Straits Times
Iran, Israel in tit-for-tat strikes, US sends Marines as war enters fourth week
The Iran-Israel conflict has entered its fourth week with no signs of de-escalation, as both sides exchange retaliatory strikes and the United States deploys Marines to the region. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains under threat, forcing world powers to pursue a precarious mix of diplomatic pressure and military posturing. With neither side blinking, the conflict risks widening into a broader regional confrontation with serious consequences for energy markets and global stability.
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Israel attacks Tehran, Beirut as US sends Marines to Middle East
Israel launched simultaneous strikes against Tehran and Beirut on Saturday, escalating military operations across two fronts as regional tensions reach a critical inflection point. The U.S. is reinforcing its presence with thousands of additional Marines while President Trump publicly lambasted NATO allies for refusing to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The moves signal a sharp intensification of Western involvement in the Middle East conflict with significant implications for global energy markets and alliance cohesion.
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Trump rules out ceasefire in Iran war, confident that Hormuz will reopen ‘itself’
"You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” says the US president.
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SCMP
Iran war nears 3-front tipping point as Gulf energy hubs burn
Three weeks into the Iran war, simultaneous escalations across Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf are pushing the Middle East toward the region-wide conflagration that governments have long feared but failed to prevent. Israel's ground invasion of southern Lebanon — triggered by Hezbollah's entry into the conflict following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — has opened a dangerous second front. With Gulf energy infrastructure now under attack, the stakes extend well beyond the region, threatening global oil markets and drawing in outside powers.
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Trump threatens to put ICE agents in airports over funding impasse
Federal funding gridlock is hitting airports where it hurts, with TSA officers staging mass sick-outs as paychecks stall. Trump is now threatening to deploy ICE agents to fill security gaps if the standoff isn't resolved. The move underscores how the budget impasse is bleeding into critical infrastructure with real consequences for travelers.
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