Israel and Iran exchanged fresh missile and airstrikes Friday, broadening a conflict that has killed thousands, disrupted energy markets, and deepened geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
The escalation came a day after Tehran struck an Israeli oil refinery and following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Israel must avoid attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field, a key offshore facility shared with Qatar.
Israel said its strikes targeted the “infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime,” though details were sparse. Iran responded with barrages of missiles across Israel, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while explosions echoed from air-defense interceptors.
In a parallel escalation, Israel expanded attacks to Syria, citing protection of the Druze population in southern Sweida province, and continued strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The war, which began Feb. 28 with a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that killed Iran’s supreme leader and other top officials, has caused at least 1,300 deaths in Iran, 15 in Israel, and over 500 Hezbollah casualties.
