Operation Roaring Lion

Why the Islamic Republic may survive this campaign

What could change this picture is a joint US-Israeli long-war strategy to bring down the Iranian regime by supporting both armed and civilian opposition on the ground

By Jonathan Spyer

3 min read

A regime rally in Tehran on March 9 marking the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes. (Image: Getty)

Iran

US destroys Iranian ‘minelayers’ in Strait of Hormuz amid oil price surge

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

Letter from Jerusalem

In this new looking-glass world, Lebanon wants to talk directly to Israel

By Natalie Lisbona

5 min read

Israel

Around half of Iranian missiles fired at Israel were cluster munitions, IDF finds

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

Residents sit in Habima Square underground parking used as a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, on March 5, 2026 (Photo by Olympia DE MAISMONT / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel Iran War

Israeli app predicts safe time to shower

By John Jeffay

2 min read

Israel

Pro-regime accounts spread false claim Ben-Gvir was killed in Iranian airstrike

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

Lebanon

Lebanese president calls for fresh ceasefire following Israeli strikes on Beirut

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

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Second Israeli dies after Iranian ‘cluster bomb’ strikes Tel Aviv

The IDF has accused Iran of war crimes after munitions fell on civilian areas

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

March 10, 2026 10:36

Israeli rescue and emergency forces at the scene where shrapnel from a ballistic missile fired from Iran fell in Yehud, March 9, 2026 (Flash90)

By Stephen Pollard

If the Islamic Republic falls, Islamism may fall with it

The notion that the US has been somehow dragged into the war by a scheming Benjamin Netanyahu utterly misunderstands what’s going on

3 min read

March 9, 2026 16:49

Trump and Netanyahu will make ‘mutual decision’ on when to end Iran War

‘We’ve destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel,’ said the US president

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

March 9, 2026 14:26

US President Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran?

The second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the backing of the IRGC and a reputation for brutal suppression of dissent

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

March 9, 2026 11:32

Mojtaba Khamenei (C), the son of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, on May 31, 2019 (Getty Images)

Letters to the Editor, March 6 2026

Events in Iran and beyond prompted letters this week

By The JC

3 min read

March 9, 2026 11:15

Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a press conference on May 10, 2024 (Getty Images)

One dead after Iranian ‘cluster bombs’ hit central Israel

Several others are in serious condition in hospital as the Islamic Republic ramped up attacks in the region

By Jacob Jaffa

1 min read

March 9, 2026 11:05

Mojtaba Khamenei confirmed as new supreme leader of Iran

The 56-year-old, the second son of the last supreme leader, is closely linked with the IRGC and, ideologically, has been described as ‘like his father – but on steroids’

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

March 8, 2026 22:54