Day Five: US-Israel strikes on Iran fuel regional crisis

On day five of the US‑Israel offensive on Iran, strikes have targeted Iranian military sites while Tehran and allied forces retaliate with missiles and drones across the region. CENTCOM says about 1,700 targets have been hit; casualty counts in Iran exceed 1,000 (including civilians), and six American service members have been killed. The fighting has spilled into Lebanon and the Gulf, prompted evacuations and travel disruptions, and driven oil prices higher as airports and embassies in parts of the region face closures. Lawmakers in the United States are preparing votes on war powers, and UN watchdogs have questioned some justification for the strike. The situation remains volatile with ongoing retaliation and regional spillover.