Donald Trump said on Friday that he considers it a “great honor” to be killing members of Iran’s military leadership, as fighting between the United States and Iran continues to intensify across the Middle East.
In remarks posted on social media, the U.S. president described Iran’s leaders as “deranged scumbags,” claiming that American forces are inflicting heavy damage on the country’s military infrastructure. Trump also asserted that Iranian naval, air and missile capabilities were being “decimated” by ongoing operations.
New York Post
“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for decades, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States, am killing them,” Trump wrote, adding that carrying out the strikes was “a great honor.”
AOL
The comments came as the conflict between Washington and Tehran entered its second week, with continued airstrikes, missile attacks and drone operations reported across the region. U.S. officials say the campaign is aimed at weakening Iran’s military capacity and preventing the country from advancing its missile and nuclear programmes.
AP News
The White House has also warned that additional military action could follow in the coming days, with Trump indicating that Iran would be hit “very hard” if hostilities continue.
Reuters
Meanwhile, the escalating conflict has raised global concerns about a wider regional war, with energy markets and international security increasingly affected by the fighting around the strategic Strait of Hormuz and other Middle East flashpoints.
AP News
Analysts say the rhetoric from Washington, combined with Iran’s threats of retaliation, risks deepening instability in the region and drawing more actors into the conflict.
