The Guards said in a statement published on their official Sepah News website that Netanyahu would remain a target of Iran’s forces, accusing him of responsibility for the deaths of civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the IRGC said, referring to the Israeli premier.

The statement reflects a sharp escalation in language from Iran’s elite military force as the confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States widens. Iranian officials have repeatedly accused Israel of attacks against Iranian interests and leadership figures, while Israel says it is acting to neutralize threats posed by Tehran and its regional allies.

.The IRGC, which answers directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader and wields significant influence over the country’s military operations abroad, has often issued warnings against Israeli leadership during periods of heightened tensions.

The threat comes as the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces has expanded beyond their borders, drawing in the United States and affecting multiple countries across the Middle East.

Regional tensions have surged following a series of strikes and counter-strikes involving Israeli forces, Iranian military assets and allied groups.

Governments and international organizations have warned that the conflict risks further destabilizing an already volatile region.

Netanyahu has been a central figure in Israel’s security policy toward Iran, repeatedly warning about Tehran’s military capabilities and its support for armed groups across the Middle East.

Iranian leaders, in turn, have blamed Israel for attacks on Iranian personnel and infrastructure, including alleged covert operations targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

The war, which has intensified over the past several weeks, has moved beyond traditional military confrontations and now threatens critical economic lifelines that sustain the global economy.

Attacks on oil infrastructure, commercial shipping routes, and strategic maritime corridors have begun to disrupt international trade and energy markets.
At the center of global concern is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

Nearly a fifth of the global oil supply normally passes through the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Any disruption to shipping in this corridor can have immediate and far-reaching effects on energy prices and global economic stability.

Recent days have seen a sharp rise in attacks on merchant vessels and oil tankers moving through the region. Maritime security officials say explosive-laden boats and drones have targeted several ships, forcing many commercial vessels to alter their routes or suspend operations altogether. Shipping companies have grown increasingly cautious, and insurance costs for vessels operating in the Gulf have surged dramatically.

The disruptions have already had a significant impact on energy markets. Oil prices climbed sharply after reports that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had slowed dramatically, with analysts warning that sustained interruptions could push prices far higher.
Governments around the world have begun preparing emergency measures to prevent a broader energy crisis.

Several major economies have discussed releasing oil from their strategic reserves in an attempt to stabilize markets and reassure investors. However, analysts caution that such measures would only provide temporary relief if the conflict continues to escalate.
The military dimension of the crisis is also intensifying. Israeli and American forces have carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian military installations, missile sites, and logistical infrastructure.

The strikes, officials say, were aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities and preventing further attacks on regional allies and international shipping.
Iran has responded with a mix of conventional and asymmetric tactics.

Iranian forces and allied groups have launched missile and drone strikes against military positions and strategic infrastructure across the region. Some attacks have targeted energy facilities, including refineries and storage installations, further amplifying fears of a broader supply disruption.

The conflict has also raised concerns about the potential involvement of additional regional actors. Neighboring countries across the Middle East are closely monitoring the situation, wary that the fighting could spill across borders or provoke retaliatory actions that would widen the war.

Beyond the military and economic consequences, the conflict is already producing serious humanitarian impacts. Airstrikes and missile attacks have caused significant damage to urban infrastructure in several areas, forcing civilians to flee their homes in search of safety. Hospitals and emergency services are struggling to cope with the growing number of casualties.

International organizations have warned that continued escalation could produce a large-scale humanitarian crisis, particularly if critical infrastructure such as power plants, water systems, and hospitals becomes further damaged.

The war is also intensifying geopolitical tensions between major global powers. Governments in Europe and Asia are increasingly concerned about the impact of rising energy prices and potential supply shortages. Several countries have called for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict before it spreads further.
Despite these appeals, diplomatic progress has been limited.

Deep political divisions between the parties involved, combined with the strategic importance of the region, have made negotiations extremely difficult.
Analysts say the conflict reflects broader shifts in the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Long-standing rivalries, unresolved political disputes, and competing security interests have created a volatile environment where even small incidents can escalate rapidly into wider confrontations.

The economic implications extend far beyond the Middle East. Energy-importing nations are particularly vulnerable to prolonged disruptions in Gulf oil supplies. Higher fuel costs can quickly translate into rising inflation, increased transportation expenses, and higher prices for goods and services around the world.

Financial markets have already begun reacting to the uncertainty. Investors are closely watching developments in the region, and volatility in oil prices has spread to stock markets and currency exchanges.
Some economists warn that a prolonged conflict could contribute to a global economic slowdown, particularly if energy prices remain elevated for an extended period.

High oil prices have historically been associated with economic downturns, as they increase production costs and reduce consumer spending power.

The aviation and shipping industries are also facing growing challenges. Airlines have begun adjusting flight routes to avoid potential conflict zones, while shipping companies are reassessing the risks of operating in the Gulf region. These adjustments increase operating costs and could disrupt global supply chains.

Despite the mounting tensions, some analysts believe the conflict may eventually stabilize if both sides seek to avoid a full-scale regional war. However, they caution that the situation remains highly unpredictable.

Much will depend on whether diplomatic efforts can gain momentum and whether regional actors choose to exercise restraint. Even small miscalculations could trigger further escalation, potentially drawing additional countries into the conflict.

For now, the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States stands as one of the most serious geopolitical crises in recent years. Its outcome will not only shape the future of the Middle East but could also influence global economic stability for years to come.

The ministry initially described the incident as a missile attack on the base but later said the strike appeared to involve a drone. Officials said the unmanned aircraft may have struck the facility accidentally after losing altitude rather than intentionally targeting the base.

“There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine,” the ministry said in a statement posted shortly after midnight on the social media platform X.

Col. Stefano Pizzotti, the base commander, told Sky TG24 that troops had been warned of possible aerial threats hours before the incident and had taken shelter in bunkers ahead of the strike.

Pizzotti said it remained unclear where the strike originated. He added that although the air raid alert had ended, specialists were continuing to inspect and secure the area.

Italy maintains around 300 troops in Irbil tasked with training Kurdish security forces, according to information published by the defence ministry.

Pizzotti said troop numbers at the base had recently been reduced because of heightened security risks linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran in the wider region.

The attack marked the first Israeli strike to hit the heart of Beirut since hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group resumed last week, widening the regional confrontation linked to the broader U.S.-Israel war with Iran.Israel’s military said the strike targeted key commanders belonging to the Lebanon Corps of Iran’s elite Quds Force, a unit within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), although it did not identify the individuals it believed were present at the site.“The commanders of the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel and its civilians, while operating simultaneously for the IRGC in Iran,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

Strike hits central Beirut building.The strike struck an apartment within the Ramada hotel complex located in central Beirut, an area that had not been targeted since fighting resumed between Israel and Hezbollah.The building was housing displaced civilians who had fled fighting in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas that have experienced repeated Israeli air strikes during the past week.Following the attack, witnesses said people were seen leaving the hotel amid concerns that additional strikes could follow.There was no immediate confirmation from Lebanese authorities regarding the identities of those killed or whether the victims included the Iranian commanders Israel said it had targeted.

Israel said the operation was aimed at disrupting activities by Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon. The Quds Force oversees Iran’s foreign military operations and maintains close ties with allied groups across the region, including Hezbollah.The Israeli military has intensified strikes against Iranian-linked targets as the regional conflict expands.Last week, Israel said it had killed Daoud Ali Zadeh, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon, during a strike in Tehran. Israel said he had been involved in coordinating military activities linked to Iranian operations in the region.Lebanon drawn deeper into conflictLebanon has increasingly been pulled into the escalating confrontation between Israel and Iran.The latest phase of hostilities intensified on Monday when Hezbollah fired rockets and drones into Israel, according to Israeli officials. Hezbollah is backed by Iran and has been one of Tehran’s key regional allies.Israel responded with a wave of strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as locations near Beirut.The fighting has raised concerns about a broader regional escalation as the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iranian targets continues and allied armed groups across the Middle East become increasingly involved.The strike in central Beirut underscores the expanding geographic scope of the conflict and the growing risk that urban centres beyond traditional front lines could become targets as the confrontation deepens.

Trump’s comments on social media on Friday came hours after Iran’s president said unnamed countries had begun mediation efforts, briefly raising the possibility of a diplomatic resolution nearly a week after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The fighting has since widened, with Iran responding by targeting Israel as well as Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities.Escalating regional strikes Explosions were heard across Israel on Friday as Israeli air defenses activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reported additional drone and missile attacks, underscoring the widening regional impact of the conflict.Israel also intensified operations in Lebanon, carrying out heavy air strikes on the capital Beirut after ordering residents to evacuate the city’s southern suburbs, an area considered a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

“We’re sleeping here in the streets some in cars, some on the street, some on the beach,” Jamal Seifeddin, 43, said after fleeing Beirut’s southern districts and spending the night in the city’s downtown area.Attacks inside IranIsrael launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets, saying about 50 of its warplanes attacked a bunker it said was still being used by Iran’s leadership beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Early on Saturday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Mehrabad Airport in Tehran had been struck. There was no immediate response from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard or Hezbollah.Iran’s envoy to the United Nations said the war had killed 1,332 Iranian civilians, providing one of the first official casualty figures since hostilities intensified.Lebanon front expandsIsrael’s military campaign has increasingly focused on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, as the country seeks to weaken the Shi’ite militia that has been closely aligned with Tehran and a major force in Lebanese politics since the 1980s.

Hezbollah fired on Israel earlier this week, saying the strikes were in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei, drawing Lebanon more directly into the conflict and raising fears that the war could widen further across the region.Uncertainty remains over whether mediation efforts could gain traction, even as fighting continues across multiple fronts and governments across the Middle East report fresh attacks.

The remarks came as hostilities expanded across several fronts, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation. Trump’s call appeared aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran by opening additional fronts against Iranian authorities, according to statements reported by Reuters.Iranian Kurdish fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), a group operating from bases in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, have long opposed Iran’s government and maintain training facilities near the city of Erbil.Trump signals pressure on TehranTrump said Iranian Kurdish forces should join the fight against Tehran, signalling Washington’s willingness to encourage opposition groups inside Iran’s ethnic minority regions as the conflict intensifies.The U.S. president also suggested that Washington might ultimately have to “choose” Iran’s next leader, a remark likely to heighten tensions with Iranian authorities and add to concerns among regional governments about the trajectory of the war.

Analysts say Kurdish militant groups operating near Iran’s borders could potentially stretch Tehran’s security forces if they were to open a new front in the conflict. Kurdish insurgent movements have historically had strained relations with the Iranian state, though their operational capacity and political coordination vary.Israel expands strikes on TehranMeanwhile, Israel said it had begun a broad wave of attacks targeting infrastructure in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The announcement came as Iran continued missile strikes across the region, including attacks targeting Gulf cities.Israeli officials described the campaign as a large-scale escalation intended to degrade Iran’s strategic infrastructure. Details of the specific targets were not immediately disclosed, but the strikes signalled a widening scope of military operations following earlier exchanges between the two adversaries.Iran has not publicly detailed the extent of damage in Tehran, though the strikes mark one of the most direct escalations involving the capital since the current round of hostilities began.

Azerbaijan warns of retaliationSeparately, Azerbaijan warned it would retaliate after Iranian missiles struck its territory, opening another potential front in the conflict and raising alarm across the Caucasus region.Officials in Baku said preparations were under way for a response, though they did not provide details on timing or possible targets. The warning underscores the growing geographic reach of the confrontation as more states become directly affected by the exchange of strikes.Regional governments have been closely monitoring the situation amid fears that a wider war could disrupt trade routes, energy infrastructure and security across the Middle East and neighbouring regions.The latest developments came as Iran continued to launch missiles toward Gulf cities, while Israeli forces intensified attacks on Iranian targets.

The expanding scope of the conflict has heightened concerns among international observers that the war could evolve into a broader regional confrontation involving multiple state and non-state actors.Trump’s remarks urging Iranian Kurdish fighters to take up arms against Tehran added another volatile dimension to the crisis, highlighting the possibility that internal opposition groups could be drawn more directly into the escalating confrontation.