Deadly fighting across the Middle East intensified on Tuesday as Washington urged its citizens to leave much of the region and President Donald Trump signalled the conflict with Iran could last far longer than initially projected.
Powerful explosions rocked Tehran overnight as US and Israeli strikes continued for a third day. Fighter jets were heard over the Iranian capital while retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeted Israel and several Gulf states. With airspace closures spreading and energy markets rattled, the crisis has rapidly evolved into the most serious regional confrontation in decades.
At the White House, Trump said the campaign was moving “substantially” ahead of schedule but warned it could extend beyond a month. “From the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that,” he said, adding ominously: “The big wave hasn’t even happened.”
US tells Americans: ‘Depart now’The US State Department urged Americans to leave countries across the Middle East, from Egypt eastwards, citing “serious safety risks”. Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar said citizens should use commercial flights while they remain available.
The advisory covers Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Gulf monarchies, many of which host US forces. Washington has not yet announced government-organised evacuations, despite severe flight disruptions.
Rising toll and civilian casualtiesUS Central Command confirmed that six American service members have been killed since hostilities began. Iranian officials say hundreds have died in strikes across the country, including in an attack on a girls’ school near a Revolutionary Guard naval facility. The figures have not been independently verified.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the school strike and called on the international community to respond. Rubio said the incident was under investigation and insisted the United States “would not deliberately target” a school.
Tehran appeared subdued, with many residents fleeing. Some expressed fear; others voiced cautious hope that the upheaval could weaken the ruling system.
Trump outlines war aimsFor the first time, Trump detailed objectives: dismantling Iran’s missile and naval capabilities, destroying its nuclear programme and ending its support for armed groups across the region. Notably, he stopped short of formally declaring regime change as a goal.
However, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly urged Iranians to rise against their leadership.
Rubio defends ‘pre-emptive’ strikeSecretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington acted after learning Israel was poised to strike Iran and believed Tehran would retaliate against US forces.
“The imminent threat was that if Iran was attacked, they would immediately come after us,” Rubio told reporters. Democrats, including Senator Mark Warner, questioned the justification, calling it “uncharted territory”.
Iran retaliates across regionIran has launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, US bases and Gulf allies. It warned shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted, threatening a route that carries roughly 20% of global seaborne oil.
However, the US military said the Strait of Hormuz a crucial shipping route for global oil supplies was not closed, despite claims by Iranian officials, US Central Command told Fox News.
Energy markets reacted sharply, with natural gas prices surging after Qatar halted some production following strikes.
Lebanon front explodesIsrael bombarded Beirut’s southern suburbs after Hezbollah launched rockets in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At least 52 people were killed in Lebanon, according to officials.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam ordered an immediate halt to Hezbollah’s military activities, an unprecedented move amid fears of wider war.
US bases and Gulf states hitIranian strikes targeted facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Six US service members have been killed since hostilities began, according to US Central Command.
Qatar said it shot down two Iranian warplanes, marking a dramatic escalation. Fires were reported at Saudi energy infrastructure, while debris from intercepted missiles caused casualties in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Air travel chaos and global falloutMore than 11,000 flights have been cancelled since Saturday, stranding over a million passengers. Major hubs including Dubai International Airport and Doha’s Hamad International have faced closures or severe disruption.
Governments from Europe to Asia are scrambling to extract citizens, while airlines warn normal operations will not resume until security risks fall dramatically.
As Tehran empties and Gulf cities brace for further attacks, Trump’s message is clear: the conflict may only just be beginning.