The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its sixth day, with American forces reportedly prepared to provide air support to Kurdish fighters if they join the conflict. According to Kurdish officials speaking to the Associated Press, Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation into Iran, with the US requesting support from Iraqi Kurds.
Intense waves of airstrikes have hit dozens of military positions, frontier posts, and police stations along northern sections of Iran’s border with Iraq in what appears to be preparation for opening a new front. However, Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, stated that the Kurdish region “must not become part of any conflict,” signaling reluctance to participate in the escalating military operations.
Iranian Drone Strike Expands Conflict Beyond Middle East
Meanwhile, an Iranian drone struck an Azerbaijani airport near the two countries’ shared border, according to officials. The attack on the terminal building at an airport in Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran, injured two people and marked the first time a state in the Caucasus has been targeted by Iran since the start of the US-Israel war against Tehran.
Additionally, Iran claimed it had hit a US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf, stating the vessel was on fire. There was no immediate confirmation of the incident or comment from US authorities. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it maintained full control of the Strait of Hormuz and had effectively closed it to oil and gas exports.
UK Military Assets Targeted Amid Regional Escalation
In a separate development affecting the US-Israel war on Iran, UK Defence Secretary John Healey flew into Cyprus on Wednesday night to address diplomatic fallout over a drone that evaded detection and struck an RAF base. UK officials believe the drone evaded detection by flying low and slow when it was launched by pro-Iranian militia in Lebanon or western Iraq, prompting fury from local Cypriot politicians.
The attack on British military infrastructure highlights the expanding geographic scope of the conflict. However, the incident has raised questions about air defense capabilities at strategic military installations in the region.
Naval Operations and Civilian Impact
Sri Lanka announced it was attempting to “safeguard lives” on another Iranian ship off its coast, according to an official. The ship was positioned in the economic zone beyond Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, a day after a US submarine destroyed an Iranian frigate, killing at least 87 people.
Iran continued to launch waves of missiles at Israel, sending millions of residents into bomb shelters. The missile attacks occurred just hours after moves to halt the US air assault were blocked in Washington, according to reports.
In contrast, the Israeli military said it was beginning a new widespread wave of attacks in Tehran. Israel also reported carrying out strikes on Beirut targeting Hezbollah, while Lebanese state media reported an Israeli drone strike killed a Hamas official.
Disruption to International Travel
The conflict’s ripple effects extended to civilian travel, as the first repatriation flight from Oman intended to bring home stranded citizens to the UK was rescheduled due to “operational issues.” A minister said the delays included difficulties getting passengers on board amid the regional security situation.
As the US-Israel war on Iran continues to escalate across multiple fronts, authorities have not confirmed when diplomatic efforts might resume or whether additional countries will become involved in the conflict. The situation remains highly fluid with ongoing military operations across the region.