Iran Expands War to Over 20 Countries, 15 Targeted Directly
Iran has responded to the initial US-Israeli joint strikes with repeated waves of missile and drone attacks. In addition to strikes toward Israel, Tehran has launched large-scale attacks at countries hosting American military bases across the region.
More than 20 countries have now been drawn into the widening conflict surrounding the war between Israel, the United States and Iran, with at least 15 of them reportedly struck directly since the fighting began.
Iran has responded to the initial US-Israeli joint strikes with repeated waves of missile and drone attacks. In addition to strikes toward Israel, Tehran has launched large-scale attacks at countries hosting American military bases across the region.
Those countries include Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Azerbaijan. According to regional reports, Iran has fired more than 500 ballistic missiles and roughly 2,000 drones toward Gulf states since the start of the fighting.
Several of the attacks have hit civilian areas, including residential buildings, airports and hotels. Energy infrastructure across the region has also been targeted, with at least six major oil and gas facilities struck.
Iran has also moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which roughly a quarter of the world’s oil supply normally passes, contributing to sharp increases in global energy prices.
The conflict has also begun affecting countries beyond the Middle East. Cyprus has reportedly been targeted several times due to the presence of a British military base on the island, while a missile aimed at a U.S. base in Turkey was intercepted by NATO forces.
Several European countries have since moved to reinforce defenses around Cyprus. Greece has announced it will deploy ships and aircraft to help defend the island, while France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have also committed military assets. Italy has additionally sent air-defense systems to Gulf states.
On Israel’s northern border, Hezbollah opened a second front from Lebanon shortly after the war began, prompting Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.
At the same time, reports suggest global powers are involved behind the scenes. Russia is believed to be providing Iran with intelligence about U.S. military targets in the region, while China is reportedly considering supplying Tehran with military components.
Despite the widening scope of the conflict, most European governments have so far avoided direct military involvement beyond defensive deployments.