US-Israel War on Iran: Live Updates – Netanyahu Says War Won’t Last Years

The conflict between Israel and Iran, escalating rapidly since Saturday, is now impacting civilian travel and prompting urgent departures from the Middle East. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated the US-Israel campaign against Iran “may seize some time” but won’t stretch into years, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with new evacuation orders issued in Lebanon and reported attacks across the region.

Expanding Conflict and Evacuation Orders

On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military expanded evacuation warnings, ordering residents of dozens of locations in Lebanon to leave their homes. This includes warnings for residents in two southern Beirut neighborhoods to stay away from specific buildings, signaling imminent military action. Simultaneously, Hezbollah reported launching drones toward northern Israel, further intensifying the exchange of fire. These developments follow initial US and Israeli air strikes against Iran over the weekend, which reportedly killed a key Iranian leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and triggered retaliatory strikes against countries hosting US military bases.

The US State Department has issued a stark warning, urging all US citizens to immediately depart more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This broad advisory underscores the escalating risks and the potential for wider regional instability. You can find the full travel advisory details on the State Department’s website.

Travel Disruption and Regional Attacks

The conflict is already causing significant disruption to air travel. At least 11,000 flights have been cancelled since Saturday, impacting over 1 million passengers, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Airlines like Etihad Airways, Emirates, and FlyDubai are operating limited flights to facilitate evacuations, but widespread chaos persists. Indian airlines IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air have likewise begun limited services to extract stranded passengers, though services remain suspended to several key destinations.

Reports of attacks are surfacing across the region. The US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was reportedly hit by a drone strike, causing a fire. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim to have targeted a US air base in Bahrain with a large-scale drone and missile attack, though details remain unconfirmed. These incidents highlight the broadening scope of the conflict and the increasing risk to regional stability.

US Strategy and Justification

President Donald Trump initially suggested the war could last four to five weeks, but has since indicated it could be prolonged. He outlined four key objectives for the campaign against Iran: destroying its missile capabilities, annihilating its navy, preventing it from obtaining nuclear weapons, and stopping its support for militant groups. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered a further justification for the US intervention, stating that the attack was launched after learning Israel was preparing to strike, which would have likely resulted in retaliation against US forces. Rubio also suggested that “the hardest hits” are yet to come, signaling a potential escalation of military action. PBS NewsHour provides further coverage of the evolving US strategy.

Navigational Concerns in the Strait of Hormuz

Adding to the tensions, a general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly threatened to “burn any ship” attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas shipments. However, US Central Command has stated that the strait remains open, contradicting the Iranian threat. This conflicting information underscores the uncertainty and potential for disruption to global energy supplies.

What’s Next: A Prolonged Conflict?

The immediate future remains highly uncertain. While Netanyahu has stated the conflict won’t last years, the ongoing attacks and escalating rhetoric suggest a prolonged period of instability. The US and Israel appear committed to a broad campaign against Iran, but the potential for miscalculation and unintended consequences remains significant. The coming weeks will likely spot continued military action, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, and ongoing disruption to travel and commerce in the region. The focus will be on containing the conflict and preventing it from spiraling into a wider regional war. Further developments will depend on Iran’s response to the ongoing attacks and the effectiveness of diplomatic initiatives.

For ongoing updates and analysis, refer to CNN’s live coverage of the crisis.