The West Asia conflict has entered its 26th day, with continued exchanges of strikes and fresh diplomatic activity across the region. Israeli forces have intensified operations in southern Lebanon while signalling longer-term security plans along the border. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military intends to take control of areas up to the Litani River for security reasons, adding that several bridges used by Hezbollah had been destroyed. He also said displaced residents would not be allowed to return until northern Israel is secure. Israeli strikes were reported near Beirut, with local sources saying two people were killed and five wounded in a residential area in Bchamoun. Fighting in southern Lebanon continues, with mounting casualties and growing displacement as local authorities struggle to manage humanitarian pressures.
From Washington, the Pentagon has ordered around two thousand troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to West Asia as a rapid response force, giving US President Donald Trump additional military options. At the same time, the White House said it had sent Iran a fifteen-point proposal through intermediaries aimed at ending the fighting. US Central Command also claimed that US forces had destroyed more than 9,000 military targets inside Iran, significantly reducing Tehran’s combat capability.
Iran has meanwhile launched a fresh wave of missiles and drones, with reports of strikes in Tel Aviv injuring six people at multiple locations, including a direct hit on a building. Iranian state media said some projectiles penetrated Israeli defences, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of heavier attacks if Israeli operations in Lebanon and Palestinian territories continue. Iran has also appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed earlier in the conflict.
Across Gulf countries, air defence systems remain active. Kuwait reported intercepting missiles and drones that entered its airspace, while a drone strike triggered a fire at a fuel facility near Kuwait International Airport. Saudi Arabia also reported interceptions in its eastern province, and Bahrain reported damage to a facility following a strike.
A new theatre of conflict is also emerging in Iraq. In the Kurdish region, an explosion and fire were reported at a high-rise building in Erbil near the US consulate area, following suspected drone or missile activity. Northern Iraq has seen repeated strikes in recent days, with reports of casualties among Kurdish Peshmerga forces and attacks targeting facilities near Erbil airport, where US forces are present.
Iraq is increasingly emerging as a new front in the West Asia conflict, with attacks and counter-attacks intensifying across the country. In northern Iraq, explosions and fires were reported in Erbil, including near areas hosting foreign diplomatic facilities and military positions. Local reports said at least six Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were killed in recent strikes targeting security positions and infrastructure around the city and near the airport, where US forces maintain a presence.
Meanwhile, in western Iraq’s Anbar province, Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces reported that a US strike hit their operations headquarters during a commanders’ meeting, killing at least fifteen, including a senior commander, and wounding several others.
These developments highlight Iraq’s growing role as a pressure point between Washington and Tehran. With US forces, Iranian-aligned militias, and local security forces all operating in close proximity, the continued strikes risk drawing Iraq deeper into the conflict and opening another active theatre in the widening West Asia crisis.
