The conflict between Israel and Iran has widened over the past 24 hours, spreading to Lebanon and drawing more than a dozen countries into direct or indirect confrontation. Following missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, Israel launched air strikes on targets in Beirut's southern suburbs, marking a significant escalation on Lebanese soil. Lebanese state media reported dozens of casualties, while the Israeli military said it targeted senior Hezbollah figures and infrastructure linked to the group.
The latest developments come as Iran intensifies its offensive against Israel, launching new waves of missiles toward Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel early Monday as explosions were reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities following Israeli counterstrikes. The expanding tit-for-tat attacks signal a shift from a contained exchange to a broader regional confrontation.
So far, at least 15 countries have been affected by Iranian attacks, either directly or through strikes on their military assets. These include the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Cyprus, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Reports indicate that military bases and strategic facilities in the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean have been targeted, including installations hosting US, British and other allied forces.
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In Washington, Donald Trump signaled that the US-Israeli campaign against Iran could continue for weeks, even as the first American casualties were confirmed. Tehran, meanwhile, has ruled out negotiations under current conditions. With Hezbollah now actively engaged from Lebanon and multiple regional actors drawn into the fighting, fears are mounting that the conflict could evolve into a prolonged, multi-front war with significant consequences for global energy markets and international security...