Stay up to date with the latest news Wednesday about the US and Israel’s war with Iran as the US Central Command released new information on the progress on the war in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was a no-show at his own succession rally in Tehran — and observers speculate that he’s either wounded or hiding out in fear.
As thousands gathered on Monday to celebrate Khamenei’s appointment as the country’s new supreme leader, the nepo baby mullah was represented by a mere portrait — one that was half the size of dad Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s.
Follow The Post’s live updates for the latest news on the US and Israel’s war with Iran:
REHOVOT, Israel — Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon on Wednesday launched 100 rockets at Israel — overwhelming Israel's lauded Iron Dome system so much that only half were shot down, an Israel Defense Force source exclusively told The Post. In response, the IDF has launched a ground invasion into Lebanon, the source said. US Central Command warned Iranian civilians Wednesday to keep clear of ports used by Islamic Republic forces to launch attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected status and become legitimate military targets under international law," the Tampa, Fla.-based command said in a statement. "Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment," CENTCOM added. "Iranian naval forces have positioned military vessels and equipment within civilian ports serving commercial maritime traffic. "Although the US military also cannot guarantee civilian safety in or near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes, American forces will continue taking every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians."Hezbollah terrorists launch 100 rockets at Israel — overwhelming the Iron Dome
By Caitlin Doornbos 
CENTCOM warns Iran civilians to avoid ports along Strait of Hormuz
By Samuel Chamberlain
Dramatic footage shows an Australian woman mocking panicked Iranian goons after they realized that five players from the Iranian women’s national soccer team had escaped and sought asylum.
Anxious-looking Iranian handlers, security staffers and coaches were seen running down the stairs of a hotel frantically searching for the five stars who had fled the premises, footage obtained by Fox & Friends shows.
“You’re in Australia now. You’re in Australia motherf–ker,” the brazen woman taunts two men and a woman in Muslim headwear in the clip.
US Central Command has released a new update Wednesday morning on the progress of the war against Iran.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper says that American forces have hit more than 5,500 Iranian targets, including more than 60 ships.
Among that number, he says, are all four of the Islamic Republic's so-called "Soleimani-class" warships, which are now "out of the fight."
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, stated that Iran’s military is resisting the joint US-Israel assault on the Islamic Republic, but is not a tougher challenge than Pentagon planners expected. The US has sunk over 50 of Iran’s naval ships, and struck over 5,000 targets in 10 days.
A member of the Iranian women’s soccer team refused to board a flight in Australia at the last minute Tuesday — making an at-the-wire plea to join a number of her teammates already granted asylum there.
The players who have sought asylum say they are afraid they will be persecuted if they return home amid the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The last-minute rogue player, who hasn’t been named, made her Hail Mary pitch as the remainder of the team boarded a flight at Sydney airport, sources told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Australia granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the Iran war began, a government minister said Tuesday.
The announcement followed days of urging by Iranian groups in Australia and by US President Trump for the Australian government to help the women, who had not spoken publicly about a wish to claim asylum.
The team drew speculation and news coverage in Australia when players didn’t sing the Iranian anthem before their first match.
Nobody wanted impotent nepo baby Mojtaba Khamenei to be Iran’s next supreme leader — not President Trump, and not even Khamenei’s own father, who held the job until he was blown up in airstrikes earlier this month.
But the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had other ideas.
Assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was so opposed to his son taking power that he noted it in his will, experts told The Post.
Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, issued a new warning against President Trump.
Earlier in the day, Ali shared Trump’s Truth Social warning while insisting that “Iran does not fear your paper threats.”
“Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation,” he wrote on X. “Watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated!”
Later, he responded to Trump threatening Iran with "death, fire and fury" if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.
"Strait of Hormuz will either be a Strait of peace and prosperity for all or will be a Strait of defeat and suffering for warmongers," he wrote on X.
A surviving senior Iranian leader issued a chilling threat against President Trump early Tuesday in response to the commander-in-chief's own warning of "Death, Fire and Fury."
Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, shared Trump's Truth Social warning while insisting that "Iran does not fear your paper threats."
"Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation," he wrote on X. "Watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated!"
President Trump would support assassinating Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if he refuses to give in to US demands, according to a new report. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump would back taking out Iran’s new religious leader if he doesn’t cooperate with demands, which include halting the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
The seventh US soldier killed in the war with Iran was a decorated member of the Army’s elite 1st Space Brigade involving crucial air defense systems, officials said Monday.
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky., died Sunday from injuries he sustained a week earlier during Iran’s retaliatory attack at the Prince Sultan Air Base, where he was stationed in Saudi Arabia.
“Sgt. Pennington was a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism, and sense of duty,” 1st Space Brigade commander Col. Michael Dyer said in a statement.
