TEHRAN: A large-scale military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its fifth consecutive day, significantly intensifying tensions across the Middle East.
Israel’s defense minister confirmed that coordinated strikes are underway, describing them as part of a broader campaign against what he called threats posed by the Iranian government.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting key Israeli cities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced what it described as the first wave of ballistic missile and drone strikes, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
Israel’s military said air raid sirens were activated nationwide as a precaution against incoming projectiles. In a televised statement, the US president declared that an “extensive military operation” had begun, aimed at neutralizing Iranian threats. Israeli media outlet Channel 12 reported, citing security officials, that the campaign is being conducted jointly by the US and Israel.
Israeli Forces Enter Southern Lebanon
Amid the broader regional escalation, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli ground forces entered the southern town of Khiam, located roughly six kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border. Continuous artillery shelling was reported in the area.
A Lebanese military source told AFP that the ground incursion followed ongoing Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, marking a widening of military operations beyond Iran.
UN Experts Alarmed by Civilian Casualties
A panel of United Nations experts expressed deep concern over civilian deaths linked to the escalating conflict, particularly following the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran. According to UN experts, 160 children were killed in the strike, which occurred on the first day of US and Israeli attacks.
When asked about the incident, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the matter would be investigated if it involved American forces, adding that the United States does not intentionally target schools. The Pentagon and US Central Command stated they were reviewing reports of civilian harm but provided no further details.
Iranian Air Defenses Engage Aircraft Over Tehran
Iranian media reported that air defense systems intercepted and struck a military aircraft over northern Tehran. Press TV stated that while the aircraft was hit, its type and origin remain unconfirmed. The incident marks a notable escalation in direct aerial confrontations over the Iranian capital.
Russia Criticizes US Actions
Russia accused Washington of exaggerating the Iranian threat to justify efforts aimed at regime change. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that nuclear negotiations had been used as a cover for broader strategic objectives. She warned that renewed attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities pose serious regional dangers and reiterated Moscow’s position that the crisis requires a diplomatic, not military, solution.
Hezbollah Claims Strikes on Israeli Military Targets
Hezbollah announced that it carried out drone and missile attacks on Israeli military-linked infrastructure. The group claimed it launched a swarm of drones at the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in central Israel, describing the action as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
In a separate statement, Hezbollah said it fired a precision-guided missile at a drone control base in northern Israel shortly before dawn.
The expanding scope of military operations across Iran, Israel, and Lebanon signals a deepening regional crisis, raising international concern over the risk of a broader Middle East conflict.
