Summary
- US officials said the strikes were in retaliation for Iranian actions, including attacks on US surveillance drones operating in international airspace.
- Israeli authorities said the strikes were ordered in response to repeated attacks from Hezbollah on Israeli territory.
- The plan reportedly includes an initial halt to attacks by Hezbollah in exchange for reduced Israeli military activity in Lebanon.
Tensions have intensified in the Middle East as Iran and the United States continue to exchange strikes while diplomatic negotiations remain underway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said that any agreement with the United States must include a guaranteed ceasefire in Lebanon. He stated that without halting the war in Lebanon, no broader deal can move forward.
His remarks come as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues despite an earlier ceasefire agreement. Lebanon has remained a major flashpoint in the ongoing regional conflict.
The United States has carried out strikes on Iranian military-linked sites, according to official statements. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a US military base, escalating already heightened tensions.
US officials said the strikes were in retaliation for Iranian actions, including attacks on US surveillance drones operating in international airspace. They also claimed Iranian air defence systems and drone facilities were destroyed during the operation.
Iran, however, described its response as defensive and said it had targeted facilities linked to attacks against its territory. It did not disclose the exact location of the US base it struck.
Reports from the region also suggest missile and drone activity near US military installations in Kuwait, though full details remain unclear.
The conflict has continued intermittently since a ceasefire was declared earlier in April, with both sides accusing each other of violations and provocations.
At the same time, Israel has expanded its military operations in Lebanon, targeting areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which it describes as Hezbollah strongholds.
Israeli authorities said the strikes were ordered in response to repeated attacks from Hezbollah on Israeli territory. The group has continued to use drone and rocket attacks across the border.
Humanitarian conditions in Lebanon have worsened significantly. More than a million people have been displaced due to ongoing airstrikes and military operations, according to local estimates.
Casualty figures reported by Lebanese authorities indicate thousands of deaths since the escalation began, while Israel has also reported both military and civilian losses.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing alongside the conflict. The United States has proposed a phased de-escalation plan aimed at reducing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The plan reportedly includes an initial halt to attacks by Hezbollah in exchange for reduced Israeli military activity in Lebanon.
US officials have described the proposal as a framework for gradual stabilization, though no agreement has been reached so far.
Meanwhile, regional oil markets have reacted to the uncertainty, with prices rising due to fears of further escalation and disruptions in key energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has also commented on the situation, urging progress in negotiations and criticizing opposition to diplomatic efforts.
He reiterated that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons remains a central US objective, while Tehran continues to insist its nuclear programme is peaceful.
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