Tensions in the Middle East rose once more on Wednesday as Iran and Israel exchanged new attacks, pushing closer towards all-out war. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also recently stated he is considering whether or not to support Israeli operations, a decision which could alter global geopolitics drastically.
Israeli warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes over western Iran on Tuesday night, targeting suspected missile storage facilities and drone launch sites suspected of past strikes against Israeli positions. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed these airstrikes as “defensive responses to sustained threats and aggression by Iranian-backed militias,” with no Israeli casualties being reported so far.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by firing multiple ballistic missiles at military bases in northern Israel, prompting sirens in Haifa and Golan Heights as Israeli air defense systems intercepted several projectiles; nevertheless, at least five civilians were reported injured by falling debris, according to local emergency services.
Iran state media labeled Israel’s actions a provocation backed by Zionist arrogance and warned of further unrelenting retaliation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged that Iran will not tolerate continued aggression and would expand military operations if Israel continued its aerial campaign.
Attacks between Hezbollah, Syrian forces and possibly U.S. allies positioned across the Gulf have led to widespread fears that a wider regional war may erupt, pitting Lebanese Hezbollah against Syrian troops – with civilian casualties and displacement already on the rise – against each other. Already the UN has called for de-escalation measures as civil casualties continue to increase rapidly.
Former President Donald Trump broke his silence about Israel’s operations against Iran at a press briefing held in Washington, saying he may or may not support them. Trump warned of “an extremely dangerous time”, noting: “if America must act decisively then that decision has yet to be made.”
Trump’s deliberately vague remarks have generated widespread scrutiny and debate. Some believe he is capitalizing on this crisis to reassert U.S. influence in the region, while others accuse him of creating more uncertainty when more clarity should be forthcoming.
Regional governments are on high alert: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have increased air patrols while Jordan temporarily closed parts of its airspace. Iraq’s Prime Minister also warned that any spillover into Iraqi territory would constitute an act of war.
Energy markets were swift to respond to the unfolding crisis. Brent crude prices soared 4% early trading on fears of supply disruption. US and allied naval forces are closely monitoring the Strait of Hormuz as an oil shipping lane, which plays a vital role.
As the situation develops, calls for diplomatic intervention become ever louder; yet with each passing hour, chances for peaceful resolution become increasingly limited and risk of wider regional conflict increases exponentially.
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