The fourth day of the U.S.–Israel war in Iran

On the fourth day of the U.S.–Israel war in Iran, Israel also bombed Beirut, while at the same time launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon “to create an additional layer of security for the residents of northern Israel,” a day after the Lebanese government banned Hezbollah’s military activity. So far, the death toll in Lebanon is 40 (earlier counts had spoken of 52 dead), and 30,000 people have been displaced.

Throughout the day, Israel also bombed Tehran, striking, among other targets, the building of the committee that selects the Supreme Leader, Mehrabad International Airport, while damage was also caused to Golestan Palace, which is protected by UNESCO.

Iran, for its part, continues attacks on Gulf countries that are U.S. allies. So far today, it has attacked Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (3 dead), and Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, hitting the U.S. embassy in Riyadh with drones.

Donald Trump said yesterday that the U.S. attacks on Iran—already against 1,000+ targets (787 people have been killed)—will continue with “full force” until objectives are achieved, such as the destruction of Iran’s navy and missile capabilities and the elimination of its “nuclear” program. The head of the UN’s nuclear agency says no evidence has been found that Iran has an organized, coordinated program to build nuclear weapons.

For these attacks, U.S. allies are being asked to make their bases available when requested. Despite the fact that countries such as the United Kingdom (which had initially refused) are granting access to their bases, Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish government refused to authorize their use for the war against Iran.

The U.S. is not providing a timeline for the end of the war, with D. Trump saying it may last “4–5 weeks” but could be “much longer.”

Although there is an agreement allowing the U.S. to use the bases, Spain considers it valid only within the framework of compliance with international law. Because it believes the war in Iran violates international law, it is not making its bases available, for example for aircraft refueling, according to Defense Minister Margarita Robles.

Iran warned European countries not to get involved in the conflict, saying that any military action against it, such as strikes on its missile capabilities, would be considered complicity with the attackers and an act of war.

The U.S. is not providing a clear timeline for the end of the war. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth declined to estimate when it would end, while Trump said yesterday it may last “4–5 weeks” but could be “far longer.” However, in a later post on Truth Social, he stated that “wars can be fought ‘forever’, and very successfully”.

Sources: Al Jazeera, The New York Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Guardian