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A RAPID escalation of hostilities across the Middle East has seen Iran, Israel and the United States exchanging missile and drone attacks across several countries, raising fears that the conflict could expand into a broader regional war.
Missiles struck multiple locations in Iran’s central Isfahan province as United States and Israeli forces continued coordinated attacks, leaving at least 15 people dead.
Aljazeera reported n Sunday that the strikes form part of an intensifying military campaign targeting strategic facilities within the country.
Iran responded by launching a barrage of missiles towards Israel, with impacts reported in the city of Holon.
Air raid sirens sounded across Israel overnight as rockets and missiles were intercepted by air defence systems, although falling debris triggered fires in some areas.
Tehran has also claimed responsibility for attacks on United States military bases in Iraq and Kuwait, further widening the geographical scope of the confrontation.
Several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, reported intercepting missiles and drones amid heightened regional alert.
United States President Donald Trump confirmed that Iranian officials had approached Washington seeking a possible agreement to halt hostilities.
However, he indicated that negotiations remained far from resolution. “Iranians have reached out to me for a deal, but the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, the conflict has intensified along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Israeli military operations have resulted in a rising death toll, with at least 826 people reported killed and more than 831,000 displaced amid widespread destruction.
Lebanon’s leadership has signalled openness to unprecedented direct talks with Israel in an effort to halt a potential ground invasion and prevent further devastation, particularly in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The possibility of such negotiations marks a significant shift for Lebanon, which has officially remained in a state of war with Israel for decades.
Hezbollah fighters have continued cross-border attacks, claiming rocket strikes and artillery fire against Israeli positions near the Lebanese frontier.
Elsewhere in the region, security concerns intensified after a drone strike forced the suspension of operations at the Lanaz oil refinery in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region.
The refinery plays a key role in the local economy and oil supply chain. Authorities said the attack triggered a fire, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Iranian officials have denied involvement, with military sources suggesting that drones resembling Iranian Shahed models may have been copied and used by other actors in the region.
The growing conflict has also raised alarm over the security of global energy routes.
The United States has urged allied nations to help protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for global oil transport.
However, Japan signalled reluctance to deploy naval vessels to the region under current legal frameworks.
Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said the threshold for sending warships to the strait remained extremely high.
“Legally speaking, we do not rule out the possibility, but given the current situation in which this conflict is ongoing, I believe this is something that must be considered with great caution,” he said.
Public opinion in the United States also appears divided over the conflict.
A recent poll by Quinnipiac University found that 53 per cent of American voters oppose the attacks on Iran, while 40 per cent support them.
Opposition to sending US ground troops to Iran is significantly stronger, with nearly three quarters of respondents rejecting such a move.
Regional tensions continue to rise as missile interceptions and drone attacks are reported across several countries, including Saudi Arabia, which said it had destroyed multiple drones over its territory.
With military exchanges intensifying and diplomatic efforts struggling to gain traction, the conflict is increasingly viewed by analysts as one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in recent years, carrying significant risks for regional stability and global energy markets. - March 15, 2026
