Escalation Marks Second Week of Israel‑Iran War

The second week of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has begun with intensified air and missile strikes exchanged between the two nations. Israel has continued its targeted operations, particularly focusing on Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear facilities. According to Israeli defense sources, their recent strikes have significantly set back Iran’s nuclear program by an estimated “two to three years,” a claim meant to justify the scale and precision of their military campaign.

Iran, however, has borne the brunt of the casualties. Official reports from Tehran indicate that over 430 people have been killed and around 3,500 injured since the onset of hostilities. Iranian military and civilian infrastructures in key provinces have been severely damaged, prompting mass evacuations in some areas. Despite the devastation, Iranian leadership has vowed to retaliate and sustain the resistance against what they call “Zionist aggression.”

Meanwhile, Israel has reported far fewer casualties around 25 deaths so far thanks in part to its advanced missile defense systems like Iron Dome, which have intercepted many incoming projectiles. However, there remains a constant state of alert within Israeli cities, and concerns are rising internationally about the broader implications of the conflict. World powers have urged restraint, fearing the war could engulf the wider Middle East region and spark a major geopolitical crisis.