Middle East War Intensifies as Israel Expands Strikes in Iran and Lebanon
By Harshit
TEHRAN/BEIRUT, March 6, 2026 —
The widening conflict between Iran, Israel, and their regional allies continued to escalate Friday as Israeli forces expanded military operations across Iran and Lebanon, while Tehran warned that further retaliation against United States military facilities in the region could follow.
The latest developments come amid a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation across several countries in the Middle East, with civilian casualties rising, infrastructure damage increasing, and international organizations warning of severe consequences if the conflict continues to escalate.
Israel Issues Evacuation Warning in Iran
Israel’s military issued a new evacuation warning Friday for residents and workers in the Shokouhiyeh industrial zone in the Iranian city of Qom, signaling that Israeli forces may soon launch military operations in the area.
In a message posted in Persian on social media, the Israeli military shared a map marking the industrial district and instructed residents to leave the area immediately, warning that remaining in the zone could put their lives at risk.
The warning is part of a growing pattern of advance alerts issued by Israel before conducting airstrikes, a strategy the military says is intended to minimize civilian casualties.
Israeli Strikes Target Tehran Infrastructure
The Israeli military also claimed that 50 fighter jets conducted coordinated strikes on an underground complex in Tehran, which Israeli officials said had served as a secure bunker facility linked to the late Iranian supreme leader.
According to the Israeli military statement, the underground compound extended beneath several streets in central Tehran and contained meeting rooms and command infrastructure reportedly used by senior Iranian government officials even after the supreme leader’s death.
Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of damage from the strike, but residents in Tehran reported hearing large explosions and seeing smoke rising from several districts.
Earlier in the day, Iranian officials accused the United States and Israel of striking a primary school near Tehran’s Niloufar Square, sharing images showing damaged classrooms and shattered windows. Iranian officials did not immediately confirm casualty figures from the incident.
Heavy Civilian Toll in Lebanon
Meanwhile, the conflict has intensified in Lebanon as Israeli forces expanded airstrikes across several regions of the country.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that five people were killed and seven others injured in an Israeli strike on the southern city of Sidon on Friday. Additional air raids were reported near the towns of Marwanieh and Yahmar al-Shaqif in southern Lebanon.
Overall, Lebanese authorities say at least 123 people have been killed this week in Israeli attacks, while thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes.
In response to the growing humanitarian crisis, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced it is assisting vulnerable populations with evacuations and preparing to transport critical medical equipment from damaged healthcare facilities.
The humanitarian organization said the effort is aimed at ensuring hospitals and clinics continue functioning despite the destruction caused by ongoing airstrikes.
Iran Warns of Further Regional Escalation
Iranian military officials also signaled that additional attacks on U.S. facilities could occur.
Iran’s army said drone strikes launched earlier targeted U.S. military bases in Kuwait, warning that such attacks may continue in the coming hours as part of Tehran’s broader retaliation campaign against U.S. and Israeli forces.
At the same time, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, a member of Iran’s Defense Council, warned that Iran could expand military operations into Iraqi Kurdistan if authorities there fail to prevent what Tehran describes as U.S.- and Israeli-backed armed groups from launching attacks against Iran.
The warning adds to growing tension along the Iraq-Iran border, where Iranian officials claim armed Kurdish groups could attempt to exploit the current conflict.
Internet Blackout Deepens in Iran
As the fighting intensifies, Iran remains largely cut off from the global internet.
Monitoring organization NetBlocks reported that the country has now experienced six consecutive days of severe internet restrictions, with connectivity dropping to about 1 percent of normal levels.
The communications blackout has made it difficult for independent observers to verify reports of casualties and damage from inside the country.
Energy Markets and Global Concerns
The ongoing war is also beginning to affect global energy markets.
Russia’s Kremlin said the conflict has significantly increased demand for Russian oil and gas exports, as disruptions across the Gulf region threaten the stability of global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s energy minister warned that if the conflict continues and Gulf energy production is disrupted, global oil prices could surge dramatically, potentially reaching $150 per barrel and triggering major economic consequences worldwide.
International Calls for De-Escalation
Amid the growing violence, the United Nations has urged all parties involved in the conflict to pursue immediate de-escalation.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for prompt investigations into civilian casualties, including a recent attack on a school in Iran that reportedly killed large numbers of students and staff.
Türk warned that continued escalation risks worsening humanitarian suffering across the region and urged governments to pursue diplomatic solutions before the conflict spreads further.
“The world urgently needs steps to contain and extinguish this blaze,” he said. “Cool heads must prevail.”
With missile strikes, drone attacks, and air raids continuing across multiple countries, analysts say the Middle East now faces one of the most dangerous and unpredictable regional conflicts in decades.