uses a combination of active and passive sonar to track targets underwater, allowing it to lock on to ships or submarines even when they attempt evasive manoeuvres.

Rather than striking the hull directly, the torpedo is designed to detonate beneath a vessel. When the warhead — roughly equivalent to 500 pounds of TNT — explodes underwater, it creates a large gas bubble.

As the bubble rapidly expands and collapses, it can snap the ship’s keel, the main structural beam running along the bottom of the vessel. This “keel-breaking” effect can split a ship into two or more sections, causing it to sink quickly.

The torpedo can travel at more than 55 knots (over 100 km/h) and strike targets dozens of kilometres away, making it one of the most lethal underwater weapons used in modern naval warfare.

The Mark-48 is deployed on several classes of US submarines, including the **Los Angeles-class submarine**, **Seawolf-class submarine, and Virginia-class submarine.

If Israel and the United States expected their strikes on Iran to force Tehran into submission quickly, those hopes now appear misplaced. Despite the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, the country has continued launching drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East.

The situation presents a growing challenge for Washington and its regional partners, including Israel and Gulf states. Their main concern is that air defence systems could be depleted before Iran runs out of missiles and drones.

The US and its allies rely on several weapons systems to intercept incoming aerial threats. Key among them are THAAD interceptors, Patriot missile system, and naval missiles from the Standard Missile (SM) family. Israel also deploys the long-range Arrow missile defence system to counter ballistic missiles. However, supplies of these interceptors have come under increasing strain in recent years.

Large numbers have already been sent to Ukraine, which continues to face sustained aerial attacks from Russia. Others have been deployed in the Red Sea to defend shipping from strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis. Additional systems have also been stationed in the Indo-Pacific to protect South Korea and Taiwan from potential threats posed by North Korea and China.

Despite their critical role in modern warfare, US stockpiles of these interceptors are believed to be running dangerously low. With multiple conflicts and security commitments competing for the same resources, production has only recently begun to scale up.

The 2025 Israel–Iran war, a 12-day conflict fought by the US and Israel against Iran in June 2025, is estimated to have consumed nearly a quarter of the entire US inventory of THAAD interceptors.

Iran’s foreign minister said the United States will “bitterly regret” the precedent it has set after a US submarine struck the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, according to Iranian statements.

He said the warship — which had been a guest of the Indian Navy and carried nearly 130 sailors — was hit without warning in international waters, calling the strike a dangerous escalation.

The comment by Abbas Araghchi represents the first Iranian government acknowledged of the sinking of the IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean.

Araghchi made the comment on X, saying “the U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”

“Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” he wrote. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set.”

The ongoing conflict in West Asia following the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the region could trigger higher economic and market volatility if the fighting continues for several weeks, according to a report by Morgan Stanley.

The report said the duration of the conflict would be the key factor determining the scale of its economic and financial impact.

A short and contained conflict may limit broader economic spillovers. However, a prolonged confrontation could lead to sustained pressure through higher oil prices, rising inflation and increased uncertainty in financial markets.

“The length of the conflict remains a key risk that could add to economic and market volatility if it is not resolved quickly,” the report said.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the attacks could last four to five weeks. Morgan Stanley warned that if the conflict stretches beyond a few weeks, the risk of economic stress could rise significantly.

Oil prices are expected to be a key factor influencing inflation trends. According to Morgan Stanley Research, a 10% increase in oil prices caused by a supply shock could push US headline consumer inflation up by around 0.35 percentage points over the next three months.

Iranian state Media reported that preparations are underway at Tehran's Grand Mosalla for the placement of the body of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who was killed in the US-Israel led strike on Iran. The Grand Mosalla of Tehran is a massive prayer complex used for the city's most significant state-religious gatherings. This is part of the three day farewell ceremony being organised for the late Supreme leader.

Thousands of mourners are expected to gather at the Mosalla. A "farewell ceremony" followed by a "funeral procession" is the protocol after the death of a Supreme Leader.

Meanwhile, Iran on Thursday threatened to target Dimona nuclear site if Israel-US sought to topple Islamic Republic. This follows an open threat from Israel's defence Minister Israel Katz who had said that any new leader brought in by the regime will be a legitimate target for elimination.

In Israel, the Israel Defence Forces says that Iran has launched another ballistic missile attack targeting Israel, as sirens are activated in communities in central Israel, the Jerusalem area and parts of the West Bank.

The IRGC has launched the nineteenth wave of Operation True Promise 4 as a combined missile and drone operation, according to the IRGC Public Relations on Thursday.

According to the IRGC PR, "This operation against the positions of American-Zionist terrorists in the heart of the occupied territories and American terrorist bases began with massive explosions under the blessed code name 'Ya Hassan ibn Ali (peace be upon him)."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier announced that it had carried out strikes against Israeli and American targets across the region, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

Iran said Thursday it had targeted headquarters of Kurdish forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Iranian state media, following strikes on Kurdish regions in both Iran and Iraq.

"We targeted the headquarters of Kurdish groups opposed to the revolution in Iraqi Kurdistan with three missiles," Iran's official IRNA news agency posted on Telegram, quoting a military statement.

Iranian news agency Tasnim reported Thursday that several explosions were heard in Tehran and that Iran had activated its defences.

The blasts came after Iran launched several rounds of missiles at Israel early Thursday.

Israel's military has issued three separate alerts warning of Iranian missile launches in under two hours. There were no reports of significant impact and residents have been cleared to leave their shelters.

The Israeli military and Iranian state media confirmed a fresh round of missile launches from Iran early Thursday, marking the first such report in over seven hours. The barrage triggered "red alert" sirens in several areas, including Tel Aviv, though there were no immediate reports of casualties. The IDF stated that its defensive systems were actively operating to intercept the threat and has since cleared residents to leave their shelters.

Despite the morning’s alerts, the Home Front Command is moving forward with an easing of war-related restrictions effective midday Thursday. Citing a general decline in the number of missiles fired by Iran over the last few days, authorities are transitioning all areas of the country from an "essential activity" level to a "limited activity" level.

A tanker anchored in the waters off Kuwait was struck by a "large explosion" on Thursday, leading to an oil spill in the Persian Gulf. The British maritime security agency, UKMTO, reported the incident occurred in the Mubarak Al-Kabeer area.

According to the vessel's Master, a loud blast was heard and witnessed on the port side, followed by the sight of a small craft fleeing the vicinity. "There is oil in the water coming from a cargo tank which could have some environmental impact," the UKMTO stated.

While the vessel has reportedly taken on some water, there are no fires, and the entire crew is safe and well.

The Pentagon released the final two names of the six US service members killed in Sunday’s drone attack in Kuwait on Wednesday, identifying them as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

According to the department of defence, Marzan was present at the command center in Port Shuaiba when the strike occurred and is believed to have perished at the scene, pending final confirmation by a medical examiner. Major O'Brien, a signal officer and information systems engineer, had a two-decade career in cybersecurity.

The four other soldiers, previously identified on Tuesday, were:

Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa (posthumously promoted from Specialist)

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida

Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska

All six victims were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit that provides critical logistics and supplies.

The fatal strike occurred just one day after the US and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran, which triggered retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the Gulf.

Qatari authorities began evacuating residents living in the vicinity of the United States Embassy in Doha early Thursday morning as a “temporary precautionary measure.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the move in a statement, noting that 'suitable accommodation has been provided for them as part of necessary preventive measures.'

While the ministry did not cite a specific immediate threat, the decision follows several days of regional tension and earlier security alerts.

The US Embassy in Doha has been under a "shelter-in-place" order since March 2, with routine consular services suspended and non-emergency government personnel ordered to depart the country due to the ongoing conflict.

Qatari officials emphasised that these steps are being taken within the framework of maintaining public safety and urged the public to rely only on official and reliable sources for information.

The US Senate rejected a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday that sought to limit President Donald Trump's authority to continue military strikes against Iran. The measure, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D) and Senator Rand Paul (R), would have required the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

The resolution failed in a 47–53 vote, falling exactly along party lines with two notable exceptions: Republican Senator Rand Paul voted in favor of the measure, while centrist Democrat John Fetterman voted against it. The outcome signals a narrow but firm congressional backing for the campaign, which the administration has dubbed "Operation Epic Fury."

The vote occurred five days into a conflict that has already resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several U.S. service members in Kuwait. During the debate, Democrats argued that the administration unconstitutionally bypassed Congress and offered shifting justifications for the war. Senator Kaine noted that a classified briefing on Tuesday failed to produce evidence of an "imminent threat" to the United States.

In contrast, Republicans largely rallied behind the President, with Senator Lindsey Graham arguing that the 1973 War Powers Act is unconstitutional and that Congress’s proper check is through its power of the purse. Administration officials also informed lawmakers that the operation could last several weeks, potentially requiring emergency funding to replenish weapon stockpiles. Despite the Senate rejection, the House is expected to vote on a similar resolution Thursday.