Mideast war intensifies as U.S., Israel and Iran exchange air strikes, Tehran tightens grip on dissent
DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, The United States and Israel exchanged fresh air strikes with Iranian forces across multiple Middle Eastern locations on Wednesday as the conflict entered its 12th day, while Iran’s government warned security forces were prepared to suppress any resurgence of anti-government protests amid escalating regional bombardments.
The latest attacks followed one of the heaviest rounds of strikes on Tuesday, with combatants targeting sites in Israel, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf, according to reports from the region.
Missile barrages forced millions of Israelis to seek shelter as air defense systems responded to incoming attacks.
Military exchanges intensified overnight into Wednesday as opposing forces carried out additional strikes across regional targets. The conflict, which pits the United States and Israel against Iran and its allied networks, has increasingly spread beyond initial fronts, drawing in locations across the eastern Mediterranean and Gulf region.
Iran’s leadership signaled growing concern about domestic unrest as the war continues. State authorities warned that security forces were prepared to confront any attempts to revive anti-government protests while the country faces external military pressure.
The conflict has effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s fossil fuel supplies normally transit. The disruption raised immediate concerns over global energy security and triggered a sharp spike in oil prices earlier this week.
Crude markets surged on Monday before retreating as traders assessed the likelihood of diplomatic intervention. Investors have increasingly speculated that U.S. President Donald Trump may push for steps to de-escalate the conflict.
In a move aimed at calming volatile energy markets, the International Energy Agency has proposed the largest coordinated release of oil reserves in its history, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing officials familiar with the plan. Reuters was not immediately able to independently verify the report.
The proposed release would add additional supply to global markets at a time when energy flows from the Gulf have been disrupted, easing pressure on prices and helping stabilize financial markets that reacted sharply to the outbreak of hostilities earlier in the week.
