Day Seven of US-Israel Strikes: Current Developments in the Israel-Iran Conflict

EXPLAINER

The conflict is intensifying as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran enter their seventh day, heightening regional tensions.

The conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has entered its seventh day, with ongoing assaults across Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Iran continues to launch missile and drone strikes in the Gulf, while the U.S. and Israel assert their campaign, named Operation Epic Fury, is debilitating Iran’s military capabilities.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the estimated expenditure for the initial 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury stands at $3.7 billion, averaging around $891 million daily, largely unbudgeted.

Updates from Iran

• Ongoing military operations: The U.S. and Israel continue their strikes, with over 1,230 reported fatalities in Iran since the attacks commenced last Saturday.
• The Israeli military claims to have secured “near-complete air superiority,” conducting 2,500 strikes and dismantling 80% of Iran’s air defense systems.
• Leadership transition: Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli strike, discussions of succession are swirling, with reports suggesting his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could succeed him. However, President Trump has labeled Mojtaba an “unacceptable” candidate.
• Warnings of invasion: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani cautioned that Iranian forces are poised for a possible U.S. ground invasion, threatening to capture U.S. troops.
• No negotiations: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the prospect of negotiations with the U.S., asserting a lack of trust.
• Declining attack rates: The U.S. reports a 90% decrease in Iran’s ballistic missile attacks and an 83% reduction in drone strikes since the conflict’s onset.

Updates from Gulf Nations

• Kuwait: The U.S. has halted operations at its embassy in Kuwait City following retaliatory Iranian attacks, with local air defenses intercepting missiles and drones.
• Bahrain: An Iranian missile struck a state-run oil facility in Bahrain, although the resultant fire was managed.
• UAE and Qatar: The UAE’s defenses intercepted numerous Iranian missiles and over 120 drones, while Qatar reported being targeted by missile and drone salvos.
• Mass evacuations: Approximately 20,000 Americans have departed the Middle East, with the State Department facilitating charter flights for remaining U.S. citizens.
• Flight disruptions: A French government-chartered evacuation flight was forced to return due to missile activity in the UAE.

Updates from Israel

• Tel Aviv attacks: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced a coordinated drone and missile attack targeting Tel Aviv and surrounding regions.
• Domestic closures: Israel’s Civil Administration has shut down all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City and canceled Friday prayers amid security concerns.

Updates from the U.S.

• Military actions: U.S. Central Command reported targeting approximately 200 sites in Iran over the last three days, including missile launchers and naval assets.
• Trump’s statements: President Trump claimed Iran is being “demolished” and stated that the country has effectively lost its air force and defense capabilities.
• Congressional vote: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted against efforts to stop the war and mandate congressional authorization for actions against Iran.
• Market reactions: The conflict has negatively affected U.S. financial markets, evidenced by a significant drop in the Dow Jones amid rising oil prices.

Updates from Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt

• Iraqi military intervention: Iraqi forces successfully intercepted a drone targeting a military base near Baghdad International Airport.
• Iran’s counterattacks: Iranian state media reported strikes against Kurdish groups in areas near the Iran-Iraq border.
• Intensified attacks in Lebanon: Israel has increased bombardment in Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings for residents in specific regions.
• Egypt’s economic issues: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has declared the nation is facing an economic “near-emergency” due to the ongoing conflict.

Updates from Europe

• European response: European governments remain divided in their reactions, with some deploying military assets and others pushing for diplomatic solutions.
• UK and France: Both nations have moved naval and air defense resources to the eastern Mediterranean to safeguard allied interests, following drone attacks targeting British military installations in Cyprus.
• Azerbaijan’s measures: The country has halted cross-border traffic with Iran and is preparing retaliatory actions after Iranian drone attacks injured civilians.