The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, escalating with fresh strikes and heightened rhetoric. US President Donald Trump convened a Situation Room meeting to assess US options, hinting at potential involvement while expressing reluctance to become embroiled in a prolonged foreign conflict.
Trump's Dilemma: Avoiding Entanglement
Sources close to the White House indicate that President Trump's primary concern is preventing the conflict from escalating further. While acknowledging arguments from Israel and others regarding the necessity of US intervention to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, Trump remains wary of being drawn into a protracted military engagement, a scenario he vowed to avoid.
Iran's Warning: Resistance and Retaliation
In a national address, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that Iran would not surrender and cautioned that any US military intervention would result in "irreparable damage." This defiant stance underscores the potential for a wider and more destructive conflict.
Escalating Attacks on the Ground
Both Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes, with the Israeli military reporting attacks on military targets in Tehran. Iran, in turn, claims to have launched ballistic missiles towards Israel. The Israeli military has launched a series of strikes near Tehran and other areas of Iran early Thursday, CNN reports. Israeli officials told people to evacuate the area around Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor around 5 a.m. local time, according to the Associated Press. These exchanges have resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating hundreds of deaths and numerous injuries.
Trump's Warning: A Week of Uncertainty
President Trump has warned that the upcoming week could be "very big" for the conflict, reiterating the US stance against Iran possessing nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the US would not tolerate such a threat, highlighting the long-standing tensions between the two nations.
- Israeli strikes on Iran have reportedly killed at least 639 people.
- An estimated 1,329 people have been wounded.
- Tensions have escalated following a week of missile attacks between Israel and Iran.
- Trump has rejected Israel’s proposal to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to US officials.
The international community remains on high alert, closely monitoring the situation and urging de-escalation to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the region. The future of the conflict hangs in the balance, with the US poised to make crucial decisions that could significantly impact the outcome.