Kamal Ghorui
Since then, Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli positions and shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy corridor through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The disruption has shaken global markets, sending oil prices sharply higher and prompting emergency releases from strategic reserves by major economies.
Iranian officials have warned the conflict could turn into a prolonged war of attrition capable of devastating the global economy. Tehran says it still maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and has threatened to target economic infrastructure linked to the United States and Israel. Iranian forces have also targeted commercial vessels in the Gulf, further escalating tensions and raising fears of a wider maritime crisis.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to “finish the job,” arguing that most major Iranian military targets have already been struck, including mine-laying vessels and other naval assets. However, Israeli officials say the campaign is far from complete and that they still have a broad list of targets inside Iran.
The conflict has also spread beyond the immediate battlefield. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has launched attacks from Lebanon into Israel, prompting Israeli air strikes in Beirut and eastern Lebanon. Hundreds have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions have intensified at the United Nations Security Council, which has demanded Iran halt attacks on Gulf states. With fighting entering its second week, fears are growing that the conflict could expand further and severely disrupt global trade, energy supplies, and regional stability.
