TEHRAN, MAR 06: Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon Friday as Israel and the United States stepped up their attacks in the sprawling Middle East war, with powerful explosions shattering the skies of Tehran.
The war, now in its seventh day, has dragged in global powers, upended the world's energy and transport sectors, and brought chaos to even usually peaceful areas of the volatile region.
It has spread to Lebanon whose prime minister warned of an impending humanitarian disaster as tens of thousands fled heavy strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.
Internet coverage in Iran running at about one percent, according to monitor group Netblocks, limiting information about the impact of the war on ordinary Iranians.
* Iranians mourn Khamenei
* Iran's missiles hit Israel airport
* New blasts heard in Kuwait City
In Tehran, worshippers gathered for the first Friday prayers since the start of the war that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day.
Online footage shared by Iranian media showed crowds of men and women dressed in black, some carrying Iranian flags, streaming to an open space outside the Grand Mosque of Imam Khomeini in the capital.
In the background of one video, a man speaking through a loudspeaker mourned the late supreme leader.
"We bear witness that he was the embodiment of piety and guardianship in our time," he said as some worshippers seated on prayer rugs wept.
Friday morning's strikes on Tehran followed warnings from Israel and the US they were escalating attacks.
"We are now moving to the next phase of the operation," Israel's military chief Lieutenant General EyalZamir said in a televised statement.
"We have additional surprises ahead which I do not intend to disclose," he added.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced "firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically".
President Donald Trump said it would be a "waste of time" to send ground troops into Iran, but has insisted he would "have to be involved" in choosing Iran's next leader.
According to Iran's health ministry, US and Israeli strikes on the country have killed 926 people, a number AFP could not independently verify.
US President Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social that there "will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"
Following that, there will be "the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s)", he said.
Trump said the US and its "wonderful and very brave allies and partners" will work "tirelessly" to bring Iran "from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before".
"IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE," the US president wrote. "'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN' (MIGA!)"
Worshippers, many holding portraits of the late supreme leader, have gathered across Iran for the first Friday prayers since the US and Israel launched attacks on the country seven days ago.
Meanwhile, people chanted anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans during the gathering for midday prayers, an Al Jazeera team reported.
Iranian flags were waved as people prepared to pray in a sign of support for the Iranian government.
Explosions were heard on Friday in the Kuwaiti capital, an AFP journalist said, as authorities said they were confronting missile and drone strikes on the country.
"Kuwaiti air defences are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks," the defence ministry said.
�"Agencies
