Middle East conflict escalates: Israel, Iran, Hezbollah exchange heavy fire

Israel launched new air strikes on Iran on Monday and broadened its offensive to include attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, after Tehran said it had fired a fresh wave of missiles that “opened the great gates of fire” on Israel.

Israeli authorities said the strikes targeted locations controlled by Lebanon’s Shi’ite Hezbollah, a key ally of Tehran, following the militant group’s missile and drone attacks in retaliation for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported at least 31 fatalities and 149 injuries in strikes aimed at Hezbollah-held southern suburbs of Beirut, including attacks on senior militants. In Iran, explosions were reported across multiple cities, with a strike in Sanandaj, in western Kurdistan province, killing at least three people.

Air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as Iranian missiles were launched towards “enemy positions,” according to state media. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said the attacks targeted Israel’s government complex in Tel Aviv, military and security centres in Haifa, and locations in East Jerusalem, warning that air raid sirens in Israel “would never stop.”

U.S. President Donald Trump told multiple outlets that the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran could continue for at least four weeks.

Wider Regional Escalation

The conflict has spread beyond Israel and Iran. Kuwait reported intercepting hostile drones, while the U.S. embassy there warned of potential missile and drone threats. Witnesses reported heavy security near the embassy and smoke rising from the area.

Blasts were also reported in Dubai, Doha, and Samha, near Abu Dhabi. A drone strike targeted Britain’s Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, causing limited damage and no casualties – marking the first attack on the base since 1986 and signalling a significant escalation.

Prolonged Cobat Expected

Israel’s military Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, warned that operations against Hezbollah could continue for days. “This requires strong defensive readiness and sustained offensive action, operating in continuous waves while seizing all opportunities,” he said. Israel also claims to have established aerial superiority over Tehran, striking key intelligence, security, and military command centres.

A source familiar with Israel’s operations said the intensity and scale of strikes on Iran have exceeded last June’s 12-day conflict. Additional reservists are expected to be called up within 48 hours, and Israel has reported no shortage of offensive or defensive capabilities.

U.S. Confirms First Casualties

Three U.S. service personnel were killed in Kuwait, marking the first American casualties of the campaign. Trump paid tribute to them as “true American patriots” but warned of further losses.

A senior White House official said that while Trump may eventually engage with Iran’s new leadership, “Operation Epic Fury continues unabated.” Iran has temporarily placed a leadership council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the judiciary head, in charge following Khamenei’s death. However, Ali Larijani, former adviser to Khamenei, stated Iran would not negotiate with Trump, calling U.S. demands “delusional.”

Impact on Oil and Air Travel

Iranian attacks on U.S. and UK oil tankers in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, along with strikes on military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, have disrupted shipping, causing hundreds of vessels to anchor and crude prices to surge. Air travel across the Middle East has also been heavily affected, with Dubai’s airport – the world’s busiest international hub – closed, contributing to major disruptions for global airlines.

Experts note that while Khamenei’s death and the targeting of Iran’s leadership is a significant blow, it may not end the country’s clerical rule or diminish the influence of the Revolutionary Guards.

inputs from Reuters