The conflict between Israel and Iran has reached a boiling point, with both countries engaging in direct military attacks and the region bracing for a potentially wider war. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed to retaliate against Israel, saying, “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.”
This declaration came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran of further Israeli strikes if they don’t make a nuclear deal, claiming, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”
In response to the escalating tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that their military offensive is not aimed at the Iranian people, stating, “We are doing everything we can to protect them. That’s the difference between a terrorist regime and a democracy like ours, fighting a just war with just means.” Meanwhile, Israel’s military claims to have eliminated high-value targets, including nine senior scientists, and severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The international community is urging restraint, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jointly calling for an immediate end to hostilities. France and Saudi Arabia have also led a UN meeting focused on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution.
Hezbollah, a close ally of Iran, has not intervened in the conflict yet, despite being a significant military force in the region. Analysts believe that Hezbollah’s lack of intervention is due to its depleted military capabilities after fighting Israel last year and the group’s current focus on rebuilding its infrastructure. According to Nicholas Blanford, a nonresident senior fellow with the US-based think tank Atlantic Council, “Domestic political circumstances make it extremely difficult for Hezbollah to join in Iranian retaliation. And the Iranians recognize they can’t call on them.”
As the conflict continues to escalate, the humanitarian toll is mounting. Iran’s health ministry reported that at least 224 Iranians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Friday, while the Israeli death toll has climbed to 24, with 500 people injured. The situation remains volatile, with both sides trading attacks and rhetoric, and the region teetering on the brink of a broader war.