Iran has appointed the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, Iranian media has reported. Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen by the country’s Assembly of Experts under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), sources told Iran International. Despite never holding a formal position within his father’s regime, it is widely believed he holds significant influence within the Islamic Republic’s political and security spheres. He was also named by insiders as a potential target for a US strike in the days leading up to the war.However, he could be faced with a bloody civil war within days after reports emerged that a CIA-backed fighting force within Iran could launch an armed uprising inside the country.Weapons have allegedly been smuggled into the country since last year’s 12-day war to arm thousands of Kurdish volunteers, with the Trump administration said to have engaged in talks with leaders to discuss military support. The Kurdish people are one of Iran’s largest ethnic minorities, with an estimated population between nine and 10 million.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT…No Iranian ships left in waters around country, US military saysAmerican forces have destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including one submarine, in their bombing campaign so far, the US military has confirmed.In a video posted to social media, US Central Command’s Brad Cooper said: “Today, there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman.”He also revealed that the US has hit almost 2,000 targets in Iran since the conflict broke out on Saturday morning. The Islamic Republic has launched over 2,000 drones and 500 ballistic missiles in retaliatory attacks across the region. Pentagon names and pictures four US troops killed in Iranian drone strikeThe Pentagon has named and pictured four of six US troops who were killed in an Iranian drone strike.Captain Cody Khork, 35, from Florida;Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, 42, from Nebraska;Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39, from Minnesota; Sergeant Declan Coady, 20, from Iowa.The four all died in an Iranian attack on Port Shuaiba, in Kuwait, on Sunday.CIA-backed Kurds ‘set to launch ground invasion within days’The CIA is said to be working closely with Kurdish forces to mount an armed uprising inside Iran, sources have told CNN.Thousands of weapons have allegedly been smuggled into the Middle Eastern country since the end of the 12-day war last year and ground invasion could be underway within days. The Trump administration is said to have engaged in talks with Kurdish rebels and opposition voices within Iran in recent days.Thousands of Kurdish fighters have been operating in Western Iran and along the Iraq-Iran border. Kurds are one of the largest minority groups within the country, with a population estimated between nine to 10 million. Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter GB News Read More