Israel has launched fresh airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and Iran’s capital Tehran, as the conflict across the Middle East escalates into its seventh day with expanding regional involvement.
The latest wave of attacks comes as the United States signals plans to intensify military pressure on Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said American strikes targeting Iranian positions are expected to “surge dramatically,” indicating that Washington may significantly expand its military campaign.
Speaking on the evolving conflict, Hegseth suggested that access to the strategic Diego Garcia could help the United States scale up operations in the region.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was not considering deploying American ground troops to Iran, dismissing the option as unnecessary.
“It would be a waste of time,” Trump said, adding that Iran had already “lost everything they can lose” amid the intensifying conflict.
Overnight strikes were reported across several parts of the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Lebanon, and Bahrain, underscoring the widening geographical scope of the confrontation.
The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a “broad-scale wave” of strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Beirut overnight. According to the Israeli military, the attacks focused on command centres and facilities allegedly used to store drones intended for attacks against Israel.
Several of the strikes hit the Dahieh, a densely populated southern suburb of Beirut considered a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said the strikes followed an unprecedented evacuation order instructing residents in the area to leave ahead of the attacks.
“The IDF will not tolerate any harm to be caused to the residents of the State of Israel,” the military said in a statement explaining the operation.
The bombardment has triggered fresh humanitarian concerns in Lebanon, where thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes. Many residents of southern Beirut spent the night sleeping in cars, public parks, shelters and relatives’ homes after evacuating their neighbourhoods.
Residents described scenes of fear and confusion as people hurriedly gathered essential belongings before leaving.
“We packed only the important stuff like blankets,” a woman who fled from Dahieh said. “We’re really afraid but this is our land and if war comes, we just have to manage. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 123 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since Monday, while another 683 have been injured.
Iran, meanwhile, said it had fired missiles toward Tel Aviv in retaliation, signalling a continuing cycle of attacks between the two sides.
The widening conflict is also beginning to affect global energy and geopolitical calculations. In a separate development, the United States Department of the Treasury announced a temporary easing of sanctions to allow India to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 30-day waiver was designed to maintain stability in global oil markets and reduce pressure created by Iran’s actions in the region.
The measure, he said, was a “deliberate short-term step” intended to keep global energy supplies flowing without providing significant financial benefits to Russia.
The move comes after Washington imposed sanctions on Russian oil exports following Russian invasion of Ukraine, which forced many international buyers to seek alternative suppliers.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts are underway to protect vital shipping routes in the Gulf. According to reports, China is in negotiations with Iran to ensure safe passage for ships carrying crude oil and Qatari natural gas through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, and any disruption could significantly impact global oil and gas markets.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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