Middle East War Day 11: US Warns of "Most Intense" Strikes Yet as Iran Appoints New Supreme Leader Amid Regional Escalation

The Middle East war escalates as the US warns of more intense strikes, Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran's leader, and 700,000 flee Lebanon.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 9:45 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Times of India

CENTCOM Reveals Scale of Destruction

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released a ten-day war retrospective on Tuesday, confirming that coalition forces have struck more than 5,000 targets within Iranian territory since February 28. The maritime toll is equally severe, with over 50 Iranian naval vessels reported damaged or destroyed. U.S. War Secretary warned that Tuesday would mark the "most intense day of strikes" to date, signaling a shift toward neutralizing Iran’s remaining hardened military infrastructure.

The Tomahawk Controversy and Minab School Strike

A growing international controversy surrounds an explosion at an elementary school in Minab on the war's first day, which reportedly killed over 150 people. While President Trump stated he "doesn't know enough" about the specifics, The New York Times has authenticated footage appearing to show a Tomahawk cruise missile—a weapon primarily operated by the U.S. in this theater—striking the vicinity. Iranian authorities have leveraged the footage to accuse the coalition of war crimes, while Washington maintains the incident is under formal investigation.

New Leadership and Diplomatic Stance

Tehran has moved to stabilize its internal command by naming Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader. The transition comes after the elder Khamenei and several family members were killed in a targeted strike on their residence. President Trump, speaking to Fox News, expressed skepticism regarding the new leader's ability to "live in peace" but noted he had heard "Tehran wanted to talk badly," suggesting a potential, albeit distant, opening for negotiations depending on the terms.