The conflict between Israel and Iran intensified Thursday as new strikes hit multiple countries across the Middle East, raising fears that the war is rapidly spreading beyond its original front lines.
Israeli forces launched airstrikes in Beirut, targeting a suburb known as a stronghold of Hezbollah. The militant group has vowed retaliation following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during the first wave of the war earlier in the week.
Israeli officials said civilians in the targeted area had been warned to evacuate before the strike. Meanwhile, Israeli air defenses worked to intercept a new wave of missiles launched from Iran.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Wednesday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil normally passes.
Energy intelligence firm Kpler reported that oil tanker traffic through the strait has dropped by about 90%, sending shockwaves through global energy markets.
Iranian military leaders warned the conflict could destabilize the entire region.
“The Americans’ mischief and deceit could lead to the collapse of the entire military and economic infrastructure of the region,” Iran’s military command said in a statement.
Fighting Spreads to Iraq
The war also spilled into Iraq, where an Iranian strike in the autonomous Kurdish region reportedly killed a member of an Iranian Kurdish exile group.
In a separate attack, two pro-Iran fighters were killed when their base inside Iraq was struck.
Meanwhile, Iraq experienced a nationwide electricity blackout after a sudden drop in gas supplies to a major power plant, according to the country’s electricity ministry. It remains unclear whether the outage was directly tied to the conflict.
Iranian Warship Sunk
In a dramatic escalation at sea, the United States Navy confirmed that one of its submarines torpedoed an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The vessel, the IRIS Dena, had reportedly been returning from a visit to India when it was struck.
According to Pete Hegseth, the ship believed it was safe in international waters.
“This was a quiet death,” Hegseth said, adding that the United States is “fighting to win.”
Sri Lankan officials reported 87 people killed, with 61 still missing, while rescuers pulled 32 wounded sailors from the water.
Missile Intercepted Near Turkey
In another dangerous development, a missile launched from Iran was intercepted by a North Atlantic Treaty Organization air defense system as it approached Turkey, a NATO member state.
Turkish officials said the missile had originally been aimed at a British base in Cyprus but veered off course toward Turkish airspace.
Hakan Fidan warned Iran that further escalation could widen the conflict even further.
Gulf Nations Under Fire
Iranian strikes have also triggered panic in several Gulf states, including Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait.
Authorities in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar reported intercepting missiles and drones launched by Iran.
One intercepted drone was reportedly headed toward Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery.
In Kuwait, an 11-year-old girl was killed after being struck by falling missile debris.
Lebanon Tensions Rising
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes have killed at least 75 people and displaced more than 83,000, according to local officials.
Israel has urged civilians to leave areas south of the Litani River, warning that its military is preparing for further operations against Hezbollah.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to avoid launching a ground invasion of Lebanon.
Global Concerns Growing
The widening conflict has disrupted air travel across the Middle East and prompted Western countries to evacuate their citizens from the region.
The United States, France, and United Kingdom have begun chartering flights to bring nationals home as fears grow that the war could escalate into a broader regional conflict.
Iran has also warned that if Israel strikes its diplomatic mission in Lebanon, it could retaliate by targeting Israeli embassies worldwide.
