The operation, targeting ballistic missile production centers and storage points, marks a phase of increased aggression in the conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that military actions "will intensify and expand" as long as shots continue from the Islamic Republic, ensuring that the regime will pay an "increasingly higher" price for what he described as war crimes.
The military escalation has already transcended Iranian borders. Bombings have been reported in Beirut and drone and missile attacks against Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. In Kuwait, there were even material damages in projects linked to China's "Belt and Road Initiative."
In diplomatic terms, U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for Iran to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz until April 6, a vital route through which a fifth of the world's oil flows. Although Washington has sent a 15-point proposal through intermediaries in Pakistan, Tehran has rejected the terms, presenting its own five-point counterproposal demanding recognition of its sovereignty and economic reparations. Despite Trump's assertion that the talks are progressing well, Iran officially denies negotiating.
The tension is fueled by a massive military deployment. The United States has ordered the dispatch of thousands of additional troops, including paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division and marines, prepared to secure key areas. This situation has driven the price of Brent crude to $107 per barrel, destabilizing global markets.
Meanwhile, the human cost is alarming. Nearly 2,000 people have died in Iran and over 1,100 in Lebanon. According to international organizations, around 82,000 civilian buildings have been damaged or destroyed on Iranian soil, prompting the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting this Friday.