The Trump administration is exploring options to arm Kurdish forces operating near the Iran–Iraq border with the aim of increasing pressure on the Iranian regime. The heavy concentration of Israeli strikes along Iran’s western border with Iraq suggests a deliberate strategy aimed at degrading Tehran’s defensive infrastructure in that region. …

Hezbollah’s entry into the war has generated significant anger within the Lebanese government, which has long tolerated, accommodated, or at times been constrained by the group. If Israeli defenses are already engaged in intercepting longer-range missiles from Iran, shorter-range missiles from Hezbollah could be synced so that the probability of …

Disrupted energy markets due to continued hostilities are the most immediate economic challenge, with global reverberations, as the Strait of Hormuz is essentially unnavigable and crude oil prices continue to rise. Europe is highly dependent on energy imports from the Gulf after weaning itself off Russian energy after the full-scale …