Israel has launched a fresh wave of coordinated airstrikes on Tehran and Beirut, intensifying a rapidly expanding conflict involving the United States and Iran across the Middle East.
The Israeli air force said it carried out “extensive strikes” against Iranian government targets and Hezbollah positions, attacking both capitals simultaneously. Ground troops have also been deployed to southern Lebanon, with the Israeli military describing the move as defensive and aimed at protecting northern Israeli communities.
Death Toll Climbs Sharply
The Iranian Red Crescent Society updated the death toll from the conflict to 787, marking a significant increase from earlier figures. However, the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw claimed fatalities could be as high as 1,500, including civilians and Iranian security personnel.
According to the Red Crescent, more than 1,000 attacks have been recorded across hundreds of locations since hostilities began.
Regional Fallout Spreads
The conflict has reverberated across at least nine countries, with strikes reported on oil facilities and other strategic sites spanning a 2,000km area.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for an attack on a US air base in Bahrain, alleging that the facility’s main command headquarters was destroyed, though no evidence was provided. Meanwhile, Washington said it had struck key Iranian Revolutionary Guard command facilities.
The US embassy in Riyadh was reportedly hit by a drone strike, causing a fire, while Oman’s Port of Duqm was targeted in a suspected drone attack that damaged a fuel tank but caused no casualties.
US Evacuations and Diplomatic Tensions
The US state department has ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave several countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait, citing escalating security risks.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington acted after learning that Israel planned to strike Iran, warning that “the hardest hits” may still lie ahead.
US president Donald Trump repeated calls for Iranians to rise against their leadership, suggesting the air campaign could continue for weeks.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war “may take some time” but would not drag on for years.
Lebanon and Gaza Under Pressure
In Lebanon, Hezbollah said it launched drones toward northern Israel in response to the strikes. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz confirmed troops had been authorised to take additional strategic positions in southern Lebanon.
The war has also tightened pressure on Gaza. With border crossings closed indefinitely, humanitarian organisations warn that food supplies for the enclave’s 2 million residents could run out within days, raising fears of a renewed hunger crisis.
Global Leaders React
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he was working with the United Arab Emirates to assist thousands of stranded Australians affected by flight disruptions across the region.
In Europe, Israel criticised Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez after Madrid refused to allow US forces to use joint military bases for operations against Iran. Sánchez condemned the US-Israeli action as unilateral and destabilising.
Confusion also surrounded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian threats to target vessels, though US Central Command later indicated the strategic waterway remained open.
As airstrikes continue and diplomatic tensions mount, the conflict appears to be entering a broader and more volatile phase, with mounting casualties and increasing international involvement.
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