West Asia conflict Day 7: Iran-Israel war escalates with strikes across region

The conflict involving Iran Israel and the United States entered its seventh day on Friday with escalating military operations and mounting casualties across West Asia The war began after a largescale coordinated offensive launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 2026 targeting multiple locations inside IranEstimates suggest that between 2114 and 2662 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the conflict with thousands more believed to be injured as airstrikes and missile attacks continue across the countryUSndashIsrael strikes hit multiple Iranian citiesReports indicate that at least 16 Iranian cities and towns have been hit by USIsraeli strikes since the start of the offensiveAmong the affected locations are Tehran Parand Karaj Minab Bandar Abbas Ahvaz Isfahan Qom Shiraz Kermanshah Khorramabad Tabriz and MashhadThe strikes are believed to have targeted military bases strategic infrastructure and governmentlinked facilities though damage has reportedly extended into residential neighbourhoods in several citiesIranrsquos capital Tehran has been among the most heavily affected areas with repeated strikes targeting what Israeli officials described as ldquoregime infrastructurerdquoIran launches missiles and drones across regionIran has responded with a largescale counteroffensive launching missiles and drones at multiple targets across the regionThe retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and several Gulf countries hosting US military bases including the United Arab Emirates Bahrain Qatar Kuwait Oman and Saudi ArabiaIran has also attempted attacks on US naval assets operating in the Arabian Sea signalling a potential widening of the conflict beyond direct hostilities between Iran and IsraelThe escalating military exchanges have pushed West Asia into one of the largest regional conflicts in recent years with multiple countries either directly involved or affected by the fightingIsrael targets ldquoregime infrastructurerdquo in TehranAccording to international reports Israel carried out a new wave of airstrikes early Friday aimed at what it called ldquoregime infrastructurerdquo in TehranIsraeli officials said the campaign is designed to cripple Iranrsquos military capabilities and weaken the countryrsquos ruling establishmentMeanwhile NATO has strengthened its ballistic missile defence posture as Iranian missile launches across the region intensifyThe alliancersquos 32 member states agreed to maintain missile defence systems at a heightened level after an Iranian missile fired toward Turkey a NATO member was interceptedWar expands from Lebanon to the GulfThe conflict has also spread beyond Iran and Israel drawing in multiple countries across West AsiaLebanon became directly involved earlier this week after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiLebanonrsquos health ministry reported that at least 123 people have been killed and more than 680 injured since the country entered the conflict earlier in the weekIsrael has since carried out airstrikes on Beirutrsquos southern suburbs which it claims are aimed at Hezbollah infrastructureThe Israeli military issued a rare evacuation warning for the entire area urging residents to immediately leave their homes triggering widespread panic and heavy traffic as civilians attempted to fleeTensions rise beyond West AsiaThe conflict has also begun affecting regions beyond the Middle EastA US submarine reportedly torpedoed an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka signalling the expansion of the confrontation into the Indian Ocean regionAt the same time tensions increased in Azerbaijan after a drone strike hit an airport leading to threats of retaliationIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi adopted a defiant stance telling NBC News that Tehran has not sought a ceasefire and currently sees no reason to negotiate with the United StatesMeanwhile Israelrsquos military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the military campaign against Iran was entering its ldquonext phaserdquo warning that Israel still had ldquoadditional surprises aheadrdquoAs the conflict intensifies concerns are growing globally that the fighting could escalate further into a broader regional war involving multiple powersWith inputs from Agencies