Is Iran-Israel War Turning Global After New Attacks On US Bases?

An aerial view of Tehran at night shows multiple massive explosions and rising smoke from coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military sites.

On Saturday, U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, targeting leadership, missile arsenal, and nuclear sites. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on day 1, and leaders hinted the campaign aimed to topple Iran’s government.

A burning oil tanker sits in the Persian Gulf as multiple missile trails arc across the twilight sky, disrupting global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The war quickly spread beyond the Gulf. Iran’s retaliation struck nearby Arab states and disrupted oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman pushed oil prices up as key trade routes turned dangerous.

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sinks stern-first into the Indian Ocean after being hit by U.S. Navy fire, with sailors struggling in the water nearby.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Navy sank Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka. At least 87 sailors were killed. The ship had returned from exercises hosted by India, while 32 crew were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.

In Tel Aviv, civilians run for shelter as Israeli air defense systems intercept incoming Iranian missiles, leaving bright white bursts against the blue sky.

On Thursday, Iran launched a new wave of attacks on Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf nations. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. A drone near Al Dhafra Air Base wounded 6, and other drones were intercepted.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi points in fury during a televised address, with an image of the destroyed IRIS Dena frigate displayed behind him.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi called the sinking of IRIS Dena an “atrocity at sea.” He warned the U.S. would “bitterly regret” it. Cleric Javadi Amoli even called for “Trump’s blood” on state television.

A composite image shows the war's widespread toll: destruction in Iran and Lebanon, civilians in an Israeli shelter, and stalled ships in the Gulf.

By Thursday, deaths reached 1,230+ in Iran, 70+ in Lebanon, 11 in Israel, and 6 U.S. troops. The war disrupted oil supply, shipping, and air travel worldwide, and growing retaliation suggested the conflict could continue indefinitely.