Iran and Hezbollah carried out their first joint attacks on Israel since the current phase of fighting began, marking a major escalation in a conflict that is expanding beyond the region.
Israeli officials said a wave of missiles was launched from Iran while multiple projectiles, including drones, were fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon at nearly the same time. Air raid sirens sounded across key cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, forcing residents to seek shelter.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the initial barrage was followed by additional launches. According to the military, the coordinated strike included one missile from Iran and six projectiles fired from Hezbollah-held areas in Lebanon. Shortly afterward, both Iran and Hezbollah launched another synchronized round of attacks.
Israel moves into southern Lebanon
In a further development, Israel confirmed that its troops had entered parts of southern Lebanon amid intensifying cross-border clashes with Hezbollah. The IDF released footage showing soldiers positioned inside Lebanese territory, indicating that ground operations may be unfolding along the northern frontier.
In a statement shared on X, the IDF said its Northern Command was reinforcing defensive positions in the area as hostilities escalated. Meanwhile, Israeli and US forces have continued striking Iranian and Hezbollah-linked targets across the region. Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed said at least 72 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The combined death toll in Iran and Lebanon has reportedly exceeded 1,045.
Conflict spreads beyond the region
The war has also spilled into areas far from the Middle East. A US submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka as it was returning from an Indian port. Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister confirmed the vessel’s identity. At least 87 people were reported killed in the strike, which occurred in the Indian Ocean, hundreds of miles from the Persian Gulf.
Tensions rose further after Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Turkey, a member of NATO. Turkish authorities said NATO air defence systems intercepted the missile before it entered Turkish airspace. The Turkish defence ministry stated that the projectile had crossed over Iraq and Syria before being destroyed above the eastern Mediterranean, adding that Turkey reserved the right to respond to any hostile act. NATO condemned the incident and reaffirmed its support for Turkey.
