Iranian drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh on Monday, causing a minor fire and prompting officials to tell Americans to stay away from the compound. The attack came after a previous drone strike on the US embassy in Kuwait City, as Tehran continued waves of retaliatory strikes on US bases and personnel across the Gulf.
The conflict, initially between the US, Israel, and Iran, has expanded rapidly into a regional war, with strikes and counter-strikes now affecting at least nine countries.
Hezbollah targets Israel
The pro-Iran group Hezbollah fired missile salvoes at northern Israeli military bases overnight. In response, Israel evacuated villages in southern Lebanon, emptying the region south of the Litani River and turning Beirut’s southern suburbs into a ghost town.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed troops to “hold and advance” into south Lebanon, signalling the campaign against Hezbollah would include ground operations for the first time.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran
Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued airstrikes against Iran, targeting command and control facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Explosions were reported across the country, particularly in Tehran. Casualty estimates range from 555 to 1,500, including children in southern Iran.
US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warned the “hardest hits are yet to come,” claiming the US acted pre-emptively to prevent higher casualties from an expected Iranian response to Israeli strikes.
Escalating regional impact
Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel, with most intercepted but some killing 11 civilians. The US acknowledged six soldier deaths, seemingly in Kuwait. Strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure disrupted oil and gas production, with Qatar halting LNG output and Saudi Arabia closing the Ras Tanura oil refinery. Brig Gen Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened further attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
In Lebanon, Israel has degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities over two years of airstrikes, killing senior leaders including intelligence chief Hussein Makled, and striking infrastructure including the al-Qard al-Hassan bank and the media channel al-Manar. Rights groups have criticised attacks on civilian-affiliated targets. So far, Israeli strikes have killed 52 people and displaced at least 29,000 in Lebanon.
Uncertain objectives
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war “could take some time” but would not last years. US President Donald Trump has issued conflicting statements, claiming goals ranging from regime change to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies pursuing nuclear arms.
Hezbollah has faced domestic criticism in Lebanon, with the government banning its military activity and instructing the judiciary to arrest those responsible for firing rockets at Israel.
Also read: Rubio says U.S. mission aims to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities
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