Israel launches new strikes on Tehran and Lebanon as Iran hits back and fires on Gulf neighbors - AP News

AP News
March 17, 2026
3 min read

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Israel and Iran are escalating direct military strikes on each other's territories and Gulf neighbors.

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Israel has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Lebanon while Iran has responded by firing on Gulf neighbors, escalating a cycle of regional military exchanges. The strikes represent an intensification of direct Israeli-Iranian hostilities that have simmered for months, with each side now conducting cross-border attacks. Iran's decision to fire on Gulf neighbors, likely including U.S. allies, raises the risk of broader regional conflict and potential American military involvement. Israel's dual targeting of both Iran's capital and Lebanese territory signals an attempt to confront multiple adversaries simultaneously amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The escalation threatens to draw in other regional powers and complicate efforts to contain the conflict.

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