Tel aviv: The war in the Middle East intensified on Monday as Israel and the United States carried out strikes on targets in Iran, leading to retaliatory attacks from Tehran across the region. The conflict has broadened to involve Lebanon and multiple Gulf states, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia launched rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel overnight, claiming the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during Israeli strikes on Saturday. Israel responded by targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, including areas in the suburbs of Beirut.
The Israeli Air Force reported hitting more than 600 targets in Iran since the beginning of its campaign, which included sites linked to Iranian military leaders, missile systems, and air defense systems. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Iran's Red Crescent reporting at least 555 deaths due to the bombardments. Additionally, over 30 individuals were killed and more than 100 wounded in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, and Israel's emergency services reported 15 injuries due to rocket shrapnel in Beersheba.
The US military acknowledged four of its personnel had died in operations against Iran. On Monday, the Israeli Air Force launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, with witnesses noting heavy bombardment near the parliament building and missile impacts in the northern part of the city.
Israel and the United States have stated their focus is on targeting military infrastructure, including missile launch sites and nuclear facilities, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizing the limited scope and duration of the campaign. He reiterated the Trump administration's clear objectives to neutralize missile threats and eliminate nuclear capabilities, asserting the operation is not a regime change war, although it has led to significant changes within the Iranian leadership.
Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have encouraged Iranians to take the opportunity to overthrow their country's clerical leadership, hoping for a regime change initiated by the Iranian people themselves.
The conflict's impact was felt across the Gulf region, with incidents reported in several countries. In Kuwait, three US military aircraft crashed in a friendly fire incident involving Kuwaiti air defenses, though the crews survived. In Bahrain, intercepted missile debris struck a ship, causing a fire and killing an Asian worker. The US embassy warned citizens to avoid hotels in Manama due to potential targeting.
Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting and destroying suspected Iranian drones targeting the Ras Tanura oil refinery, with no casualties. In Qatar, QatarEnergy halted LNG production after drone attacks on facilities at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, while in Oman, an oil tanker was attacked by a suspected Iranian drone boat, resulting in the death of an Indian crew member.
Further tensions arose in Cyprus, where a drone struck the British air base at Akrotiri, causing minimal damage, and Greece responded by deploying military assets to Cyprus. Meanwhile, Israel has mobilized over 110,000 reservists in anticipation of potential multi-front conflicts as concerns mount over further regional escalation.