The West Asia conflict expanded to include Iran-backed militias on Monday with an attack by Hezbollah on Israel. Israel struck back against the group in Lebanon while the United States pounded targets in Iran.

Exploring why continued U.S. military aid to Israel remains vital for strategic influence and regional security.

DANA STROUL is Director of Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East from February 2021 to December 2023. The United States and Israel may have different names for their latest military campaigns in Iran—Epic Fury and Rising Lion—but there is nothing separate about them.

President Donald Trump said the objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. He said Iran has continued to develop nuclear weapons.

The Iran war sure looks like a breaking point.

Iran’s current strikes could open a window for Israel to improve ties with Gulf states, but caution is needed as fears of Israeli influence and anti-Israel narratives persist, says expert. The

TV18's live blog on the latest war and conflict situation in the West Asian region involving the United States and Israel's attack on Iran. Track live updates here.

The Middle East is engulfed in an unprecedented military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, with operations spreading acros