The Israel-Iran air war has reached its second week and is intensifying into a deadly and high-stakes standoff. Israel continues to rain down airstrikes against Iran with the goal of stopping its nuclear drive. Iran retaliates in the form of waves of missile and drone strikes.
European leaders are racing to mediate, and US President Donald Trump is considering military intervention. Civilian casualties are mounting. Neither side is willing to give in. The war now threatens to ignite a wider regional conflict unless diplomacy succeeds in the near future.
Israel Targets Iran’s Heart
Israel began its attack last Friday. It says the operation is intended to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Israeli air raids have killed 639 individuals in Iran since then, reports the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Among them are top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Israeli air attacks have targeted missile installations and nuclear facilities in Tehran. Western and regional authorities claim Israel is also attempting to unseat the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has declined requests to pursue regime change, but stated, “That may be a result—it’s up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom.”
Iran Strikes Back, Civilian Targets Suffer
Iran is still launching missiles at Israeli targets. It claims it targets only military installations, but its strikes have also hit civilians. On Thursday, an Iranian missile struck a major hospital in the city of Beersheba. Iran stated that it had attacked a nearby military hub. Israel did not acknowledge that claim.
Friday, Iranian missiles struck Beersheba once more. An explosion outside apartment buildings injured six and caused buildings to be seriously damaged. Paramedics combed through the aftermath of flames and debris looking for additional casualties.
Israel blamed Iran for employing cluster munitions to target civilians on purpose. The US mission at the UN hasn’t replied.
Europe Urges Negotiations
European leaders are finally intervening. Britain, France, Germany, and the foreign policy chief of the EU received Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Geneva on Friday. UK Foreign Minister David Lammy cautioned, “Now is the time to halt the horrific scenes in the Middle East.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met with world counterparts. He and other ministers agreed Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Lammy was in agreement with that, describing the situation as “perilous,” but suggested a diplomatic window is still open for two more weeks.
Trump’s Decision Looms
Trump has not made a war commitment. Nevertheless, his representative Steve Witkoff has engaged in repeated discussions with Araqchi. The White House announced Trump will be participating in a national security meeting on Friday. Trump has alluded to employing a “bunker buster” bomb to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities beneath the ground.
Trump gave a two-week deadline for making a choice. Nevertheless, he has frequently allowed deadlines to slip. With nuclear negotiations stalled and tensions running high, American action might alter the war radically.
Iranians Fear, Not Revolt
Despite the regime’s weakness, Iranian protesters spurn protests for now. Atena Daemi, a prominent ex-political prisoner, explained that the public is too fearful. “In such abominable conditions, people are only concerned with saving their own skins, their families, their fellow citizens, and even their animals,” she noted.
With both regimes standing firm, the way to peace now rests in the hands of diplomacy—if it is able to catch up before war rules the area.