Israel Intensifies Strikes on Tehran and Lebanon as Iran Retaliates Across Gulf

Israel launched heavy overnight airstrikes on Iran’s capital, Tehran, and targets in Lebanon, declaring a “new phase” in the joint military campaign with the United States that began nearly a week ago. The escalating conflict has triggered widespread retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran across the Persian Gulf region, severely disrupting economies and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee affected areas.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States and Israel intend to “go in and clean out everything,” suggesting that only a complete regime change in Iran would bring the war to an end. He also indicated that Washington has ideas about who could become a “good leader” for Iran and asserted that the U.S. should have a role in deciding the country’s future leadership once the conflict concludes.

The widening conflict has raised alarm across the Middle East and beyond. NATO has strengthened its missile defense posture as Iran’s strikes continue to threaten regional stability. Shipping traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz has slowed dramatically, while air travel across the Middle East remains largely suspended. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting about how long U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf can sustain defenses against waves of low-cost Iranian explosive drones.

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