An Iranian vessel was attacked by a submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving at least 101 people missing and 78 injured, according to the Sri Lanka Navy and defense ministry sources. Reuters reports that the origins of the submarine and the specific identity of the targeted ship remain unconfirmed.
The maritime strike occurs on the fifth day of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, as Tehran reportedly nears the selection of a new Supreme Leader. Iranian sources indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has survived the ongoing military assaults. A hardline cleric with strong ties to the Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba is widely viewed by the clerical establishment as a leading candidate for the succession.
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, told state television that the country is close to reaching a conclusion on its new leadership. "The Supreme Leader will be identified at the earliest opportunity," Khatami stated, noting that the decision is being made under wartime conditions.
Meanwhile, Iranian Kurdish militias based along the Iran-Iraq border have reportedly consulted with the United States regarding potential attacks on Iranian security forces in the country's west. Sources indicate the Kurdish coalition aims to create an opening for anti-regime uprisings and has requested U.S. military support. The CIA, the Pentagon, and the White House have not commented on potential American involvement in the planned operations.
Regional instability continues to spread, with Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura complex—housing the kingdom's largest domestic refinery—struck by a drone on Wednesday. A Saudi defense ministry spokesperson confirmed the attack, which follows a similar shutdown-inducing drone strike on Monday, though no immediate damage was reported.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict is also mounting. A committee of UN experts expressed deep concern over civilian casualties, specifically citing a weekend strike on a girls' school in the southern Iranian city of Minab that reportedly killed 160 children. When questioned about the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Department of War would investigate if American forces were involved, emphasizing that the United States does not deliberately target schools.
In neighboring areas, the Syrian Land and Sea Ports Authority announced the closure of its border crossing with Lebanon following warnings of a potential Israeli strike. Authorities confirmed that the crossing will remain open exclusively for Syrians fleeing the conflict in Lebanon.