Israel braces for multi-front war as US troops surge into the region

Two months into the Middle East conflict, Israel says it is prepared for a multi-front war after Houthi missiles were fired toward southern Israel, while Iran’s leadership claims its forces are waiting for a U.S. ground invasion. The U.S. has boosted its regional presence, including the arrival of the USS Tripoli, with reports of additional Marine units to follow. Iran agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz as diplomacy continues in Pakistan and at talks among Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Fighting and strikes continue across Israel, Lebanon and Iran, with infrastructure damage and protests underscoring the crisis’s widening reach.