Israel said on Monday that it has detailed operational plans for at least three more weeks of war as its airstrikes targeted sites across Iran. Tehran responded with drone attacks on Gulf states, temporarily shutting Dubai airport and striking a major oil facility in the United Arab Emirates.
The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has now entered its third week, with no clear end in sight. The fighting has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas – pushing oil prices above USD 100 a barrel and raising fears of renewed global inflation.
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said Israel’s armed forces have detailed operational plans for the next three weeks, with additional contingencies mapped further ahead. Israel aims to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten Israeli territory, targeting ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and security apparatus across the country.
“We want to ensure this regime is as weak as possible and degrade all their capabilities, all parts and wings of their security establishment,” Shoshani said. Israel has thousands of targets remaining inside Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran has not requested a ceasefire or exchanged communications with the United States, according to the semi-official Student News Network.
HEAVY STRIKES REPORTED ACROSS IRAN
Iranian media reported that overnight strikes killed at least five people and wounded seven in Markazi province. Residential areas on the outskirts of Arak city and Mahallat county were hit, while a boys’ school in Khomein city suffered damage.
The Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes on Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, describing the targets as part of the infrastructure of the “Iranian terror regime.” Rescue teams in Tehran worked to pull civilians from the rubble, with reports of fatalities in residential neighbourhoods.
DRONE ATTACKS HIT THE GULF
Iranian drones targeted critical infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain. Flights at Dubai International Airport were suspended for several hours after a strike on a nearby fuel storage facility, while Saudi Arabia intercepted 34 drones in its eastern region in one hour. No casualties were reported in either incident.
The attacks disrupted oil operations at Fujairah, a key port for the UAE’s Murban crude, accounting for roughly 1% of global demand, further pressuring global energy markets.
TRUMP PRESSURES ALLIES TO REOPEN STRAIT
US President Donald Trump called on nations dependent on Gulf oil to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that NATO risks a “very bad” future if members fail to assist. Allies offered cautious support for diplomatic efforts but largely ruled out direct military involvement. Britain said it would focus on diplomacy, Germany refused to participate in military action, Japan ruled out sending naval forces, and Australia limited its support to surveillance aircraft and missile deployment.
Trump also indicated he may delay a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping if Beijing does not help reopen the strait, though US officials later said any postponement would be due to logistical issues related to the conflict, not China’s actions.
Meanwhile, Israel stepped up operations against Iran-backed groups, targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Hamas positions in Gaza. The Israeli military said it had launched limited ground operations in Lebanon alongside ongoing airstrikes.
With agency inputs
