Where things stand after another weekend of war

Iran has named a son of its late supreme leader to succeed him. US President Donald Trump had already expressed his contempt for Mojtaba Khamenei, calling him “unacceptable”. The Islamic Republic’s war strategy now has a new commander, and the powerful Revolutionary Guard paramilitaries have pledged allegiance.

Oil prices have soared above $100 per barrel. Both sides struck new targets over the weekend, including civilian targets. Bahrain has accused Iran of striking one of the desalination plants crucial for drinking water in the Gulf countries. Israel struck oil depots in Tehran, releasing thick smoke and triggering environmental alerts.

The United States announced the death of another soldier. Saudi Arabia announced the first deaths there. Anger has grown in Arab countries following Iran’s launch of hundreds of missiles and drones in the region. Israel’s army chief of staff has warned that the war “will take a long time.”

Here’s where things stand as the war enters its 10th day.

Iran’s announcement of a new supreme leader came after the country’s remaining leaders appeared to show division. President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for the attacks on neighboring countries, but hardliners criticized him and said the war strategy would continue.

The new supreme leader had not been seen or heard from publicly since the start of the war. He has not made a statement in his new role. The younger Khamenei inherits both war and domestic unrest after Iran earlier this year suppressed some of its biggest protests in half a century.

Iran did not publicly update its death toll over the weekend from the more than 1,200 previously reported. Some Iranians continued to flee the country.

Israel has attacked both Iran and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in neighboring Lebanon, where authorities say more than half a million people have been displaced and more than 300 killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised “many surprises” in the next phase of the war. Israel said it destroyed the Revolutionary Guard’s air force headquarters, which managed the ballistic missile command, and struck ballistic missile launchers and missile production facilities.

Eleven people have died in Israel since the start of the war. Multiple alerts continued to sound every day across Israel regarding the arrival of projectiles, almost all of which were intercepted.

The US military warned Iranians to stay home, saying Iran was launching attacks from densely populated areas. Evidence mounted that the United States was behind the deadly attack on a girls’ school in Iran on the first day of the war, but Trump suggested Iran was to blame.

Trump also attended the restitution of the remains of American soldiers killed during the war. Seven were killed.

Families of American detainees in Iran fear their loved ones are in danger.

The US military did not provide an update this weekend on the number of missiles and drones fired by Iran in recent days, after saying that the rate had fallen sharply. Experts say it is possible that Iran will keep some missiles in reserve.

The Arab League chief called Iran’s war strategy “reckless” as Gulf and other countries reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones in areas of their countries without a U.S. military presence.

No country other than the United States and Israel has declared that it is attacking Iran. Some countries in the region are home to U.S. military installations or troops. Iran has urged countries not to allow the United States to attack it from their territory. A missile hit a helicopter landing pad at the U.S. Embassy complex in Iraq.

Other deaths were reported. Saudi Arabia said a fallen military projectile killed an Indian citizen and a Bangladeshi citizen. Kuwait said two border guards were killed and the United Arab Emirates reported the death of a driver.

Foreign residents and workers account for most of the deaths reported in the Gulf. In total, more than a dozen people were killed there.

The United States sought to assure Americans that soaring fuel prices were a short-term problem. Russia is benefiting from this surge.

Many travelers and pilgrims remain stranded in the Middle East. The US State Department said more than 32,000 Americans had left the region since the war began.

Nervousness persists around some of the world’s busiest air hubs. Passengers waiting for their flights at Dubai International Airport were driven into train tunnels after several explosions. Kuwait said fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport had been targeted by drones.

More and more states are getting involved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country would send experts next week to advise the United States and its Middle East allies on how to repel Iranian drone attacks.