Smoke and embers seen over Iran’s Isfahan after strike

A US-Israeli strike on Isfahan, Iran's third-largest city, produced massive columns of smoke and burning embers visible in video footage from the attack. The strike represents an escalation in direct military exchanges between Israel and Iran, which have traded strikes across the region in recent months following the October 2023 war in Gaza. Isfahan is home to critical Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, making it a significant strategic target. The attack signals a shift toward strikes on Iranian territory itself rather than indirect confrontation through proxy forces. The strike's scope and visibility could pressure Iran to respond, potentially triggering a new cycle of regional escalation.