Iran & Israel Trade Major Blows
The Middle East conflict has sharply escalated after Iran launched a massive retaliatory drone and rocket attack on Israeli cities. In response, Israeli strikes have rocked Tehran and destroyed key military assets. The UK has now granted the U.S. permission to use its bases for potential strikes, while Lebanon's PM issued a historic ban on Hezbollah's military activities to avoid being dragged deeper into the war.
The initial strikes by the U.S. and Israel were part of a coordinated effort named "Operation Epic Fury," aimed at destroying Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. U.S. B-2 stealth bombers targeted Iran's ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs, while a simultaneous Israeli airstrike involving 100 fighter jets hit buildings associated with Iran's air force and missile command in Tehran. The operation also resulted in the sinking of nine Iranian warships and the significant destruction of the Iranian navy's headquarters. This recent escalation follows a 12-day war in June 2025, during which Israeli and American strikes significantly weakened Iran's air defenses and nuclear program. That conflict ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, but diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran subsequently collapsed, setting the stage for the current hostilities. In response to the latest attacks, Iran launched hundreds of projectiles, not only at Israel but also at U.S. military bases and civilian sites in several Gulf Arab states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia and Jordan also reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. This marks a more extensive retaliation than seen in past conflicts. The United Kingdom's decision to grant the U.S. permission to use its military bases for "specific and limited defensive" actions came after initial hesitation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the move was to prevent further Iranian missile attacks, a reversal of a previous refusal to grant permission over concerns about the legality of the strikes. The decision was made after a suspected Iranian drone caused minor damage to the UK's Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus. Lebanon's ban on Hezbollah's military activities represents a significant shift, changing the group's status from a semi-tolerated "resistance movement" to an illegal organization. The decision came after Hezbollah, which is considered to be significantly weakened from previous conflicts, fired rockets into Israel in response to the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader. The Lebanese government has now ordered the military to prevent any military operations launched from its territory and for Hezbollah to surrender its weapons.
